How To Make A Pair Of Beaded Earrings

by Shira

Give your new costume an attractive finished look by making a pair of beaded earrings to match your bra and belt. Delight the other members of your troupe by making earrings for them that match their troupe costumes.

All it takes is a few inexpensive bugle beads and seed or rocaille beads, strong beading thread, thin beading needle, and scissors.

Drawing Showing What Finished Earrings Look Like

These instructions describe how to make a pair of simple beaded earrings like the pair pictured here to the left. The inexpensive materials are available in most craft stores or fabric stores that have large craft departments. Included is a brief explanation of the supplies used for such a project, plus some suggestions for variations you can try after finishing your first pair.

At the end of this article is a list of instruction books offering designs for other styles of beaded earrings. If you enjoyed making the ones here, you'll enjoy the many ideas that they offer for additional projects.

It takes someone who is experienced at making this type of earrings about 35 minutes per earring to make these. As a novice earring maker, you can expect to take a while longer, but after you've made a few pairs, you'll find that they go together quickly!

Supplies

These supplies are common and easy to find in craft stores like Michael's, or the craft department of a major fabric store. If you live in a rural area that doesn't have such stores available, there are many craft mail-order places on the Internet that sell these supplies.

28 size 2 gold bugle beads. Size 2 bugle beads are about 3/16 inch (4 millimeters) long. Bugle beads are long glass tubes.
14 size 5 gold bugle beads. Size 5 bugle beads are about 3/8 inch (1 centimeter) long.
6 gold rocaille beads, size 10 or 11. Rocaille beads are glass or plastic beads that have a shiny silver lining. Seed beads may be substituted instead. If you're new to beading, you may find size 10 easier to work with than size 11, because it's slightly larger in size.
198 red rocaille beads, size 10 or 11. Seed beads may be substituted instead.
Nymo, size 0. This is the special nylon thread sold specifically for beading.
Beading needle. This is a special long, very thin needle especially used for beading.
Pair of gold kidney wires.

Making The Earrings

The Foundation Row

The first step is to make the foundation row. This is the row of bugle beads that will anchor everything else in the completed earrings. The stitch used to make the foundation row is called the ladder stitch.

Diagram 1 Cut a piece of the nymo thread about 60 inches (152 centimeters) long. Thread it through the beading needle. Then thread two of the bugle beads onto the needle. Leave a tail at the end of the thread about 4 inches (10 centimeters) long.

Diagram 2 Diagram 3 Hold the two bugle beads side-by-side. Then, thread the needle back through the first bead that was threaded, entering at point 1 and exiting at point 2 as shown in this diagram. Then, thread the needle again through the second bead that was strung, entering at point 3 and exiting and point 4. Pull the thread taut so that the two bugle beads are held in place snugly against each other. Then thread a third bugle bead onto the needle.

Diagram 4 Thread the needle through the second bead you had added, entering again at point 3 as shown in the diagram and exiting again at point 4. Then bring it a second time through the third bead, entering at point 5 and exiting at point 6. Pull the thread taut so that the bugle beads are held snugly next to each other. Thread a fourth bead through the needle.

Diagram 5
Bring the needle through the third bead another time, entering again at point 5 and exiting again at point 6. Then bring it a second time through the fourth bead, entering at point 7 and exiting at point 8. Pull the thread taut so that the bugle beads are held snugly against each other. Continue like this until you have a row of 7 bugle beads snugly nestled against one another.

Now, thread the needle back through each bugle bead once again as shown by the red dotted line in the diagram, to give added strength and reinforcement to the row of beads. Go all the way back, until you have passed the needle through the starting bead a final time. Pull the thread taut so the bugle beads are held snugly against each other.
Diagram 6

The Header

The header is the top of the earrings. It's the next thing you make after completing the foundation row. The stitch used to make the header is the brick stitch or Comanche stitch.

Diagram 7

Row 1

Thread two red rocaille beads onto the needle, and draw them down next to the foundation row. Place the needle so that it passes under the threads connecting the tops of beads 2 and 3, between the two beads. Draw it all the way through, and pull the thread taut. Then pass the needle upward through the bottom of the second red rocaille bead that was strung and pull the thread through. Note the close-up detail in the diagram to the right.

Thread one gold rocaille bead onto the needle, and attach it under the thread that joins beads 3 and 4. Then add one more gold rocaille, then two red rocailles. There will be a total of 6 beads on this row: 2 red on each end, and 2 gold in the middle.

Diagram 8

Row 2

Thread one red, then one gold rocaille bead onto the needle, and attach the same way you attached the first two beads on row 1. Then attach a red rocaille, followed by a gold rocaille, then one more red. You will end up with a total of 5 beads on this row, alternating between red and gold.

Rows 3 Through 5

Continue adding rows of rocaille beads, following the colors shown on the chart to the right.

