How To Make Beaded Earrings

Here is an illustrated tutorial on how to make beaded earrings. I taught myself to do this many years ago, enjoyed it ever since, and have even sold a few pairs along the way. I can't say for sure that everyone makes them the same way i do, but this method has always worked well for me.

1. Nylon thread
2. Beading needles
3. Seed beeds
4. Bugle beads
5. Earring wires (fish hook style)
6. A lot of patience
7. Passion for what you do

The first thing i do is take a long piece of thread. The length of both my arms stretched out is usually enough, maybe even a bit longer just to be sure. Thread the needle and figure out where the half way point of your thread is. This is where you will begin your foundation row.

The foundation row can be made with seed beeds or bugle beads. When i use seed beeds i like to use three at a time, so actually i am ending up with something the same size as one bugle bead. That is totally up to you though. Here is how it's done.

Whether you use bugle beads or seed beads makes no differance. The technique is the same. You can make your foundation row as wide as you want, and you will end up with a row like you see in the image below. Now you will begin beading the top part of your earring.

When you are beginning a row, always pick up two beads first as shown above. After that, you continue on but this time only picking up one bead at a time, until your row is finished. When you are done the row, turn your work and begin a new row. This technique is known as the brick stitch.

When you have finished and attached the earwire, simply weave the remaining thread down through some beads till you are sure it is nice and secure, Snip any thread remaining.

Time to add some fringe. We are almost done!

This is the easiest part of making beaded earrings. After you finished the top of the earring, and worked in the remaining thread you should notice you have a long tail of thread below the foundation row. (Remember thats why we started the foundation row midway up our length of thread)

Thread your needle with this thread. Add as many beads as you prefer. Some people like short earrings, some people like long dangly ones. Follow the diagram to the right. Weave in remaing thread when you are done.