How to make wire-crochet jewelry

March 23rd, 2008 in patterns & designs, jewelry making, crochet, magazine extras

CheriDowd, member

Many unique earing styles start with a circle of crochet.

Wire usually says hardware; now it says designer.

Wire crochet an arsenal of jewelry.

Photo: Scott Phillips

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Making wire-crochet earrings is a simple project for those well versed in crocheting with yarn, but it's also an excellent undertaking for someone who has yet to hold a crochet hook. Regardless of your skill level, it's always a good idea to start your first wire-crochet project with inexpensive wire to get used to handling metal and to practice the stitches. Then work your way up to more expensive metals for truly precious accessories. Read on, and I'll show you how to master the slip knot, chainstitch, slipstitch and half-double crochet stitch with wire. With these stitches, you can alter the basic crochet sequence to easily branch off into delicate wire-crochet bracelets, necklaces, and even rings.

What You'll Need:
Size D crochet hook
3-1⁄2 feet of metal wire
Wire cutters
4 to 6mm beads
Jewelry pliers
Earring backs

Step 1: Make a slip knot to start
Make a loop with the long end over short, as shown below. Use your hook to pull the long end through the loop. Pull the short wire until a knot forms and the loop is 1⁄16 to 1⁄8 inch larger than the hook’s handle. Position the wire to make the next loop.
Tip: Form all loops over the wider part of the hook’s handle. Wire doesn’t stretch like yarn, and this creates wiggle room.

Pull the long end through the loop to create a slip knot.

After making the knot, position the hook to pull through the created loop.

Step 2: Make four more loops to form a chain
Now for the chainstitch: Pull the wire through the loop until another loop of the same size forms. Repeat until you have a five-loop chain.

Continued looping creates a chain.

Step 3: Close the chain into a circle
Insert the hook into the last and first loop. Pull the wire through both to make another loop that remains on the hook (this is a slipstitch).

Use a slipstich to close the circle by slipping hook through both the first and last loops.

Step 4: Second chainstitch
Make a second chainstitch above the circle, as described in step 2. (You now have two loops above the circle to the left of the original slip knot.) Yarn over the hook to get ready for the next step.

Start the second chain to create two more loops.

Step 5: Add a row to the circle
Following step 4, insert the hook into the center of the circle. (Don’t pull the wire tight to the crochet hook.) Yarn over the hook again on the back side, and pull the loop through the center hole toward the front. (You’ll have three loops on the crochet hook now, as shown below.) Pull the long wire through all three loops. (Once again, you’ll have one loop on the hook.) Repeat all around the circle.

Three loops on the crochet hook.

Back to one loop on your crochet hook.

Step 6: Secure the earring edge
After the last stitch, remove the hook. Cut the wire 6 inches long. Thread it by hand upward through one loop and then downward through the next. Pull downward tightly.

Use your hands to loop the wire.

Step 7: Finish Up
Take the wire end up through a crochet stitch on the edge of the inner circle, add a pretty bead as shown, and then take the wire down through a stitch on the opposite side of the inner circle.

Add a center bead.

Step 8: Add an earring back
Secure an earring back to the crochet circle with an end wire. Connect it with several loops. Bury the wire, and cut.

Attach the back.

Photos by Scott Phillips

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posted in: patterns & designs, jewelry making, crochet, magazine extras, earrings, wire

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Comments (3)

CoffeePotPeople writes: Great tutorial. The earrings look like little bird nests, and I love them, but I especially love that bracelet! Makes me want to run for the hook and wire. Posted: 1:33 pm on May 21st