Soft Square Earrings

by Margot Potter

Category: Contemporary
Technique(s): Making Loops
Skill Level: Beginner

I'm a big fan of simple geometric shapes and the malleability of aluminum wire allows you to give them a softer appeal.

Aluminum is a unique metal, and working with it takes a little practice. Note that each time you strike or bend it, the metal switches back and forth between being stiff and pliable.

Make sure that your final pieces have been worked hardened to maintain their shape, striking them on the bench block with a nylon hammer should achieve this result.

Materials

12 Gauge Silver Enameled Aluminum Wire - 40FT

H14-V12-40FT

Lesson Quantity: 12.00 inches
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $8.97
Gold Club Price: $6.73

Out of Stock

20 gauge silver aluminum

Lesson Quantity: 8.00 inches
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

African Turquoise 4mm Round Beads - 8 Inch Strand

A1-733

Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $6.30
Gold Club Price: $4.73

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Sterling Silver Earwires 21mm w/ 1.5mm Bead - Pack of 2

K19-50

Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $2.40
Gold Club Price: $1.80

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Sterling Silver Jump Ring Open (.030) 20ga. (OD) 5mm (ID) 4.06mm - Pack of 10

K11-28

Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $2.74
Gold Club Price: $2.06

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Tools

Round Nose Wire Pliers

G2-507

G2-507
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $32.95
Gold Club Price: $24.71

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Flat Nose Wire Pliers

G2-506

G2-506
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $32.95
Gold Club Price: $24.71

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Chain Nose Wire Pliers

G2-508

G2-508
Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $32.95
Gold Club Price: $24.71

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C.H.P Milano Italian Flush Cutter, 5 1/2 Inches

PLR-487.00

PLR-487.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $16.97
Gold Club Price: $12.73

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Steel Bench Block 4x4 Inch - Pack of 1

G17-10

G17-10
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $21.95
Gold Club Price: $16.46

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Flat Face Chasing Hammer with Wood Handle - Economy

G3-14

G3-14
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $11.57
Gold Club Price: $8.68

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5/8 Inch Double Rubber/Nylon Head Hammer - Pack of 1

G3-26

G3-26
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $4.97
Gold Club Price: $3.73

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12 Inch Stainless Steel Ruler

G7-30

G7-30
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $2.97
Gold Club Price: $2.23

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Instructions

Step 1

Cut two 6" segments of 12-gauge aluminum wire. Use nylon-jaw pliers to straighten the wires.

Margot Potter's Soft Square Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, straighten the wire with nylon-jaw pliers

Step 2

Use round-nose pliers to turn a loop on one end of each wire.

Margot Potter's Soft Square Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, make a loop

Step 3

Bend wires 90-degrees at the 1" mark as shown. Wire should be angled, use the top of your pointer finger to create a soft bend.

Margot Potter's Soft Square Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, bend wire 90 degrees

Step 4

Mark down 1" using a non-permanent marker.

Margot Potter's Soft Square Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, mark one inch with a marker

Step 5

Use flat-nose pliers to create a 90-degree angle in wire as shown.

Margot Potter's Soft Square Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, make a 90 degree bend in the wire

Step 6

Mark down 1" and bend wire up at a 90-degree angle. This completes your square shape.

Margot Potter's Soft Square Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, make a 90 degree bend

Step 7

Bend wire tail across center of the square shape diagonally.

Margot Potter's Soft Square Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, bend the wire diagonally

Step 8

Use round-nose pliers to form a loop in the end of the wire tail. (You may need to adjust the length of the tail by nipping some excess wire off.) Use nylon-jaw pliers to make any adjustments, work on the two pairs at the same time to maintain unity in design.

Step 9

Use a chasing hammer on a steel bench block to add texture to the front of your earring bases.

Margot Potter's Soft Square Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, add texture with a hammer

Step 10

Hammer earrings shapes with nylon hammer to work harden.

Margot Potter's Soft Square Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, work harden with a nylon hammer

Step 11

Cut two 4" segments of 20- or 22-gauge copper wire. Thinner wire is easier to wrap, but not as sturdy so use what works best for you.

Margot Potter's Soft Square Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, cut two pieces of wire

Step 12

Wrap the wire around the top angled base wire on your square shape three times as shown.

Margot Potter's Soft Square Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, wrap the wire around the earring

Step 13

Thread on your bead.

Margot Potter's Soft Square Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, string on a bead

Step 14

Wrap the wire around the angled center wire as shown three times, using chain-nose pliers if needed to pull wire and maintain tension.

Step 15

Cut off excess wire tails with wire cutter. Tuck ends under with chain-nose pliers. Adjust wraps using flat-nose pliers.

Margot Potter's Soft Square Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, trim wire tails

Step 16

Bend the earring loops to the side using chain-nose pliers, opposite directions for a left and right earring.

Margot Potter's Soft Square Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, open the ear wires

Step 17

Attach earring wires to the earrings using jump rings and two pairs of chain-nose pliers.

Margot Potter's Soft Square Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, attach the ear wire

Step 18

Repeat all steps for the second earring.

Margot Potter's Soft Square Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, repeat all steps for second earring

Reviews

Margot Potter

Margot Potter is a fine artist, designer, writer, performer, and digital content creator. She's published seven books on jewelry making and design and appeared on local and national TV as a design expert. Equally comfortable at the writer’s desk, in the art studio, onstage, or in front of the camera, her unique jewelry designs have been inspiring creatives for decades.