Peace Symbol Crocheted Earring Pattern

I wasn't sure about posting this pattern, so I asked on FB and a few people said they would like the pattern.

These earrings need to be stiffened to look right, but they are quick to make and are a lot of fun!

You will need:

• size 10 crochet cotton- I used Aunt Lydia's Mexicana which is a wonderful rainbow variegated thread
• size 7 (1.5 mm) steel crochet hook
• tapestry needle
• Mod Podge (still loving Mod Podge to stiffen crochet!)
• water
• earring wires
• plastic covered cardboard (to pin the earrings on when blocking)
• rust proof pins

Stitches used:

chain=ch

single crochet= sc

triple treble= tr tr

A triple treble is stitch that you yarn over 4 times, then insert the hook into the stitch, yarn over, pull through the stitch, (6 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through 2 loops (5 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through 2 loops (4 loops on hook) , yarn over, pull through 2 loops (3 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through 2 loops (2 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through final 2 loops. 

For long stitches like that, each wrap on the hook is one more chain in length for the starting chain of the round. Since I use 3 chains as the start for a double crochet round, that means a triple treble is 6 chains for the starting chain.

Earrings- Make 2

Ch 4, slip stitch to make ring.

Round 1: Ch 6, tr tr in ring, chain 9, tr tr in ring 2 times, ch 3, tr tr in ring 2 times, ch 3, tr tr in ring 2 times, ch 9, slip stitch to join in top chain on starting ch 6. 

Round 2: ch 1 (doesn't count as first sc), sc in each stitch around (NOT in the spaces, but actually in the stitches, it looks neater), slip stitch to join in first sc 

Loop- ch 5, sl st in next sc. Break off and weave in ends. 

Now adjust the triple trebles as needed in the ch 4 loop to look nice and neat. Mix equal parts Mod Podge and water- I actually keep the mixture in clean medicine bottle so it's ready to use for other things that need stiffening but only mix a small amount at a time.  Soak the earrings in the mix, and squeeze it out. You may want to blot it slightly with a paper towel. Pin the earrings on the cardboard to block. Nudge the triple trebles to be very close to each other and straight as possible, and make sure the loop on top is open. Let the earrings dry and put them on wires.

For international readers- 

Ready for Spring Crocheted Earrings

It's starting to green a little. I even saw the first dandelion leaves on my yard today. Thread crochet in bright colors is light, summery and casual. These earrings work up really fast and I hope you enjoy the pattern.

Pattern written in US terminology.

You will need:

• Size 10 Crochet Thread (I used Aunt Lydia's Crochet Thread in Aspen because the colorway is one of my favorites)
• Size 7 crochet hook (1.5mm)
• Scissors
• Tapestry needle
• 8 rust proof pins
• piece of cardboard covered with a plastic bag
• Earring wires (mine are handmade sterling wires)
• Mod Podge*
• Water*

*I used Mod Podge to stiffen because I always have Mod Podge on hand and I know it doesn't yellow

Abbreviations used:

• ch=chain
• sc=single crochet
• dc=double crochet
• sl st= slip stitch
• st or sts= stitch or stitches

Make 2-

Ch 6, sl st to join in a ring

Round 1: ch 1 (does not count as first st here or through out), 8 sc in ring, sl st to join in first sc

Round 2: ch 1, sc in same stitch, ch 5, skip stitch, sc in next st, ch 5, skip stitch, sc in next st,ch 5, skip stitch, sc in next st, ch 2, dc in first sc to join (4 loops made)

Round 3: ch 1, sc in loop 3 times working toward sc from previous round, sc in sc, sc in next loop 3 times, ch 3 (picot made), sc in same loop 3 times, sc in sc from previous round., Repeat around until the last ch 3 picot, ch 1, dc in first sc to join.

Round 4: ch 1, sc in picot, ch 3, skip 3 sts, dc in next st, ch 5, dc in same st (V stitch made), ch 3, sc in next picot. Work in pattern all the way around, sl st to first sc to join.

