Day 3

Japanese Cross Earrings:
I saw this particular design on another website. There were no instructions, but it is a simple variation of the Japanese Cross Earrings I have made before.

Materials used:
2 silver ear wires
26- 5 mm jump rings (not sure of the gauge, but probably 20)
16- 18 gauge, 5/32 in. anodized aluminum jump rings
2 silver head pins
2- 6 mm bicone beads 

Instructions:
So here goes my first attempt at trying to tell someone else how to make an earring.

Before you begin, make a wrapped loop for the bead, using the head pin. I like the wrapped loop better because it won't pull open as easily and I think it looks nicer. It is a little more difficult to make. I won't go into the how-tos, but here is a link to the instructions. http://www.howtojewellery.co.uk/2008/02/10/how-to-do-a-wrapped-loop-using-a-headpin/

Step 2

Step 1- Open all of the large rings, and 2 small rings, close all others.
Step 2- Weave 6 small closed rings onto 1 large open ring. Close the large ring. Weave another large ring through the same 6 small rings and close.

Step 3- Hold the 2 large rings so that 2 of the small rings are separated from the rest of the small rings. Weave an open large ring through those 2 rings. Before closing this large ring add 4 more small rings to it.
Step 4- Weave another large open ring through the same 6

Step 5

small rings as used in the last step. Close the large ring.
Step 5- Arrange what you just made so the large ring pairs are side by side (connected by 2 small rings) with a pair of small rings on top and bottom.
Step 6- Weave a large open ring onto the top 4 small rings (a pair from each of the closed large rings.) Before closing add 2 small closed rings. Weave another large open ring through the same path of 6 small rings and close.
Step 7- Weave a large open ring onto the bottom 4 small rings (a pair from each of the closed large rings.) Before closing add the bead loop. Weave another large open ring through the same path of small rings and bead loop and close.

Step 7

Step 8- Weave a small open ring onto the pair of small rings that are at the top. Before closing the ring add the ear wire. (Make sure the ear wire is positioned so that when the earring is hanging, you can't see the cut wire on the bead loop.)
Step 9- Repeat all of the above to create the second earring, unless you really only need one earring.





Experience Level: Beginner/Intermediate
Approximate Time: 20 minutes

I'm not entirely happy with the results of this design. I tried to use a 4mm ring for the small ones, but it was too small. I could not get all 4 of the large rings through. So I used the 5 mm rings. These were just a little too big. They hang a little loose and the large rings have too much freedom to separate. It's not so noticeable when they are flat on the table, but when they are hanging you'll notice that the center pair of small rings slip down. They don't stay in the middle of the design as they should. I have some 4.5 mm rings, but they are 18 gauge, so again, the inside diameter is too small.