Fancy a pair of earrings that look like a pearl weave, but aren't? Here's a tutorial to create a pair of XL ear rings with ease! It's not a question of mastering any bead-weaving technique, but simply of knowing how to thread them onto a wire and wrap it around a pendant shape. Although this tutorial requires a little patience, it's accessible to everyone! So if you're dreaming of a pair of vintage ear rings, this is the perfect opportunity to get started and make your own!
You can opt for different shapes of pendant to cover. You'll find a few suggestions at the bottom of the page in the "variations" list. Depending on whether you like finer or finer details, opt for larger or smaller beads. All brands of rocailles (Preciosa, Miyuki, Toho...) come in a range of sizes. These are indicated by a number. The larger the number, the smaller the beads. For example, 15/0 pearls are generally the smallest you can find (about 1.5mm in diameter). Conversely, 8/0 pearls are large seed beads (3.1mm in diameter). Let your imagination run wild and mix pearl colors for unique, original earrings.
A few ideas on the fly:
- an unreflected mix of colors for a multicolored effect
- a regular alternation between two colors for a striped effect
- two long color sequences for a two-tone effect... as you can see, the possibilities are endless.
In this tutorial, we used"Charlottes", which are beads packaged on wire. If you opt for a bead size or color that isn't available in "Charlottes", the bead mill option can be a time-saving alternative to the tedious task of stringing beads (and it's quite satisfying too).
We look forward to seeing your creations inspired by this tutorial, so please share them with us on social networks or by leaving a review! Enjoy your creations ;)
Prepare your material. You will need 2 links of the shape and size of your choice, ear studs of your choice (and possibly cabochons to glue on top if the stud is not enough), jewelry glue, and 15/0 or 11/0 seed beads (or another size you choose).
If you choose to use beads that are already packed on strings (called "Charlottes") then you need to gently unravel the strings one after the other from the string pack. To secure each strand, tie a knot around each of the beads on the ends of each strand. This will prevent them from escaping during winding. Use pliers if necessary as the wire is sometimes quite short. Prepare as much wire as you need to cover both links. If you choose to use larger links, you may need a second bag of charlottes.
If you choose a size or color of beads that is not already on wire, you will proceed to the most time consuming step, that of stringing the beads.
To make it easier you can use a bead mill, very practical! To have an overview of our bead mills and how to use them, go to our video: Les aventures d'Elisa et Pierre - Crash test of bead mills.
Thread a long length of beads on a single thread (test with an empty thread to know the length you need to cover 1 link). This will save you time as you will not need to make any connections later on.
Once your wires are ready, start wrapping them around the links. To do this, place thin lines of glue on 1, 2 or 3 sides of your link (depending on its shape). Place the end of a wire and start wrapping. Don't worry, the glue doesn't set quickly and you can adjust the position of your wires for several minutes to cover the link well.
If you have only one beading thread, continue to wind until you have covered the entire link.
If you have multiple strands, you will need to create discrete connections between the strands. Try to position as many of the connections as possible at the back of the link. Place your new wire against the last bead of the previous wire and wrap again. Once your beads are positioned correctly and the glue has dried sufficiently, you can cut the safety knot and any protruding wires.
Repeat these steps for the second link and let the glue dry.
NB: If you have put too much glue on during the making and it is visible, you can try to remove it gently (taking care not to take off the beads) with a toothpick or any metal tool that is suitable.
Now you need to connect the links to your ear stud with a large open ring and your jewelry clips. If you prefer not to have the ring visible, you can try to
You have a question about this tutorial? Ask it to our team and the people who have already tested it. The Perles & Co community is here to help you!
Credits
Perles & Co, Internet & E-Commerce company [01/06/2023] Any reproduction, representation, adaptation, in any form whatsoever, even partial, is prohibited, except for reproduction for private use not intended for collective use, representation in the family circle (art. L 122-5 CPI) and online publishing on condition that the source is mentioned and a link is included to the corresponding page of our site www.perlesandco.com.