Round 5: Ch 1, sc in same st, sc 2 times in first space, sc in dc, sc 3 times in ch 5 loop, ch 7, sl st to join at the 6th ch from hook, ch 1, sc 3 times in same loop, sc in dc, sc 2 times in next space, sc in sc, sc 2 times in next space, sc in dc, sc 3 times in ch 5 loop, ch 3, sc 3 times in same loop, sc in dc, sc 2 times in next space, sc in sc.  Repeat until you're at the first sc and sl st to join. Break off thread and weave in ends.

Now to stiffen!

I mixed the Mod Podge half and half with water in a small pill bottle, then soaked both earring pieces in that solution. Squeezed it out, and then pinned to block on a plastic covered piece of cardboard. As soon as it was mostly dry, I unpinned it and turned them over to let the other side dry more completely, then let the Mod Podge cure for 12 hours and put them on the earring wires. This stiffens it up nicely and still shows stitch definition and the thread very well. 

The earrings wires that I used are made with 20 gauge sterling wire that I shaped around a dowel for the hook, then used bail pliers to make the ring. After that I hammered the wires to harden them and add a nice bit of slightly flattened shaping to them. 

I'm planning to make more earrings, would you like more earring patterns?

Recycled Bicycle Inner Tube Earrings

It's summer! Which means if you call your local bicycle shop, you can probably get lots of one of my favorite craft materials for free. Bicycle tire inner tubes.

My favorite use is making bracelets. This tends to leave some pieces too small to use. These earrings use small scraps, and are very lightweight.

To prepare your inner tube, you cut it open and use dish soap and a sponge to clean the rubber. The inside has a powder coating you'll want to clean off. Let it dry.

The tubes can be cut using hand punches, scissors or a craft knife.

You will need:

• 2 6mm jump rings
• 2 3 mm jump rings
• a couple of inches of a bicycle inner tube
• earring findings
• pliers
• 1/16 inch hole punch

For these earrings you'll need 2 sets of 2 strips. The shorter ones should be at least a half inch shorter than the long ones. Mine were about 3.5 inches long and 2.5 inches long.

My jump rings were made using 18 gauge round wire. For the bigger ones, I used a size 10 knitting needle as a mandrel, for the smaller ones, I use my round nose pliers.

Use a 1/16th hole punch to punch holes centered on each end of each strip.

Open the 6 mm jump ring, and thread on the long strip and the short strip, then the other side of the short strip and the other side of the long strip. Close the ring. Open the 3 mm ring and put it through the large jump ring and the earring finding. Close. Repeat the same steps to make the matching earring.

These are so fast and easy to make. They would make a fun gift for cyclists in your life, and hopefully inspire lots more ideas!

Western style Red, White and Blue Printable Gift Box

I hope you enjoy this gift box!

Click on the image for the full sized version, 300 dpi, jpg.

Also posted recently at Beadwork at BellaOnline, click the links under the images.

Printable graph paper booklets for beaders

Peacock Herl Earring Tutorial

Delicate Wire and Chain Earrings

If you look at the right hand side of my blog, you'll see a fairly short list of links to sites I like. More links are under the links tab at the top of my page. 

One of those links is Auntie's Beads and it's been there for almost as long as this blog has been up. Because the site has good prices and some of the best "How to bead" videos I've seen on YouTube. Look on the side bar of their page under resources for those. 

So when they asked if I wanted to use some beads and post a project made with them, I jumped on the chance. 

They sent 5 sparkly strands of faceted crystal beads. 

3x5 mm white linen rondelles

4x6 mm crystal ab rondelles

6x8 mm crystal ab rondelles

4 mm crystal ab bicones

6 mm crystal ab bicones

The first thing I made was the pair of earrings above. They are very simple to make, have a ton of sparkle and shine, and the design can be changed up to suit other looks very easily by changing the metal and color of the beads. So if you used gunmetal with jet and metallic plum it would be very dark and gothic. Copper with bright colors would be a great Bohemian look. The earrings are very light to wear and have a lot of swing.

