Sparkly Heart Earrings - by Teresa Meister

One can always count on Teresa to give us an interesting thread path while creating both pretty and solidly made beadwork.  These darling sparkly earrings will be a must do earring in many different colors.  I love an earring that can be considered bead neutral, in other words I can easily combine it with other bead work I may be wearing and it will compliment easily without competing.  I see a few pairs of these in my future!

Supplies

1g seed beads size 15^o 

[8] 3mm 5000 round crystals or substitute 3mm pearls for a less sparkly look

[4] 3mm 5328 bicone crystals

[2] 1¼ in. (3.18 cm) length of chain (or desired length) – approx. link size 3x3mm

pair of earring findings

6lb crystal Fireline

beading needle size 12

Introduction

Two hearts folded over make an earring. The second heart will be folded over and attached to the first heart as it is woven. The hearts are crafted upside down to make it easier to control the dangle of the chain as it is incorporated into the beadwork. An individual heart is comprised of two loops, Loop 1 and Loop 2 and a point, called the Heart Point.

1. Loop 1. Thread a needle with approximately 36 in. (.91m) of thread or Fireline. Leaving a 6 in. (15.2 cm) tail, pick up (13) 15^o seed beads. To form a ring of beads, sew back through the first seven 15^o’s.

2. Pick up a 3mm round crystal. Tie the tail and working threads together using an overhand knot. With the working thread sew up through the next 15^o. Place a needle on the tail thread and sew through the 3mm crystal. Using the tail thread, make a half-hitch knot. Weave in the tail and trim. Snug up Loop 1, so that the crystal sits snugly inside the loop. 

3. Pick up four 15^o’s, and a piece of chain of the desired length. Sew through the three 15^o’s in Loop 1 as shown. Sew back through the first four 15^o’s strung at the start of this step. This forms two 3-bead stacks that sit side-by-side with a piece of chain positioned at the bottom between the two stacks.

4. Loop 2. Pick up ten 15^o’s. Form a ring of beads by sewing through the uppermost 15^o in the right-side 3-bead stack as shown.

5. Pick up a 3mm round crystal.  To position the crystal, count six 15^o’s from the start position and sew through the three 15^o’s labeled, 6, 5 and 4 as shown. Snug up Loop 2, so that the crystal sits snugly inside the loop.

6. Heart Point. Pick up (13) 15^o’s. Connect the Heart Point to Loop 1 by sewing through the thread path as shown. At the end, the working thread is exiting the single 15^o positioned at the top between the two 3-bead stacks.

7. Pick up three 15^o’s. Skip the first three 15^o’s labeled 1, 2 and 3 that are at the base of the Heart Point, and sew through the next three 15^o’s. Skip under the next 15^o and sew through the next two 15^o’s as shown. Tip: After you sew through the last two 15^o’s place the needle through the skipped bead and gently pull the bead away from the ring of beads. The skipped bead will “pop-out” and form the point of the heart as you snug up the thread.

8. Pick up a 3mm bicone crystal. To position the crystal sew directly across to the opposite side of the Heart Point and sew through the six 15^o’s as shown.

9. Pick up three 15^o’s. Sew through the thread path as shown.

10. We are ready to start the next heart. To start Loop 1, pick up two 15^o’s. To attach the two 15^o’s to the previous heart sew up through the 15^o  labeled 1 on Loop 2 of the previous heart. Sew back through the first 15^o  just strung as shown.

11. Pick up eleven 15^o’s. To form Loop 1, sew through the 15^o as shown.

12. Pick up a 3mm round crystal. To position the crystal, count to the bead labeled 6 and sew up through the bead labeled 6 as shown. Snug up Loop 1, so that the crystal sits snugly inside the loop.

13. No beads are picked up this step.  Turn the beadwork over to reposition the beadwork as shown. 

14. No beads are picked up this step. Fold over Loop 1 of the Second Heart so its sits atop the loop of the First Heart as shown.

15. Pick up four 15^o’s. Sew through the same link of chain on the First Heart. Sew through the three 15^o’s in Loop 1 of the Second Heart and sew back through the first four 15^o’s strung at the start of this step. 

16. Repeat steps 4-9 to complete the Second Heart. Sew through sets of two 15^o’s on both hearts as shown to complete the attachment of the hearts. Secure and trim the working thread. Attach an ear wire to the end link of the chain.

17. Repeat steps 1-16 to craft a second earring.

For a printable version of these earrings click here.

To see more of Teresa’s designs visit her website: teresameister.com