PROJECT 13: BEADED FAN EARRINGS

I created this around December 2019 thinking I would rock these in the summer of 2020, and create a few more pieces to sell. Unfortunately the pandemic happened. Wearing accessories outdoors was discouraged, and with the unstable economy, selling non-essentials seemed inappropriate. And so this project was set aside and forgotten as I got busy with other things.

Recently my laptop has been going bonkers and I felt I needed to back up my files before anything happens (knock on wood!). As I was going through them, I saw these images and realized I hadn’t done the tutorial yet! Today I found the motivation, and time, to sit down and finally write this down. I hope I explained it clearly enough to follow!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

MATERIALS
BLACK PELON
BEADS
SPLIT RINGS
FISHHOOK EARRINGS
.02 NYLON THREAD
NEEDLE

STEP 1

Cut black pelon to approximately 2”x2”, depending on how big you want your earrings to be. Get 1½ yards of .02 Nylon string and insert through needle. Start sewing in your bead, leaving about 2” tail.

When you’ve sewn on the bead, bring the tail around the nylon stitch and secure in a knot twice.

STEP 2

Bring the needle up close to the bead, just about where the hole of the next bead you’ll be using will be. Take 2 beads and bring the needle down and back up to the starting point.

Insert through the 2 beads again, take 2 more beads, bring down the needle and back up to the starting point.

Insert needle through all 4 beads, take 2 beads and bring the needle down and back up on the previously sewn 2 beads, and put needle through all 4 beads. Repeat until you reach the same level as the opposite side.

STEP 3

Bring the needle back up close to the first line of beads, about where the next bead hole will be and repeat same process as the first line of beads.

STEP 4

Repeat until you have your desired size and look.

Secure by wrapping the nylon around the closest stitch and knot twice. Weave through the stitches to firmly secure the thread then cut.

STEP 5

Cut the pelon following the shape of the beads, be careful not to cut the nylon stitches. Take another pelon and put the beaded one on top and draw the outline then cut. Put them against each other to make sure the cut is almost even. Get a black thread and needle, knot the ends. Get the pelon and put needle through close to the edge.

Pick up the beaded pelon and sew them together. Since the stitches will be visible, I used blanket stitch so it would still look pretty.

Step 6

When you reach the end, tie the thread in one of the closest stitch then knot but don’t cut. Pick up a split ring and sew it on top of the fan earring.