Swirled Loop French Earring Wires
Make your own French earring wires to embellish as you wish.
Materials
Sterling silver wire, 18-20g
I prefer to work off a spool of wire to limit waste, but you may wish to cut a 2 1/2" length of wire until you are used to making ear wires. I also use both half hard or dead soft wire; use a tumbler or hammer technique to harden dead soft once your ear wire is completed.
Make a tiny loop at one end of your wire using a round-nosed pliers. Using a nylon-jawed or flat pliers, make tiny turns of the loop to swirl the wire around the loop 2 times.
Using the tip of your pliers, grasp the wire just below the loop and bend it backwards. Use the large end of a stepped pliers or a wooden dowel to make a final loop to thread through piercing. Using fingers, gently bend the wire up so that it will not fall out of your ear.
Clip excess wire if needed and smooth end with a burr cup or fine file. To use the ear wire, create dangles (see Simple Dangle Earrings project) and hang from bottom loop.
