Make Your Own Earrings

This page has a sample beadweaving lesson. You will learn to do a basic brick stitch, creating an earring in the process. If you find the directions difficult to follow, or have suggestions for improvement, please contact me using the Contact Us link at the left side of the page. Free Download: PDF version of this tutorial
Materials you will need:
	Beading needle
	Seed or Delica© beads in colors of your choice
	Beading thread: either pre-waxed, or waxed with a lump of beading wax. Alternatively, I have heard waxed dental floss may work well, though I haven't tried it.

Step 1: Preparation. Cut approximately one yard of thread; wax if necessary. Thread needle.
Step 2. Thread 7 beads on thread, as shown.
	The beads should fall like this on the thread. Let them fall to about halfway down the thread.
Step 3. Now bring the needle back under and through the top bead, as shown. Pull it taut.
	Step 4. Bring needle under bottom of next bead on thread. Pull it up through. It should wind up next to the first bead, as shown in this diagram.
Continue to the end of the row. It should end up like this, only with the thread more taut. Don't worry if the row isn't perfectly even; it should even out as you add rows, and it will also get better with practice.
	Step 5. Now pick up a bead with your needle and let it slide down the thread. Bring needle under the thread bridging the last two beads, then up through the bottom of the bead you just added. Pull taut; it should wind up like this diagram.
Step 6. Do the same with the next bead.
	Step 7. Now complete the second row the same way.
Step 8. You now know enough to complete the top part of the earring to this point.
	Step 9. Now we will make the loop for attaching the earring. Pick up six beads with your needle.
Step 10. Bring the needle down through the right top bead, then back up through the left top bead. Run the needle and thread on this loop several times for strength. The loop is shown, but the thread shouldn't show on your earring.
	Step 11. Bring needle down through next bead. Then bring it under a thread connecting any two nearby beads. Run around and through loop to make a small knot; pull it tight, but not too hard. It should disappear into your weaving. Run the needle through more beads at an angle to the bottom; pull out and cut this thread.
Step 12. Turn earring upside down, and thread needle with the trailing thread. Add bead as you did in Step 5.
	Step 13. Continue beading until the earring is finished. Run thread through beads and tie off, as in Step 11. Thread will run through center of beads like in the path shown in this picture, though the path doesn't have to be the same as this. Again, the thread won't show. The knot should again disappear into the weaving.
Step 14. Congratulations! Your earring is done. Make a twin sister for it and hang it from earring findings, and it's ready to wear!