How to make shaded native American style earrings – a step by step jewellery making tutorial

Prepare the thread. I don’t like when I run out of thread while working, because I really don’t like attaching a new thread. So I use a very long thread and I can make my earrings calmly. As a result, nothing tangles. I use a thread longer than two arm spans,  which is a lot. If you prefer a shorter one, you may use it and attach a new thread, but don’t do it in the tassels – pass towards the brick part and tie a knot there. Hide the knot in a bead and pass the needle with the shorter thread through several rows of the brick part and trim.

String 2 11/0 TOHO beads. We will work with this size of beads now. I will tell you when it’s time to use 15/0 beads.

Pass the needle up through one of the beads, as shown in the picture.

We’ve got a nice brick part.

I like making my work easy. That’s why, I pass my needle up again and tie a knot at the top. Due to that, the thread doesn’t move while stitching.

Pass the needle towards the place where you will add new rows to.

String 2 beads and pass the needle under the connecting thread between the beads.

It should look like this:

You need to get to the top again, so pass the needle up through the outside bead. One of the beads just added.

You should have something like this.

String 1 TOHO and pass the needle under the connecting thread, the same one as previously.

Pass the needle up through the added bead to get to the top of your work.

The next row. String 2 TOHO and pass the needle through the connecting thread.

Pass the needle up through the bead.

String 1 bead and pass the needle under the next connecting thread.

Pass the needle up through the bead just added.

The last bead of this row. String a bead and pass the needle under the same connecting thread as previously. Pass the needle up through the bead to get to the top of your work,

Continue making this part until you have a row of 11 beads.

Finally, the last row.

You should have a triangle which you will add tassels to.

My beloved tassels. I love them so much so I have made really long ones. String 5 TOHO beads in the basic colour.

Then, string a sequence that will be repeated and it will make a shaded effect. A light bead, a dark one, a light one, a dark one, a light one and 1 dark more (l-d-l-d-l-d).

String 7 TOHO beads, the light ones which were used in the shaded part.

And a shaded part again (a light bead, a darker one, etc.)

String 7 lighter beads.

A shaded part.

And the lightest beads.

Add 2 3mm Fire Polish, 1 4mm FP and 1 15/0 TOHO at the end of the tassel.

Omit the last 15/0 TOHO and pass the needle up through the whole tassel. Remember, don’t pull the tassel too tight or too loose. You should do it carefully. You will gain this over time. As a result, you have smooth, non see-through tassels.

Pass the needle to the near bead and make another tassel.

The following tassels will be a bit longer, so you need to string more beads. Increase the number of the beads in the basic colour by 3 each time. So now, string 8 TOHO.

The shaded sequences don’t change. Then add 1 TOHO bead of the following colour more,

Continue in the following tassels. Firstly, string 3 beads more, then 1 of each colour more.

As you have made all of the tassels, it’s time to attach an earring wire. Pass the needle through the beads of the brick part towards the top.

String 5 15/0 TOHO and the earring wire and pass the needle through the nearest bead.

Pass the needle through this loop twice so that the thread won’t break while wearing the earrings.

We’ve reached the end! It was fun, wasn’t it? You just need to pass the needle through the beads back and forth to secure the thread.

Voila!

Shorter ones? It’s not a problem! These earrings are 20cm long, including the earring wire. Not everyone likes such long earrings. If you start making the tassels and add 2 beads of the first colour, a shaded sequence and then , e.g., 5 or 7 beads between the shaded parts, you will get shorter earrings. You may also increase the number of beads by 1 not 3, like me. If you have any questions, find me in Beads Direct & Friends FB group. Good luck!