Natalie Patten's French Hook Ear Wires, Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin. Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling. Making your own earring hooks can be really helpful to ensure they match the wire used to create wire wrapped earrings.

French Hook Ear Wires

by Natalie Patten
  • Category: Findings
  • Technique(s): Coiling
  • Skill Level: Beginner
Making your own earring hooks can be really helpful to ensure they match the wire used to create wire wrapped earrings. If you create them simultaneously on the pliers, they will match each other exactly.

Materials

20 Gauge Round Full Hard Argentium .940 Silver Wire
H19-20FH
  • Lesson Quantity: 4.00 inches
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
  • Price: $3.51
  • Gold Club Price: $2.63
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26 Gauge Round Half Hard Argentium .940 Silver Wire
H19-26H
  • Lesson Quantity: 2.00 inches
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
  • Price: $0.83
  • Gold Club Price: $0.62
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Silver Filled Bright Beads Seamless (H: 0.9mm) 3mm - Pack of 50
S9-10
  • Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $4.14
  • Gold Club Price: $3.11
Out of Stock
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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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6 1/2 Inch Bail Making Pliers
G2-18
  • G2-18
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $12.78
  • Gold Club Price: $9.58
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10 Piece Diamond Needle Files - 140mm X 3mm
G14-8
  • G14-8
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $13.57
  • Gold Club Price: $10.18
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Wire Rounder Set, 3 pieces
G14-20
  • G14-20
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $13.95
  • Gold Club Price: $10.46
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Instructions
Step 1
Cut the 20-gauge wire to 4 inches in length
Natalie Patten's French Hook Ear Wires - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, french hook ear wires
Step 2
Bend the 20-gauge wire until the ends meet. You can do this with your fingers
Natalie Patten's French Hook Ear Wires - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, french hook ear wires
Step 3
Use chain nose pliers to bring the bend close together.
Natalie Patten's French Hook Ear Wires - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, french hook ear wires
Step 4
Place this bent end into the round nose pliers and rotate into a loop.
Natalie Patten's French Hook Ear Wires - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, french hook ear wires
Step 5
Center the loop, so that it sits at the top of the wire like a lollipop, rather than a P shape
Natalie Patten's French Hook Ear Wires - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, french hook ear wires
Step 6
Use flush cutters to trim the open ends to make them equal length.
Natalie Patten's French Hook Ear Wires - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, french hook ear wires
Step 7
Using the cutters, cut the very tip of the loop to separate these, into two ear wires.
Natalie Patten's French Hook Ear Wires - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, french hook ear wires
Step 8
Close the loops fully with the round nose pliers.
Natalie Patten's French Hook Ear Wires - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, french hook ear wires
Step 9
Add one bead to each of the base wires and straighten your wire.
Natalie Patten's French Hook Ear Wires - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, french hook ear wires
Step 10
Using the 26-gauge wire make a coil by wrapping around the 20-gauge base wire around 7 or 8 times.
Natalie Patten's French Hook Ear Wires - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, french hook ear wires
Step 11
Cut the tail ends of the 26-gauge wire and flatten down the ends so they are not sticking out and position it down to the bead. (This coil can be flattened down against the base wire to stop it moving using pliers.)
Natalie Patten's French Hook Ear Wires - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, french hook ear wires
Step 12
With the opening of the loop facing towards you, grip with pliers just above the coil and bend base wire at around a 90 degree angle away from you. Do this on each one.
Natalie Patten's French Hook Ear Wires - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, french hook ear wires
Step 13
Position the pairs together (to get them to match) and position the bail making pliers above the bend and bring the ends towards you. (You can shape with a pen or bail making pliers.)
Natalie Patten's French Hook Ear Wires - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, french hook ear wires
Step 14
With the tip of the wires together, slightly bend them up with chain nose/flat nose pliers
Natalie Patten's French Hook Ear Wires - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, french hook ear wires
Step 15
Using a file smooth the ends (a regular nail file can be used, if a jeweler's file isn't available).
Natalie Patten's French Hook Ear Wires - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, french hook ear wires
Step 16
You should now have two ear wires to attach to your earrings by opening the loops as you would jump rings. Remember to open them towards you or away from you in a side on position, so not to distort or weaken them.
Natalie Patten's French Hook Ear Wires - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, french hook ear wires