I work with my wire right on the coil or spool so I have less waste. Check out their glass beads page for lots of colors and options.

You'll need:

5 inches of chain

earring hooks

15 inches of wire- I used 24 gauge sterling

2 head pins

beads! 

I used 

4 6x8mm rondelles

6 4mm bicones

4 6mm bicones

10 3x5 rondelles

4 4x6mm rondelles

-basic wire working skills-

making a wrapped loop 

Cut the chain into 8 lengths, 4 at 3/4 inches, 4 at 1/2 inch 

On a headpin, string on a 6mm bicone, 3x5 rondelle, 4mm bicone. Make a wrapped loop on top. Repeat for the other headpin

 Cut off 2.5 inches of the wire and make a wrapped loop. String on a 3x5 rondelle, 6x8 rondelle, 3x5 rondelle, Make just the loop part for the bottom, don't wrap it yet. Add on 3/4 inch chain, 1 decorated head pin, 3/4 inch chain. Finish loop.

Cut off 3 inches from the wire. Start a loop on the end, slide that on one 3/4 inch chain, and finish the wrap. String on 4 mm bicone, 1/2 inch chain, 4x6 rondelle, 6x8 rondelle, 4x6 rondelle, 1/2 inch chain, 4 mm bicone. Hold the beads in place while putting a soft curve in the beaded wire. Because of the shape of the beads, you need some "slack" in the wire or extra space. If you wrap the second loop without curving the wire first, you might not be able to curve it. Start the loop at the end, slide the other 3/4 inch chain on the loop, finish the wrap.

The bottom piece is done with a 2 inch piece of wire. Make a small loop on one end. Slide the half inch chain on the loop, finish the wrap. String on 1 3x5 rondelle,1 6mm bicone and 1 3x5 rondelle. Make loop, slide the other chain on the loop, finish the wrap. Repeat for the other earring.

The basic technique is pretty adaptable and makes a great project while watching tv. If you wanted, you could skip the head pin entirely and add more layers of chain sections for longer, even more sparkly earrings.

The cup I displayed the earring on is part of my personal collection. I love my no handle cups for tea or chocolate on cold days! This one was made by Ember Haynes of Silverbear Sundries.

New Crochet - Doily Earring Holders

I don't have a lot of use for doilies really. Every surface in my home except chairs seems to have books on it. Books decorate my home like knick knacks, paperbacks, hardbacks, vintage craft books, novels and more outdated unabridged dictionaries than anyone should have (which come in very handy for pressing flowers). Pretty lace bookmarks sure, but doilies, not so much.

I love making doilies though. I wind up giving a lot of them away to friends. Other than that, I also make bun holders and pretty lacy cozies for my nano which I get a lot of compliments on at the gym.

I picked up some size 10 thread and some macramé type brass rings at a local thrift store, and while I was watching tv this weekend with my husband, I decided they would work nicely for doilies made to fit to hang my earrings from. I'm awfully happy with how they turned out but I didn't keep notes while I was working.

I think using any doily pattern you like would work. Just follow the pattern until it's just shy of fitting in the ring, then attach it with crochet to the ring at regular intervals and add a loop for hanging. I don't use patterns for doilies. Working out the geometry and math for one while I'm crocheting is fun.

The patterns for skulls, penguins, roses and snowflakes are all available for free at Beadwork at BellaOnline, the chocolate covered strawberries, lollipops and ice cream cone patterns are part of a set you can buy at my Etsy store.

The holidays were fantastic. The teens loved their ipods, everyone ate well. Dad was happy with his present because all we got him was lots and lots of chocolate and cookies. Mike got me a new office chair with a built in massager. It feels good. I threatened to move into my office because it's so comfortable.

Jolly Roger earring patterns

I hope you enjoy this set of Jolly Roger Skull brick stitch earring patterns.


I was considering making them an e-book for 99 cents, but instead decided to post them for free. If you'd like to make a small donation using the button on the right I'd appreciate it, but it isn't necessary. You have my permission to make these earrings for sale as long as they are not being mass produced.