Moonlight Dreams Earrings

Skill Level: Intermediate

Technique: Weaving/braiding, crimping, wrapping bundles

Materials

• 21-gauge square dead soft wire, 5 feet
• 2  10x5mm cabochons - designer used blue tigerseye (8x6mm cabochons would also work)
• 2  2mm round beads
• 2  4mm crimp bead covers
• 2 ear wires

Tools

• Flat nose pliers
• Round nose pliers
• Chain nose pliers
• Wire cutters
• Pin vise
• Bead crimping tool
• Ruler

Instructions

1. Cut your 21-gauge square wire into the following lengths:
   • Eight 6" wires
   • Two 2" wires (will be for wrapping - you can also work off a longer length)
   • Two 4" wires (will be for wrapping - you can also work off a longer length)
   
   Take your vise and twist all eight 6" wires. Then, make 2 bundles using 4 of the 6" wires per bundle. Tape the bundle in the middle. Measure and mark both bundles at 4" and 4-1/2".
   
   
2. On the 4-1/2" mark, use a 2" piece of  wire and your flat nose pliers to make 3 wraps to show, then trim the wire. Repeat on the second bundle.
   
   
   
3. Form your bundle around one of the cabochons, with the bottom of the cabochon at the wrap just made. Angle the bundle to form a beveled effect. At the point where the 8 wire ends lie parallel, use a 4" piece of wire and flat nose pliers to make 4 wraps to show, then trim. This will be near the 4" mark you made.
   
   
   Bend the 4 short wires away from the wraps, and make a loop at each of the short ends, as shown.
   
   Repeat this step on the second bundle.
   
4. Now you will create a Celtic Weave, which is a 4-strand braid. Separate your wires like in the picture:
   
   Take the two middle wires, and cross the right over the left:
   Next, separate the 4 wires into the right side, and the left side. We'll call the wires that were on the inside, Inner wires, and the wires that were on the outside, Outer wires.
   Cross the Outer Left wire over the Inner Left wire.
   
   Cross the Inner Right wire over the Outer right wire.
   
   Now repeat the weave, crossing the Inner Right Wire over the Inner Left Wire, until your weave is about 1-1/4" long. Repeat on the second earring.
   
   
   Alternative explanation:
   Labeling the wires 1-4, with 1 always being the left-most and 4 always being the right-most.
   Cross 3 over 2. Cross 3 over 4. Cross 1 over 2. Repeat for about 1-1/4".
   
   
5. At the end of your weave, bend the left outer wire out to the side, leaving the other 3 wires straight. Wrap the left outer wire around the straight wires and trim. Bend the right outer wire out, and wrap it around the straight wires. Trim and tuck the end. Repeat on the other earring.
   
   
6. Take one of the remaining wires and bend it to the side.
   
   On the remaining straight wire, make a loop with round nose pliers. Do not close the loop, simply bring the tail down parallel to the original straight wire.
   
   Trim the wire just under the loop, leaving a straight tail about 1/4" long. Now take your 4mm crimp cover and put it around the wire under the loop, and then use your bead crimper to close the crimp cover, locking the loop into place. You should have 1 straight wire remaining. Repeat steps on second earring.
   
   
   
7. Bring the remaining straight wire to the top of the Celtic Weave and make a loop, about 3mm wide. Add a 2mm bead and make very small loop at the end of the wire with round nose pliers. This loop should angle to the right.
   
   
8. Place your cabochon into the frame made in step 3. With chain nose pliers, pull the outmost wire on the back side of the cab in toward the center of the cab, until the wires are nearly parallel. Repeat on the front, then repeat this step on the second earring.
   If needed, adjust the 4 small loops above the cabochon to be centered beneath the Celtic Weave.
   
9. Attach an ear wire to the loop made at the end of the weave, above the crimp bead, on each earring.
   Now you have a beautiful elegant pair of earrings you can wear anywhere. I hope you have enjoyed creating these earrings as much as I did.
   
   

 Free Wire Jewelry Patterns

Did you find this pattern through a link from a friend? This Free Wire Jewelry Pattern is just one of dozens of free wire jewelry patterns we send via email. Get patterns like this one straight to your inbox - click here!