Albina Manning's Birch Leaf Earrings, Wire Weaving. Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire. Craft wire can be easy to work with, and comes in lots of colors! The following pattern shows you how to make earrings that remind me of leaves from a birch tree (one of my favorite trees).
Birch Leaf Earrings
by Albina Manning
  • Category: Weaving
  • Technique(s): Coiling, Wrapping, Weaving
  • Skill Level: Intermediate
Craft wire can be easy to work with, and comes in lots of colors! The following pattern shows you how to make earrings that remind me of leaves from a birch tree (one of my favorite trees). Of course, if you change the shape of the base-wire frame, you could make leaves to resemble almost any type of flower or tree leaf you would like. I used sea foam green-toned wire, but you could use any color you would like.

Materials

26 Gauge Round Silver Plated Sea Foam Copper Craft Wire - 45 ft
H17-B26-45FT
  • Lesson Quantity: 8.00 feet
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $6.00
  • Gold Club Price: $4.50
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18 Gauge Round Silver Plated Sea Foam Copper Craft Wire - 12 ft
H17-B18-12FT
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 feet
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $8.92
  • Gold Club Price: $6.69
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Sterling Silver Earwire w/ Ball & Coil 19.5mm - Pack of 2
K19-40
  • Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Price: $2.13
  • Gold Club Price: $1.60
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Tools

Chain Nose Wire Pliers
G2-508
  • G2-508
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $32.95
  • Gold Club Price: $24.71
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Round Nose Wire Pliers
G2-507
  • G2-507
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $32.95
  • Gold Club Price: $24.71
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C.H.P Milano Italian Flush Cutter, 5 1/2 Inches
PLR-487.00
  • PLR-487.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $16.97
  • Gold Club Price: $12.73
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Wood Ring Mandrel - Pack of 1
G7-55
  • G7-55
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Price: $11.95
  • Gold Club Price: $8.96
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Instructions
Step 1
To make a frame, begin by straightening one 6" (15cm) length of 18-gauge wire. About one third of the way up from one end, curve the wire around the dowel so where the wire crosses itself it forms a leaf shape with a 7mm tail overlapping the longer end.
Albina Manning's Birch Leaf Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, Form leaf shape with 18 gauge wire.
Step 2
To make a matching pair of leaves, repeat Step 1 with the remaining 18-gauge wire and set this second frame aside.
Albina Manning's Birch Leaf Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, Make another leaf shape.
Step 3
Where the wires overlap, use chain nose pliers to grab the long wire and begin bending it closely over the shorter tail. Before crimping the bend tight, make sure this longer wire is in the center of the leaf shape, forming the midrib (the central vein in a leaf).
Albina Manning's Birch Leaf Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, Form the midrib.
Albina Manning's Birch Leaf Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, Form the midrib.
Step 4
Cut one 4-foot (1.2m) length of 26-gauge wire. This will now be called the wrapping wire. Leaving a 1" (25mm) tail, wrap this wire twice around the frame as shown.
Albina Manning's Birch Leaf Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, Us 26 gauge wire to get the wrapping wire.
Step 5
Push the wraps just made toward the "corner" of the frame. Now bring the wrapping wire over and under the midrib wire wrapping once, forming the first "vein."
Albina Manning's Birch Leaf Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, Wrap the wrapping wire to the midrib.
Step 6
Return to the short tail remaining on the wrapping wire, and wrap this tail around the opposite frame twice. Trim the wire close to the frame (red arrow).
Albina Manning's Birch Leaf Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, Wrap the tail around the frame.
Step 7
Now bring the longer wrapping wire under the frame wire (green arrow) forming the second vein and wrap twice.
Albina Manning's Birch Leaf Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, Form the second vein.
Albina Manning's Birch Leaf Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, Form the second vein.
Step 8
Continuing to use the wrapping wire, wrap it around the midrib wire once (as described in Step 5).
Albina Manning's Birch Leaf Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, Wrap the wrapping wire around the midrib.
Albina Manning's Birch Leaf Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, Wrap the wrapping wire around the midrib.
Step 9
Next, wrap the wrapping wire twice around the frame and then repeat Steps 7 and 8 on the opposite side. And then wrap the wire around the frame three times.
Albina Manning's Birch Leaf Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, Wrap the wrapping wire more around the frame.
Step 10
Continue wrapping in segments of 3, until you almost reach the end of the midrib. Now, make 5 wraps on each side.
Albina Manning's Birch Leaf Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, Wrapping in segments.
Step 11
Finish the wrapping by making 8 to 10 wraps on the frame and then wrap the wrapping wire over the midrib wire. Continue wrapping until you reach the last vein. Trim and tuck the end of the wrapping wire.
Albina Manning's Birch Leaf Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, Continued Wrapping.
Albina Manning's Birch Leaf Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, Continued Wrapping.
Step 12
To finish the tip of the leaf, use chain nose pliers to carefully bend the 7mm tail under the "corner" as shown.
Albina Manning's Birch Leaf Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, Use chain nose pliers to bend the tail under the corner.
Albina Manning's Birch Leaf Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, Use chain nose pliers to bend the tail under the corner.
Step 13
This step is optional: Using your thumb, press gently on the midrib to form a curve.
Albina Manning's Birch Leaf Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, Curve the midrib.
Step 14
To complete this earring, use round nose pliers to form a small connection loop in the last wire end and attach your favorite ear wire.
Now repeat Steps 3 through 14 to make the second earring.
Albina Manning's Birch Leaf Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, Round nose pliers to form a small loop for ear wire.
Albina Manning's Birch Leaf Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, Round nose pliers to form a small loop for ear wire.