How to Make Earrings From a Toggle Clasp

A toggle clasp contains two parts: a straight bar and a round ring. When you close a toggle clasp, you pass the bar through the round ring and it sits inside the ring to hold a bracelet or necklace securely. Because jewelry making at its best involves imagination and innovation, striving to create the unusual may involve using standard pieces in different ways. Make earrings from a toggle clasp for jewelry and get appreciative glances.

Things You'll Need

• 2 eye pins
• Chain-nose pliers
• 2 toggle clasps
• 2 4-mm beads
• Round-nose pliers
• 2 earring findings
• Wire cutters

Instructions

1. Open the loop of an eye pin using the chain-nose pliers. Insert the loop of a toggle clasp onto the open loop of the eye pin and close the loop again with the pliers.

2. Place a bead onto the eye pin and push the bead down until it rests on the eye of the eye pin.

3. Bend the wire of the eye pin into a 90-degree angle about 1/4-inch above the bead using the round-nose pliers. Grasp the bent wire on the horizontal side of the 90-degree angle and twist the pliers back the other way to wrap the wire around the round pliers. Continue turning the pliers until the wire forms a complete loop and then stop.

4. Insert the loop of an earring finding into the loop you just created. With the earring finding inside the loop, grasp the loop with the chain-nose pliers to hold it securely. Grasp the extending wire with the round nose pliers at the same time and wrap it around the base of the loop tightly two or three times to complete the wrapped loop. Cut off any excess wire flush with the wire cutters.

5. Repeat Steps 1 through 4 to make a second earring.

References

• "Exquisite Beaded Jewelry"; Lynda S. Musante; 2004