Knot Your Average Posts earring instructions
April 20, 2009
I posted these cute earrings in a couple of forums and was asked to create a tutorial for them. They are fairly quick to make, and have loads of possibilities! Add a simple loop at the bottom and drop another dangle below the main stone.
The first version I made using 20g gold-filled round wire and citrine stones. The wire hardened up after tumbling enough that I felt it was stable. In this version, I’ve used 22g half hard sterling wire, which is what I usually use for earring findings.
While you will want to be careful not to “chew” up your wire with the pliers, don’t worry about bending the tail up a little.
Knot Your Average Post Earrings
Level – Experienced Beginner – should have some experience with wire work
Materials
6″ 22g HH round sterling silver wire
6mm beads (2)
Tools
Round nosed or stepped pliers
Flush cutter
Chain nose pliers
Nylon jaw pliers
Cup Burr
1. Cut wire in half so you have two lengths 3″ each. This will be longer than you will need for your posts, but I find it’s much easier to work with longer lengths for this project. Instructions below are for one earring; therefore, you’ll just be using one length of wire and one bead.
2. Make a tiny hook on one end of the wire using round nosed or step pliers. Close hook using chain nose pliers to make a head pin.
3. Thread bead on wire, allowing it to fall to the bottom.
4. Make a small loop at the top of the bead, using the round nosed pliers. I use my fingers as much as possible to pull the wire at this point, which decreases the stress on the wire and keeps it as straight as possible. The loop needs to be just high enough above the bead to allow one wrap around the “neck” of the loop.
5. Wrap the tail of the loop ONLY 3/4 of the way around the neck.
6. Using the tip of your round nose pliers or the smallest section of the stepped pliers, make a small U shape in the tail, very close to the neck of the loop. This will make it easier to complete the final pull through the loop.
7. Bend the tail so that you can guide it back through the loop.
8. Carefully pull the tail through the loop, making a knot at the base. This will get a little fiddly, you can use your chain nose pliers to pull it through or to hold the loop at the top while you pull the tail through.
9. When the tail is nearly through, I use my chain nose pliers to help push the U (created in Step 6) all the way through the loop.
10. Hold the top of the loop with your chain nosed pliers. At the same time, straighten the wire tail using a nylon jawed pliers until you have most of the bends out, and it’s at a 90 degree angle from the loop.
11. Mark the tail at 3/4″ from the back of the loop using a Sharpie.
12. Trim the tail at the Sharpie mark.
13. Use a Cup Burr to file the end smooth.
14. Repeat for second earring.
At this point, I would also suggest tumbling the earring at least a short time to ensure the ends are perfectly smooth, to harden the post and to give it a nice shine. Add a plastic backer to hold the earring in place.
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Thanks for the tutorial! It’s very nice to see so many pictures. / byZarah.com