Craft these simple leather hoop earrings to wear and to share! If you prefer something more involved and detailed, you can learn how to wire wrap hoop earrings instead. This post contains affiliate links.

I have a love affair with hoops for as long as I’ve been wearing earrings, starting with huggies back in the 90’s (remember those?) and continuing with handmade, more detailed options today.

I recently picked up a big pack of plain, cheap hoops with the intention to customize. I’ll take it to the next level and say that a pack of hoops should be a staple in your jewelry making stash.

I’m working through the package slowly – first I made some wire wrapped hoops – actually two pairs, one for me and one for my sis. Now, I added these leather hoop earrings to the stash, and I already have another cool, unique DIY hoop earrings tutorial lined up so make sure you subscribe to the free newsletter for updates!

A while ago, I impulse-bought a pack of leather scraps from Blick and while I LOVE the assortment I got, I haven’t quite been using it enough. I used them to make these dangle earrings, but didn’t use it for the original projects I had in mind… so I’m adding it to my official “to craft” pile. The pieces are mostly small enough for accents, and perfect for jewelry, with a few big enough for larger projects like wallets.

Regardless, the variety is gorgeous, with different textures, thicknesses, and patterns. For the earrings, I chose this beautiful design that I got quite a small piece of. It’s perfect for leather hoop earrings, and I already used the center semicircle that I cut out to modify another pair I have.

These leather hoop earrings were inspired by something I saw on AliExpress (my secret vice is buying earrings from AliExpress). I saw it and almost bought it and then decided to make it instead – not to save money, but because making is always more fun!

And when you make it, of course, you can make it better. For example, gorgeous embossed leather anyone?

Another thing I saw when making these earrings: they don’t make sense gravity-wise. The leather bit is attached with loose jumprings – how does it stay in place? I’m not sure it’s so simple that it hangs in the exact right spot, as I learned making these with a thick piece of leather.

My tip: instead of using loose jumprings, I wrapped the jumprings. That holds it tight in place.

And one final thought before I give you the how-to for these leather hoop earrings:

Those of us who don’t necessarily work with leather might get frustrated with tutorials that incorporate leather, especially if you need to punch a hole! Who wants to start stocking up on leather working supplies if it’s only a side-use?

I recently got an amazing multi-purpose hole punch on Zulily that actually punched through a thick piece of leather! The We R Memory Keepers Crop-A-Dial Power Punch is really strong and great for paper, cardboard, leather, stiff felt…

I use it for many things and it’s perfect for many jewelry making applications too in the 1/16th inch size. You can also choose your hole placement so you get the same depth every time. I highly recommend having it in your craft stash! (I shared with you the Amazon link because Zulily deals come and go, but definitely search for the product on Zulily to see if it’s in stock).

And of course, here’s the awkward selfie for you to see how it looks on a real, actual human:

What you need to make DIY leather hoop earrings:

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

How to make these awesome DIY hoops:

1. Use a pencil to measure your hoop on the leather scrap and cut out a thick semicircle, with your inner edge outlining the shape of the hoop.

2. You may want to trim your piece once you cut it and see it against the hoop.

3. Use your hole punch to make a hole about 4mm in from the inside end and the flat outer edge.

4. Make another hole on the other side.

5. Open your jump rings using a forward/backward motion. Insert them into the holes that you made.

6. Place your jump rings on your earring hoops. Keep in mind the following when you place it: A- The pretty side of the leather should be facing outward (so make sure to do both in opposite directions) and B- The semicircle should be centered horizontally so that it sits on the bottom. It won’t be centered on the smooth part of the loop because that comes all the way to the ear.It’ll be much closer to the back latch.

7. Start closing your jump ring, but instead of closing it all the way, stop just as the two sides are meeting each other.

8. Use your chain nose pliers to squeeze the jump ring into a tighter circle so that it grips the earring hoop. Squash down the ends of your jump ring so that they form a small wrap around the hoop.

9. Repeat with the second jump ring and make your earring a partner!

Have you tried making your own leather hoop earrings before and run into the loose jump ring issue? What color are you making these in? Comment below!

Print the tutorial:

Leather Hoop Earrings

Materials

Plain hoop earrings
4 Jump rings (or make your own)
A hole punch that can punch leather
Leather scraps
Good scissors
Chain nose pliers

Instructions

Use a pencil to measure your hoop on the leather scrap and cut out a thick semicircle, with your inner edge outlining the shape of the hoop.
You may want to trim your piece once you cut it and see it against the hoop.
Use your hole punch to make a hole about 4mm in from the inside end and the flat outer edge.
Make another hole on the other side.
Open your jump rings using a forward/backward motion. Insert them into the holes that you made.
Place your jump rings on your earring hoops. Keep in mind the following when you place it: A- The pretty side of the leather should be facing outward (so make sure to do both in opposite directions) and B- The semicircle should be centered horizontally so that it sits on the bottom. It won't be centered on the smooth part of the loop because that comes all the way to the ear.It'll be much closer to the back latch.
Start closing your jump ring, but instead of closing it all the way, stop just as the two sides are meeting each other.
Use your chain nose pliers to squeeze the jump ring into a tighter circle so that it grips the earring hoop. Squash down the ends of your jump ring so that they form a small wrap around the hoop.
Repeat with the second jump ring and make your earring a partner!