Crystal cluster beaded earrings tutorial
These earrings are fairly simple to make although they do take a bit of patience and you may have sore fingers at the end! They are an excellent way to practice wire-wrapped loops (if you do not yet know how to create wire-wrapped loops see this post that gives links to tutorials on the net).
N.B. To see a bigger picture of these earrings please visit the original post where I first introduced them.
Here’s what you need:
2 x length of chain consisting of 9 fairly large links (if you don’t have any loose chain you can appropriate necklace extenders such as these for the task)
72 x headpins. I used 2 inch silver-plated headpins
72 x crystals or 4mm beads of your choice
Round nose pliers
Flat nose pliers
1 pair of ear hooks
For my example I used 3 shades of crystals to create a gradient effect. You could use any combination of colours, a solid colour or even create a rainbow effect.
Start by adding 4 beads on wire-wrapped loops to the link at the bottom of the chain like so:
diagram 1
As you proceed to add beads up the length of the chain add 2 wire-wrapped crystals/rounds on one side of the previous set and 2 on the other side like this:
diagram 2
This will ensure that they hang nice and evenly. That’s all there is to it! Just keep adding beads as you wish. To achieve the gradient effect I changed colour after 3 rows. Once complete add to an ear hook and hey presto just the other one to do.
Besides changing the colourways you could also experiment with the length of chain and the number of beads.
Hope you enjoyed this mini-tute.
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Lynn Said,
June 30, 2007 @ 11:35 pm
Really a nice little tut - I love your diagrams!
Sandee Matis Said,
July 13, 2007 @ 9:47 pm
I’m viewing this a little late but I agree with the other comment. The diagrams make the instructions very easy to understand. I really appreciate you taking the time to share this.
Thank you.
Sandee
Uma P Said,
July 30, 2008 @ 2:39 pm
Hi! I love the shaded aspect to your design. Quick question though, do you put the “2″ side crystals in the tiny ring above the larger link? Or is it in the next link up? It is a bit confusing the diagram. thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!
Clare Said,
August 6, 2008 @ 7:03 pm
Hi Uma,
To put it more simply each link has 4 crystals attached to it all the way up the chain. Each link is the same size, I think what you mean by the ‘tiny ring’ is actually just my indication of where the two links overlap, it is not a separate smaller link. In my diagrams I have flattened out the effect of the chain for ease of drawing purposes! Hope this makes it clearer for you.
Best wishes
Clare
Uma P Said,
August 6, 2008 @ 11:49 pm
Ahhh now I get it!!! Thank you. My eyesight is going so I was a tad confused:-) I really love your design, thanks for sharing.