Diagram 9

Diagram 10
Hanger

String 4 red rocaille beads onto the needle. Bring the needle down through the other bead on row 5. Then, for added strength, bring the needle back up again through the first bead on row 5, through all 4 "hanger" beads, and down through the second bead on row 5. Note the path that the dotted line takes in the diagram.

The Dangles

Diagram 11 You have completed the header. Now it's time to make the dangles, which are the fringe that hangs down from the foundation row. Run the needle down through the holes of the rocaille beads along the side of the header, and out through the bugle bead below them in the foundation row.

String 3 red rocaille beads, then 1 size 2 gold bugle bead, then 3 more red rocaille beads, then 1 size 5 bugle bead, then 3 rocaille beads all onto the thread. Next, run the needle back through the size 5 bugle bead, then all the rocaille beads and bugle above it. Run it back through the bead at the top of the foundation row, then down through the adjacent bead on the foundation row. The three rocaille beads at the bottom of the dangle will form a little triangular fleurette. Pull the thread taut so that there is no bare thread between the foundation row bugle bead and the first rocaille, but don't pull it too tight or the fringe won't dangle properly. Diagram 12

Diagram 13 Now, string the remaining fringe. For each column, come down through the foundation row bugle bead, string the rocailles and bugle beads, come back up through them, and back up through the foundation row. The second column of fringe will have 4 red rocaille beads, then a gold size 2 bugle bead, then 4 more rocaille, a size 5 bugle bead, and 3 rocaille beads for the bottom fleurette. Each column adds 2 more rocailles, one on each side of the size 2 bugle bead, until you reach the center column, which is the longest. Then you remove 2 rocaille beads, one on each side of the size 2 bugle bead, until you reach the other end. Diagram 14

After coming back up through the final foundation row bugle bead, run the needle up through three of the rocaille beads along the edge. Then, tie a knot around the thread that lies between rows 3 and 4 to anchor it, and finally run the thread back down through some of the other rocaille beads. Cut the thread off close to the beads so that the tail isn't visible.

Now thread the starting tail of thread through the needle. Draw it up through the bugle bead on the foundation row next to it, and through some of the rocaille beads in the header. Cut the thread off close to the beads so that the tail isn't visible.

Finishing

Place the hanging loop on a kidney wire.

The first earring is now complete. Make a second earring to match it.

Variations

Size

Drawing Of Earring Variation
One variation is to make the earrings either larger or smaller. This illustration is based on the basic design described in the instructions above, but it shows a foundation row that uses 9 bugle beads instead of 7. The fringe is also longer, using about twice as many beads as the design above.

Of course, there are some disadvantages to making the earrings larger:

They're heavier and therefore more uncomfortable to wear
They use more beads and therefore have a slightly higher cost of materials
They take longer to make.

If you're only going to be making earrings for yourself to wear, or as gifts for your friends, then the only one of these issues that probably matters much to you is the fact that the extra weight may make them a bit more uncomfortable. But if you're planning to make earrings to sell, then you'll want to charge more for the larger ones.

Note how the third earring from the left in the diagram above has an inverted "V" shape in the contrasting color. You can use color like this to give a different look to the header as well as to the fringe.

Bottom Of The Fringe

As shown in the design above, it's possible to get a different look by using only one rocaille bead at the bottom of each dangle, instead of the triple-bead fleurette described above.

Changes In Shape

Here, to the right, is another very simple variation on the basic pattern. Instead of forming a "V" shape, the fringe is slanted, and the slant is echoed in the arrangement of colors in the header.

This earring is made entirely with rocaille (or seed) beads and size 2 bugle beads. You can make it slightly larger by making a foundation row of 9 beads. The foundation row is 7 bugle beads.

This is a good design to use if you want to incorporate three colors in your finished earring. The design to the right uses red, green, and gold, which is nice for Christmas. You could also combine red, blue, and silver for an appealing look. Or, try the autumn colors of red, gold, and brown.
Diagram Of Slant Design

Two Earring Variations
Here, to the left, are two more designs for variations on the beaded earrings.

In the design to the left, size 2 bugle beads are used for the foundation row, but the fringe uses bugle beads that are 1 inch (or 25 mm) in length. For added pizzazz, look for a bead shop that sells the 1-inch or 25-mm bugle beads that have a twist to them. I made a pair like this for each member of my troupe, using gold for the bugle beads and matching the rocaille beads to the color of her troupe costume.

The design to the right shows how size 2 bugle beads can be used for the entire header (except, of course, the hanger). This gives an elongated look to the header which makes for an interesting variation. Use a heavier beading thread for this pair, because the sharp edges of bugle beads can cut a lightweight beading thread when making the header. The fringe for this pair uses an inverted "V" shape, and is composed primarily of bugle beads with just a small number of rocaille beads for contrast. For a Christmas tree look, make the header out of green bugle beads, the hanger out of gold, and omit the fringe.

Color

Another obvious variation is to use different colors. You can arrange the same colors into different orders to get different looks. Note how different all four of the earrings in the above illustration look from each other, even though all of them use exactly the same number of bugle beads and rocaille beads arranged in exactly the same way. The arrangement of color is what makes the difference.

