Instructions

1. Cut a 2" (5 cm) length of 18-gauge wire. Hammer each end of the wire lightly on the steel block. Use chain-nose pliers to make a 90° bend about 3⁄8" (1 cm) from the flattened end. Use round-nose pliers to grasp the flattened end of the wire about one-third of the way down the jaws and complete a simple loop.
2. Use the hammer to tap the loop two or three times. Make another simple loop on the other end of the wire in the opposite direction. You have just created a wire link.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 to make another link to match the first one.
4. Put on the safety glasses. Take the 26-gauge wire and place the end close to an end loop of one of the links. Leave a short tail. Use your fingers to tightly wrap the 26-gauge wire down the body of the link. The result should be a tight, uniform coil. Trim any excess wire and file smooth (figure 1).
    
   
5. Hold the links side by side and use your fingers or long chain-nose pliers to gently bend the link loops in opposite directions to create a wave (figure 2). The two links should be as similar as possible.
    
   
6. Make a tiny simple loop at the end of the 24-gauge wire. Hammer once. String one bead. Begin a wrapped loop, but before closing the loop, attach it to an end loop on one of the links. Complete the wrap. Repeat twice so you have three beaded dangles at the end of a link.
7. Repeat step 6 for the second link.
8. Open the loop on one of the earring findings. Attach one of the links and close the finding’s loop. Repeat to attach the remaining link to the other earring finding.
9. If you have a tumbler, tumble your new earrings for 45 minutes. Remove and let dry.

Variation

You can easily add beads to the curve portion of this design. Begin the earring as described in the instructions above, but make the curve before wrapping the wire link. Use a permanent marker to mark the 18-gauge wire 1⁄2" (1.3 cm) from the top of the curve, and 1⁄2" (1.3 cm) from the bottom. Use the 26-gauge wire to wrap the link as before, but string one 4mm bead at the first mark (figure 3).