How To Make Teardrop Chandelier Earrings

  • July 20, 2010
  • 2,642 Views
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Add a touch of elegance to your accessories with these fun-to-make earrings.

You Will Need

  • Jig
  • 20-gauge wire
  • Flush cutters
  • Pre-made ear wires
  • 14 4 to 6 mm beads
  • Headpins or 24-gauge wire
  • Roundnose pliers
How To Make Teardrop Chandelier Earrings: Set up jig

Step 1: Set up jig

Set up the jig to make the chandelier frame. A jig is a flat base with moveable pegs that you wrap wire around to create different shapes. Position four pegs in a diamond shape.

How To Make Teardrop Chandelier Earrings: Add peg

Step 2: Add peg

Add a peg, aligned between the bottom and side peg. Add another peg in the same position on the opposite side for a total of six pegs.

How To Make Teardrop Chandelier Earrings: Wrap wire

Step 3: Wrap wire

Wrap the 20-gauge wire around each peg, starting at the top and moving clockwise. Pull the wire taut and bring it underneath and over each pin for a counter-clockwise wrap. Finish with a second loop on the topmost pin.

Use consistent tension while wrapping for the best shape.

How To Make Teardrop Chandelier Earrings: Cut ends

Step 4: Cut ends

Cut the ends close to the top loop with the flush cutters and remove the chandelier frame from the jig. Stretch the frame with your fingers to enable it to fit on an ear wire loop without starting to spring apart.

How To Make Teardrop Chandelier Earrings: Attach ear wires

Step 5: Attach ear wires

Attach the premade ear wires between the two loops at the top.

How To Make Teardrop Chandelier Earrings: String beads

Step 6: String beads

String one bead onto a headpin or 24-gauge wire and make a loop above the bead using the roundnose pliers. Open the loop and place it onto one of the loops of the chandelier frame. Repeat until all the chandelier loops have beads dangling from them.

You can also create a second loop below each bead.

How To Make Teardrop Chandelier Earrings: Add center dangle

Step 7: Add center dangle

Create a longer center dangle by stringing two beads together on a headpin or 24-gauge wire and leaving about 1/2 inch of straight wire at the top before making an eye loop. Attach it to the earwire at the top between the two loops. Repeat these steps for your other earring, and your ears will sparkle!

Harry Winston’s 60.1 carat diamond drop earrings were ranked by Forbes magazine as one of the ten most expensive pieces of jewelry in the world in 2006, worth an estimated $8.5 million.

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Comments (1)

Catherine_Franz

In final picture there aren't two loops at the top as in the directions. I find with two loops at the top the earring doesn't set straight because of the tension. What is the solution? How did you turn the double loop into one in the final picture?

about 1 year ago by Catherine_Franz

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