What could be better than learning to make your own with this quick and easy tutorial? The materials you need for this project are:
At least 10 inches of 20 gauge wire (for hoops between 1 to 1 1/2 inches in diameter)2 open jump rings2 french hook ear wiresBeads that will fit on the 20 gauge wire.
The jewelry making tools you need are round nose pliers, flat or chain nose pliers, wire cutters, and an emery board nail file. The only wire skills you need to know are to make a simple loop and open a jump ring.
Materials to Make Beaded Hoop Earrings
Twenty gauge wire is ideal for these hoops. If your wire is any thicker, you will have difficulty finding beads with large enough holes to fit on the hoops. If the wire is any thinner, it can be hard to make it retain the hoop shape, especially as the size of the hoop gets larger. To make the round hoop shape, you will need a mandrel of some sort. Any smooth round object of the right size that you can wrap your wire around and then slide the wire coil off will work. We use plastic step mandrels that are made by BeadSmith. They are inexpensive and work well with soft wire. Once you find an object with the size you want your hoop to be, wrap the wire around it to form a coil. Wrap between 2 1/2 to 3 times around. You should expect your finished coil to be slightly larger than the object you wrap around since the wire will spring out a little once you remove it from the mandrel.
Cut the Wire Coil Into Hoops
Use the wire cutters to cut the coil into two separate hoops. Allow the ends of the hoop to overlap by roughly 1/4 inch. Be sure to file the cut ends smooth using an emery board nail file or another sanding tool.
Make Sure the Wire Hoops Are the Same Size
After you trim the coil apart into two hoops, align them and verify they are about the same size. Any difference in size will be noticeable because it can affect the finished size of the earrings.
Make Loops on the End of the Wire and Add Beads
Make a simple loop on one side of the hoop by turning the wire away from you on your round nose pliers. Ear wires will keep the beads from sliding off the end. Add as many beads to the hoop as you like. We tend to add them just over half full, but you could add more or less. You need to leave enough empty wire to make one more simple loop to lock the beads on the hoop. Once all of the beads are added, make a loop on the other side of the wire. Make the loop in the same direction as the first one.
Add a Jump Ring and Ear Wire to Finish Your Earrings
Open your jump ring by twisting the sides apart. Add the two loops of the hoop and then the jump ring. Be sure that the loops will face towards the back of the earring when it is hanging, not the front. Close the jump ring and make any necessary final adjustments. Repeat these steps with the other hoop.
Make a Pair of Beaded Hoops for Every Day of the Week
These earrings can be made very quickly with some basic wire skills. If you want to make them even quicker, you can use memory wire for the hoop and skip the steps of ear wires the coil. Memory wire is convenient but difficult to cut and bend. Be sure to use heavy-duty wire cutters. Memory wire is also only available in a small number of sizes and finishes, so your options will be more limited than if you make the hoops yourself.
