Save Those Scraps! Learn How to Make Earrings With Leftover Chain

Wait — don’t toss out those bits and pieces of leftover chain just yet! Find out how to re-purpose necklace ends and project scraps into these easy, elegant wire-wrapped chain scrap earrings.  

DIY wire-wrapped chain earrings tutorial

All photos via Karen Roark of I Always Pick the Thimble 

Getting your materials together:

You only need a few simple things to learn how to make chain earrings…

• 22 gauge wire, about 5″ per earring
• Chain scraps of varying length and style
• 1 pair ear wires
• Round nose pliers
• Chain nose pliers
• Side cutters
• Chain cutters

Step 1: Make your wire frame

We’ll start by making the wire frames for our earrings. First, cut a piece of wire about five inches long. Starting about two inches from the end of the wire, roll the wire around the tip of the round nose pliers to form a loop.

Step 2: Wrap and wrap again

Using a pair of chain nose pliers, hold the loop steady with one hand. With your other hand, use your round nose pliers to wrap the shorter end of the wires around the longer end. Do this two to three times for the best results.

Step 3: Trimming time

Using side cutters, trim the shorter length of wire off, close to the wrapped area. 

Step 4:  Getting bendy

Using your round nose pliers, bend the remaining wire about 3/8″ away from the wrap, and then bend it again to form a triangle shape. Don’t wrap the wire yet –– you still have to add your chains.

Step 5: From scraps to stunning

Now comes the fun part! Begin sliding chain scraps onto the long length of wire, until the bottom of the triangle base is full.  The chain scraps used in this earring varied in length from 1″ to 3″ inches, and you can vary the length, size and style of your scraps for your own custom look.

To close the wire frame and keep your chains secure, repeat Step 2. With your chain nose pliers, hold the triangle with one hand. With your other hand, use the round nose pliers to wrap the long end of the wire around two to three times, and trim off the end of the wire near the wraps.

 Step 6: Finishing touches

Open an ear wire with your pliers, and and slide it into the loop at the top of the earring. Close the loop of the ear wire. Repeat with both earrings.

You can add extra personality to your design with a quick trim: cut the chains in a variety of different lengths for edgy style, or keep them uniform for polished results.

Voila! Once you know how to make wire-wrapped earrings, it’s easy it is to go from scraps to amazing accessory.

These are going to look great on you!