Basic Guide

When I started making jewellery I found it very difficult just getting started as simple instructions were hard to find. With this in mind I have devised the following instructions for getting started with earrings and beaded necklaces or bracelets. Making jewellery is all about experimenting, once you have the basics right you can do what you like, I hope this guide will help.

Earring Making Instructions

You will need:

2 x Earwires

2 x Headpins

Your chosen beads

Round nosed pliers (optional but very useful)

Step 1

Begin with a headpin, these have flat ends on the bottom to keep the beads in place. They come indifferent thicknesses and lengths.

Step 2

Add your chosen beads. Experiment with different shapes and colours. Try not to make them too heavy or else they will be uncomfortable to wear. Leave around 1/2 inch of the headpin above the top bead for the loop you will make in step 4, trim any excess.

Step 3

Bend the top of the headpin 90 degrees. A pair of round nosed pliers works best for this.

Step 4

Bend the end of the headpin to create a loop, again round nosed pliers work best for this. Try practising making loops on basic wire first. All you need to do now is connect this dangle to an ear wire...and then make another one!

You can also use eyepins to create your earrings. These are similar to headpins but have a loop on the end instead of a head. Try adding just one or two beads to a couple of eyepins and connecting them all up. You can also add a large jump ring to your earwire to enable you to hang several dangles.

Bracelet/Necklace Making Instructions

You will need:

Your chosen length of Tiger tail wire

2 x Crimp beads

1 x Clasp 

1 x Jump ring

Begin by planning your design. The easiest way to make a bracelet or necklace is to start by adding your clasp. This way you don't have to worry about the beads falling off!

Step 1

Cut your tiger tail wire to the size you want but allow around 5 extra inches.

Step 2

Slide on a crimp bead followed by your clasp. Thread the tiger tail back through the crimp bead (be careful not to let the wire kink) and pull it tight. Flatten the crimp bead with pliers and trim the excess wire.

Step 3

Thread your chosen beads.

Step 4

Repeat step 2 again but add a small jump ring instead of a clasp. Make sure you pull everything together fairly tightly so the beads don't move around.