How to make wire spiral and bead earrings

These pretty wire & bead spiral earrings are easy to make, even for a beginning wirework artist.

Supplies

10” of 18 gauge, soft, round wire

3’ of 24-26gauge round wire

14 –  5mm beads

1 set of ear wires

Round nose pliers

Flat nose or chain nose pliers

Wire cutter

Instructions
1.  Cut the 18 gauge wire in half so that each piece is 5” long.
2.  Form an open spiral leaving a ½ tail at the top
3.  Form a small loop out of the tail facing the opposite direction and center it on top
of the spiral.  This is the frame.
4.  Cut 18” of the 24-26 gauge wire and attached it to the top of the spiral near the
loop.  Leave a 1” tail to hold on to.  This is the weaving wire.
5.  Holding the spiral frame in your non dominant hand, coil the fine wire around the        frame approximately 3/4″.

6.  Add a bead to the weaving wire.  Push the bead down snuggly against the spiral frame.
7.  Continue to coil the weaving wire around the frame in the same direction for 3
turns.  Hold the bead firmly in place with the non dominant hand while you coil.

8.  Add another bead and repeat step 6 until you’ve added 7 beads.
9.  The 7^th bead should be directly opposite the 1^st bead on the frame.  If not, gently adjust the beads  so they appear symmetrical.

10.   Continue to coil around the frame until you reach the top of the frame near the loop

11.   With the same weaving wire, connect the top of the frame to the body of the spiral near the top loop.  Wrap the wire 2-3 times around this section.

12.   Cut the weaving wire close to the frame and tuck it in with the flat or chain nose pliers.

13.  Cut the tail at the top of the spiral where the coiling started and tuck it in as in step 12.

14.  Attach an ear wire to the loop at top of the frame.

15.  Make another earring but remember to face the spiral in the opposite direction to the first earring before adding the ear wire.  You will have a left and right earring.

Tips & Variations

Although 18 gauge, soft wire is strong, your spiral can open up a bit if you pull it too hard.  A little adjustment with flat nose pliers will fix it.  A light hammering will also harden it and give it a different look.  A heavier 16 gauge wire can be used but may make the earrings a bit heavy.

This earring design can also be varied by using more or smaller beads.
The beads can also be added at the bottom only or you can add a bead to
the center of the spiral.    I’m sure you can come up with a number of variations.