Double spiral links

These earrings are made with silver art wire, sterling headpins/earwires and pearls.

These earrings are made with silver art wire, sterling headpins/earwires and pearls.

I have been making spirals for years, but always wanted to make one with two loops, one on the top and one on the bottom. Make two spirals and lash them together to create a link with two loops, following these easy step-by-step instructions.

Skills needed

Use of round-tipped and chain-nose pliers and wire cutters; making a spiral; wrapped loops; knowing how to properly open and close jump rings.

Tools

Round-tipped pliers; flush cutters; chain-nose pliers.

Materials

  • Four 5” lengths of 18 gauge wire; two 11” lengths of 26 gauge wire in matching colors
  • Pair of earwires, sterling silver, 14K gold-filled, or niobium to match wire and headpin color
  • Two 1” or longer thin (22 gauge) head pins in metal to match color of wire
  • Two matching 6mm pearls or round beads
  • Two matching 3mm pearls or round beads

Directions

Components: Make four spirals with the 5” lengths of 18 gauge wire. Open the loops slightly just as you would open a jump ring (i.e., with chain-nose pliers, side to side, like opening a door). To make the pearl centers, thread each 3mm pearl onto an 11” length of 26 gauge wire. Center the pearl in the length of wire and pinch the wire around it in a narrow “U”-shape. Trim the ends of the “U”-shape so that they are the same length. To make the earring dangles, thread each 6mm pearl onto a headpin, and make a wrapped loop for each dangle. Lay out the components ready to assemble (figure 1).

Assembly: place two spirals together lined up so that there is a loop on the top and a loop on the bottom (figure 2). Thread the ends of the pearl-center-“U”-shape through the lined-up holes in the middle of the two spirals. Flip the piece around and pull each end of the “U” -shape towards the loops on either side of the piece (figure 3). Wrap each end of the “U”-shape firmly twice around the base of each loop (figure 4); trim. Add earwires to the top of the piece and earring dangles to the bottom (figure 5), before you close all loops as you would close jump rings. Check your earring to make sure it hangs straight down and that the 3mm pearls face forward when worn. Check the sides and straighten loops with chain-nose pliers if they seem crooked.

fig.1

fig.1

fig. 2

fig. 2

fig 3

fig. 3

fig. 4

fig. 4

fig. 5

fig. 5

You can make a bracelet and earring set with these versatile links.

bracelet and earring set

bracelet and earring set