This simple DIY beaded earrings tutorial features beautiful results in a simple trapeze style earring that can be adapted to any need! If you’re more advanced, you can check out the necklace wire wrap tutorial that goes with these, or scroll down for this simple jewelry making project for beginners! Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links.

When you see these beautiful earrings, they might seem so simple, but it actually took me a solid three tries to come up with this design to wear to my sister’s wedding.

This DIY beaded earrings tutorial is simple (and yes, it’s been done before, I’m sure!), and can be adapted to anything, but as I’ve found while designing these, that my default isn’t always to think of the simplest option.

See a full list of DIY dangle earrings.

You can follow this DIY beaded earrings tutorial using drilled freshwater stick pearls like I did (make sure they’re drilled the long way – unless you want to line up a few for a totally different look) or any other wide statement bead.

Or, line up a few smaller beads.

The bottom line is: these are a go-to pair to craft when looking to match up any DIY statement necklaces or any other piece of jewelry that you want to steal the show.

The DIY beaded earrings that I made for this tutorial are highly elegant. You can make this with more casual beads and chain for a more casual look. The more delicate it is, the dressier it’ll be.

When making this DIY beaded earrings tutorial, I used a single piece of chain, because I find it tedious and messy to create a figure eight loop at the top, and to count my chains. Instead, I used a single piece of chain, attached to either side of a bead-turned-link using wrapped wire loops.

I then opened the loop on my ear wire, and hung this chain with the bead attached from it. This way, I can let it hang straight naturally.

At this point, I had two choices:

Let it dangle freely, keeping the look streamlined and natural, but risking it not hanging perfectly 100% of the time.
Fix it in place in the center with wire.

I ended up choosing the second option, mainly because, knowing my luck, the earring would be askew just in time for the photos. It still looks amazing!

Want to learn how to make jewelry out of anything? Get the book!

What you need to craft this DIY beaded earrings tutorial:

A wide vertically-drilled stick pearl (through the length) or any combination of beads that make up the preferred width of your earring when lined up with the holes connecting.
24 gauge wire
Fine chain
Earwires of choice
Jewelry making pliers: round nose, chain nose, wire cutters

If you’re new to jewelry making, check out my list of jewelry making supplies for beginners, and my guide to different beads for beginners.

You can also find my favorite places to buy beads online.

DIY beaded earrings tutorial – step by step with images:

1. Cut a length of wire about 3-4 inches long. Cut a piece of chain about double the length you want your earring to be. About an inch from the end of your wire, use your round nose pliers to bend your wire, with a curve in place of a fold.

2. Slide the last link of your cut chain over the end of your wire, sliding it until it rests in the curve that you created in step 1.

3. Grip your curve with one set of pliers, letting the chain hang below it. Wrap the shorter end of your chain around the longer one using your chain nose pliers or fingers, whichever is more comfortable. Wrap it a few times, as neatly as possible. Trim your wire as close as possible to the wrapping and use your chain nose pliers to “squish” in the end so it doesn’t poke out.

4. Slide your bead(s) onto the long stick of wire attached to the wrapped loop you made in the previous step. Slide it so it sits up against the wrapped loop.

5. Once again, use your round nose pliers to make a curved bend in your wire up against where the bead is. Slide the other end of the chain onto this wire, into the curve as well.

6. Finish off your wrapped loop as you did with the first. Your earring should look like a horizontal bead or row of beads, with a single chain attached to both ends.

7. Open the loop on your ear wire and slide it over your chain. Close it securely.

8. Optional: position your bead so that sits in the middle and dangles nicely. Wrap a bit of wire right below the loop on the ear wire so that it fixes it in place. Make a second earring to go with the first.

You have completed this DIY beaded earrings tutorial and are ready to try it with a new set of beads!

What is your current jewelry making level? Did this DIY beaded earrings tutorial teach you any new skills? What is your favorite way to make dangle earrings? Comment below!

Printable DIY beaded earrings tutorial:

Beaded Dangle Earrings

Materials

Tools