Egyptian Coil Drop Earrings

by Judy Larson This elegant earring takes very little time to make and is simple to construct. What a great idea for a gift! Materials: 20 of 20 gauge round wire 10 of 24 gauge round wire Two 8mm gemstone beads or large hole pearls Two 6mm jump rings 2 earwires Note: The wire used in this tutorial is silver plated craft wire. It is considered dead soft. Directions: Step 1: Cut two 10 pieces of 20 gauge wire. Sharpie to mark the center of each wire. Use a Tools: Chain, round and flat nose pliers Soft jaw pliers Flush cutter Ultra fine point Sharpie marker 1/8 mandrel or dowel Ruler

Step 2: Slide a bead on each wire and center over the mark. Bend the wire up 90on both sides of the bead. Gently push the wires together about above the bead. Flush cut the wire ends even. Make sure both earring assemblies are the same length. Step 3: Make equal spirals on the wire ends until the unit is 1 long from the center of the bead to the top of the spirals. Step 4: Use 24 gauge wire to make 6 to 7 wraps around the two wires, close to the spirals, on both earring assemblies. When you have completed the wraps, push them down toward the spirals as far as they will go and tighten the wires down with flat or chain nose pliers. Step 5: With the cut ends of the wire wrap facing the dowel, place the 1/8 dowel across the wires on one earring assembly between the bead and the wrap, about 7/8 from the spiraled end. Bend the spiraled end up over the dowel and down toward the bead, making

sure that the bead side is longer than the spiral side. Repeat for the other earring assembly. Make any adjustments needed. Both back and front sides of the earrings are shown below.

Step 6: Open a jump ring and slide it over the bend in one earring assembly. Slide the bottom loop of one earwire onto the jump ring and close it. Repeat for the other earring.