How to Make Perfectly Matched Ear Wires

I’m a big believer in handcrafted jewelry findings. Much like jewelry adds the perfect final touch to any outfit, the findings that you choose to finish off your handcrafted jewelry add the perfect final touch to your work. So, allow me to show you how you can elevate your handmade earrings with perfectly matched ear wires that you can make quickly from scratch.

Truly, it breaks my heart whenever I see a beautifully wire woven pendant strung on a cheap rubber cord. Or when I see a pair of exquisite wire woven earrings hung on ugly ear wires that were manufactured by the thousands in China. I can’t help but wonder what that artist was thinking when she chose to present her work that way.

It’s like she gave up and decided that her work (or even worse, her customer!) wasn’t worth the few minutes that it takes to make beautifully handcrafted findings using the same wire that she used to create those earrings or that pendant.

Please don’t be that artist. Your work and your customers deserve better!

Copyright & Disclosure

You’re welcome to make and sell products from this tutorial. These ear wires are a common design that’s been around for eons, so I claim no exclusive rights to the design itself.

When it comes to my written tutorials, however, I do reserve exclusive rights to all images and written content. You may not reproduce or redistribute any portion of the Perfectly Matched Ear Wires tutorial in any way, shape, or form.

This copyright applies to the printable PDF version of the Perfectly Matched Ear Wire tutorial as well, and it’s included therein. You may share the free version of this tutorial only by linking directly to this page.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on a link and then make a purchase, I may earn a small commission (at no cost to you). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. To learn more, please see my full disclaimer.

Getting Started

In her first book, Fine Art Wire Weaving, Sarah Thompson says, “Making your own findings adds a personal touch to your finished jewelry; it shows that you have thought about every detail.”

I couldn’t agree more. I also highly recommend that book, by the way. And if you want to turn your wire weaving hobby into a business, one way to set yourself apart from the competition is to make your own jewelry findings. Because, believe me, not everyone out there thinks about every detail of their presentation.

In this wirework basics tutorial, I’m going to show you how to make perfectly matched ear wires, every time. I make these matched pairs of ear wires by the dozen, so I always have handcrafted ear wires on hand. They’re so quick, easy, and affordable to make that I really can’t justify buying commercial ear wires.

The one exception that I make is for earrings that have a lot of movement, such as my Chalice Earrings. In those instances, I do choose to purchase sturdy and secure lever back ear wires. But for lightweight everyday earrings, I either integrate the ear wire directly into my design. As with my Easy Wire Earrings or my popular Twig Earrings. Or I use the super simple French Hook-style ear wires that we’re about to create together.

Choosing the Right Wire for Your Earring Findings

For best results, use half-hard or dead soft solid copper or sterling silver wire. If you choose to use a filled wire, be advised that these ear wires are finished and hardened by hammering the wire. Even light hammering can expose the base metal core in filled wires, which can negatively affect your final finish. I don’t recommend plated or anodized craft wire for these earrings. Those coatings will be ruined with this construction process.

Let’s Make Some Perfectly Matched Ear Wires

If you prefer video tutorials, you can watch the video version below. Otherwise, keep reading for the written tutorial.

The instructions for these ear wires are written for the 3/4-inch ear wires shown in the main image. However, you can easily extend the length of your hooks by simply increasing the length of the wire cut in Step 1. Some people prefer longer hooks. I personally prefer a shorter hook because they grip well and fit comfortably on my chubby ear lobes without getting caught in my hair.  

Also, be sure to check out the Variations section below for ideas for different ear wires styles. I’ve included a few popular ear wire shapes. And all of them were created using this same technique.

It’s not easy to make copper or sterling silver ear wires as hard as the nickel or steel used for commercially manufactured ear wires. But being able to make wires that match your jewelry perfectly is totally worth the effort. With proper care, these wires will last a lifetime. They also look better and cost significantly less than commercially manufactured ear wires.

Again, I do prefer the security of lever back ear wires for heavier earrings that have a lot of movement. But when it comes to lightweight designs like my adorable Tassel Earrings, I always prefer to make my own ear wires.

Perfectly Matched Ear Wires Variations

This method of making matched pairs of ear wires can be easily adapted to almost any shape and style. Below are just a few examples of some popular ear wire silhouettes you can make.

Or, check out the free condensed ear wire tutorials below (the printable tutorials contain more details, tips and tricks)

Experiment with this method. See if you can come up with an ear wire design that is uniquely your own. As with my Easy Infinity Clasp, it’s often those extra personal touches that ultimately become your signature. That unique little detail that clearly sets your work apart from the competition.

Finishing Suggestions

I patina all of my copper and silver jewelry with Liver of Sulfur (LOS), and then I burnish the patinated pieces with super fine steel wool (Grade #0000) in a warm bath of water and original Blue Dawn dish soap. The steel wool brings back the bright copper highlights on the high spots.

Once that’s done, I rinse the jewelry thoroughly to remove any particles of steel wool. Then I put the jewelry in a tumbler barrel filled with warm water and a generous squirt of Blue Dawn. I tumble all of my finished jewelry for a minimum of two hours.

There’s a lot of debate about whether tumbling will work harden wire. My experience is that you can achieve some hardening, but only by tumbling for extended periods of time. So, two hours on the tumbler won’t make a noticeable difference. Twenty-four hours of tumbling does seem to noticeably increase hardness, however.

I never recommend tumbling wire jewelry with beads or gemstones for extended periods. However, there’s no risk in tumbling plain wire findings for several hours. Tumblers are designed to run for days at a time because that’s how long it takes to polish rough stones. So, if you don’t mind listening to the rustle of a tumbler for a full day, give it a try. And let me know if your ear wires came out of the tumbler noticeably harder than when they went in.

If you’re new to wirework, read this detailed tutorial that walks you through my 7-step patina process. And if you’re wondering why I recommend tumble polishing specifically, check out this post. Also, be sure to clean your steel shot regularly. Because clean shot gives you the best possible final finish on your jewelry.

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Thank You!

Thanks so much for joining me today. I hope you enjoyed creating your own Perfectly Matched Ear Wires from scratch. If you’d like a printable PDF version of this tutorial, you can find it here.

Also, be sure to favorite my Etsy shop for the latest ad-free printable PDF tutorials. As always, I’d love to see what you’ve made and hear your ideas and suggestions for new tutorials and blog posts. So, be sure to connect with me @door44studios on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook.

Until next time, go make something beautiful!