How to Make Beaded Duster Earrings

These earrings are versatile because you decide how dramatic you want these to be when you create them.  Use longer pieces of the sterling silver cable chain to make dusters.  Duster earrings are earrings that the bottom hit the shoulders/bottom of the neck.  These earrings look great with that length but also look beautiful with chain pieces that are short or medium.  Consider who you are making these for when choosing the length of pieces of chain.  Generally, younger women will look good with all lengths.  Medium and shorter pieces should be used for women who are older, as the longer look will emphasize a sagging jaw line.   You'll want to cut some pieces of sterling silver cable chain.  We choose this particular cable chain because it is very thin and hangs nicely.  Here we are using 6 pieces per earring.  Try to make the pieces approximately the same size.  This is not that important at this point, as you can always trim away links once you've finished.  Also, varying the lengths slightly can add depth and create a more dramatic effect.  If you can't decide on the length, go longer and make any adjustments once the construction is finished.

Open the end of the eye pin as you would a jump ring (pulling the end of the loop toward you while holding the shaft of the eye pin in place).  Once the loop is open, slide the end link of each piece of silver cable chain on the loop. Using your chain nose or flat nose pliers, close the loop by grasping the end of the loop and rotating it back in position (move your wrist in exactly the opposite direction you moved it to open the loop).  Now that you've secured the pieces of chain (we used 6 pieces per earring - it will be difficult to fit more than six pieces on the loop of an eye pin) you can slide the sterling silver bead on the shaft of the eye pin.  Grasp directly above the bead with your chain nose pliers and bend the shaft of the eye pin to a 90 degree angle.  Use your round nose pliers create a loop and use the remaining shaft of the eye pin to wrap around the exposed shaft (between the loop and the bead).  Continue to wrap until you meet the bead and then trim away any excess and tuck the wire. Attach the loop to the loop of a lever back earring using a sterling silver jump ring.

To create the design above you will need the following items

(this beading project assumes you already have pliers - if not, see our tools section)

Sterling Silver Cable Chain (2 ft or more depending on the length you choose)

Sterling Silver India Beads (2)

Sterling Silver Lever Back Earrings (1 pair)

Sterling Silver Oval Open Jump Rings 4.5 mm (1 package)

Sterling Silver Eye pins 24 gauge (1 package)