Make several pairs, to match your various dance costumes and party outfits. Some color combinations that look great together include:

Gold with almost anything
Silver with almost anything
Coppery brown with orange, peach, green, blue, or red
Black with either red or white
"Autumn Leaf" colors (brown, red, gold, and orange together)
The colors of your country's flag
"Christmas" colors (red, green, and gold together)
Fuschia with turquoise
Fuschia with lavender
Turquoise with lavender
Emerald green with royal blue
"Halloween" colors (black and orange)
The entire earring made out of only one color

For More Ideas!

There are several good books available in the marketplace that give patterns for other variations on these beaded earrings. Some include designs for pictures incorporated into the beading. Here are the titles of ones I have enjoyed using:

Beaded Earrings: String Beading. Published in 1993 by Design Originals by Suzanne McNeill, 2425 Cullen Street, Fort Worth, TX 76107, U.S.A. Phone: (+1) (817) 877-0067. Covers a wide variety of earrings that can be made with rocaille beads, seed beads, conchos, quill beads, and various lengths of bugle beads. Lots of interesting color combinations. 28 different designs in all. Easy-to-follow diagrams. This book does not give any instructions on "picture" beading, though!
Picture Beading. Published in 1993 by Design Originals by Suzanne McNeill, 2425 Cullen Street, Fort Worth, TX 76107, U.S.A. Phone: (+1) (817) 877-0067. A nice introduction to creating earrings that form pictures with the arrangement of the beads. Designs include doves, cacti, fish, anchors, jack o'lanterns, hearts, apples, butterflies, birds, wolves, Christmas trees, Santas, flowers, stars, turtles, crosses, peacock feathers, thunderbirds, arrows, and snakes. 26 different designs in all. Easy-to-follow diagrams.
An Earful Of Designs, by Sigrid Wynne-Evans. Published by The Beaded Bear, P.O. Box 110894, Campbell, CA 95011, U.S.A. If you're eager to learn how to make picture earrings that form pictures with arrangements of colored beads, then you must add this book to your collection! Dancers will particularly enjoy the Eye Of Horus (utchat) and Bikini Girl (who looks like she could be a belly dancer). Other designs in the book include a macaw, donkey, kabuki mask, fox, woodpecker, rearing horse, peony, tiger, eagle kachina dancer, happy moon, red-tail hawk, alaska landscape, hot air balloon, shepherdess and sheep, fuschia, turtle, geranium, rainbow with pot of gold, rockhopper penguin, Marilyn Monroe, kool kat, wolf, egret, fire serpent, poppy, Japanese crane, hummingbird, and terrier.
Beaded Earrings. Published by Sherwood Designs, P.O. Box 2106, Lakeside, CA 92040, U.S.A. Phone: (+1) (619) 443-7982. Distributor: Craft Warehouse, 26715 Pariso Drive, Mission Viejo, CA 92691, U.S.A. Phone: (+1) (714) 830-3156. These designs are a real change of pace, and offer some designs that are very different from the patterns I suggested. 6 different designs.
Delightful Beaded Earring Designs, by Jan Radford. Published by Eagle's View Publishing, 6756 North Fork Road, Liberty, UT 84310, U.S.A. Focused back on the non-picture style of beaded earrings, this book offers instructions for 81 different patterns. It offers a few picture bead styles (Santa Claus, flag, elf), but the focus is on creative ways to make the headers and the fringe.
Cheyenne Stitch Earrings: Needle Weaving Made Easy Volume 6 ("Holidays"), by Irene Louise. Published by Irene Louise Designs, P.O. Box 51, Greenbank, WA 98253, U.S.A. Phone: (+1) (360) 678-6757. If you're hooked on picture beading, you'll enjoy the holiday-oriented designs offered in this book. Patterns include the valentine heart, shamrock, cross, mother's heart, small U.S. flag, star, star of David, stained glass, Santa Claus, poinsettia, 2 different fawns, snowflake, snow star, Christmas tree, 5 different angel designs, rainbow star, and patchwork star.
Classic Earring Designs, by Nola May. Published by Eagle's View Publishing, 6756 North Fork Road, Liberty, UT 84310, U.S.A. In addition to several nice designs featuring the brick stitch header like the pair on this page, this book shows how to make earrings with star-shaped and lacy headers. Gives 52 patterns altogether.
How To Bead Earrings: An Artistic Approach, by Lori S. Berry. Published by Eagle's View Publishing, 6756 North Fork Road, Liberty, UT 84310, U.S.A. Once you've mastered the simple brick stitch earrings like the pattern I gave, this book will expand your horizons to several new beaded earring techniques. It has a few picture beading patterns, including a Pegasus, some stars, a rainbow, a desert scene, a feather, snowflakes, a heart, and a daisy. It goes on to show how to make a beaded wrapper for a crystal, how to do the flat woven style without a loom, and how to do the peyote stitch. Over 60 patterns in all.