How to Weave Hand Woven Thread Earrings

Hand-woven thread earrings are a fashion that originated in Peru, and have become increasingly popular worldwide. The earrings use embroidery floss in varying colors to create a pretty, webbed look inside wire teardrops and circle shapes. Woven earrings can be made at home using simple wire and embroidery thread from a craft store. You can weave thread earrings using just your fingers and a little concentration, and you will end up with beautiful jewelry that is low-cost and fun to make.

Things You'll Need

• 14-gauge copper wire, 6 inches
• 26-gauge copper wire, 3 feet
• Embroidery floss, various colors
• Clear finger nail polish
• Wire cutters
• Pliers
• Coiling gizmo
• Earring post

Instructions

1. Shape the 14-gauge wire into a teardrop, circle or oval shape. At the point where the ends of the wire intersect, leave an extra ½ inch to 1 inch of wire overhang.

2. Feed 3 feet of 26-gauge wire through the coiling gizmo. The wire will come out extremely tightly coiled. Pull each end gently so that there is a small gap between each coil. Slide one end of the straight wire through the center of the coiled wire and wrap it completely around the teardrop or circle. Reshape the teardrop or other shape to make sure the shape is even.

3. Choose one color of embroidery thread and tie one end around the longer piece of wire at the top of your shape. Pull the thread straight down, cutting the shape in half. Wrap the thread around the center coil at the bottom of the shape, then pull it back up and wrap it around one coil to the right of your starting place. Bring the thread back down to the left of the first wrap on the bottom of the shape and then back up to the right of the previous coil on top. Pull the thread down again, wrapping it around the next coil to the left on the bottom of the shape. Continue this process, moving entirely around all of the coils of the earring.

4. Add another color to the earring. Choose a starting point that is different than that of the previous color; for instance, start near the bottom of the tear drop on the right hand side. Wrap the thread around the coil in the same spot on the opposing side and create the same pattern as before, moving one spot to the right on the right hand side, and one spot to the left on the left hand side. Continue this process until you like the shape you have formed, and then even add a third color, starting in a different spot on the earring.

5. Wrap the longer piece of wire around the earring post at the top of the shape and use pliers to clamp it closed. Dab nail polish around the edge of the earring to prevent fraying.

Tips & Warnings

• Once you have added thread to the wire shape, don't try to reshape the wire. This will cause the thread to fall off and you will have to start all over.

References

• YouTube: How to Make Peruvian Threaded Earrings