Barbell Drop Earrings

Skill Level: Beginner/All

Technique: Earrings

These earrings feature how to make a "barbell" link, and show one of the many ways to incorporate it with the following "easy to make" design.

Materials

• 1 10" lengths of 22 Gauge Square Half-Hard Wire
• 12 2mm Round Metal Beads
• 6 4mm Round Metal Beads
• 1 pair Ear Wires
• 6 1" Headpins
• 2 4mm Jump Rings

Tools

• Chain Nose Pliers
• Flat Nose Pliers
• Round Nose Pliers
• Wire Cutters
• Pin Vise
• Ruler
• Extra Fine Point Marker

Instructions

1. Clean, straighten and then cut the one 9½ inch piece of wire. (You will have a little extra wire, but I like to be safe.) Insert this wire into a pin vise and twist. Cut this twisted wire into the following lengths: 2 pieces each 1-inch long, 2 pieces each 1½ inches long and 2 pieces each 2-inches long. Next measure and mark½ inch from each end of all cut wires.
   

2. Use flat-nose pliers to make a 90° bend at each of these marks, in the same directions, looking like a staple.
   
   

3. Decide on the size needed for the barbell end loops and mark the appropriate length on round-nose pliers.
   
   

4. Use this reference mark to make consistent loops at the end of each staple shape, by grasping the bent end with the marked round nose pliers and rolling the tool back toward the wire, leaving one end slightly open and tightly closing the other end.
   
   

5. Make headpin charms with a wrapped loop on each of the headpins.
   
   
   
   

6. Insert each of the headpin charms into an open loop at the end of each barbell and close the loop firmly.
   
   

7. Open each 4mm jump ring, insert and arrange the finished barbell drops as desired, then close the ring completely. Add this completed jump ring component to your favorite ear posts or ear wires.
   
   

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