Comments on: Ear Hooks: Questions About the Basics

By: Barbara MacDougall

Barbara MacDougall — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 21:53:09 +0000

I think a lot of people have that problem. I see some really mangled earwires sometimes as people customise their shape. You could try using silicon or plastic earnuts pushed on the wire ends just enough to cover the end of the earwires — or switch to leverbacks. I find most people are very interested in the leverbacks now these days, and especially in the winter when fishhooks get caught in scarves and high collars. I offer them as an option, or just an FYI so that people know that I carry them if they wanted to switch out their own earrings. Most people have no idea how simple this is to do!

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 21:37:33 +0000

In reply to Jennifer. Hi Jennifer, I often pinch the ends of the hook closer together, so the sharp end of the hook is more angled away from my neck, and is more below my earlobe instead.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 21:33:37 +0000

The French hook always scratches my neck or stabs me. How can I fix this problem?

By: Lisa W.

Lisa W. — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 22:11:26 +0000

I use 20 ga sterling wire. I don’t usually put anything other than sterling or gold in my ears, so i stick with that. Stainless steel would be good too.
The reason no one can really give a clear answer about exact sizes is that the results you will get vary drastically depending on the pliers you are using, the wire you choose, and your level of skill and comfort with the process. When I teach this, I sometimes find the measurements I give students are too short, because their pliers may be wider than mine, and their loops come out larger, so their wire needs to be longer. I would suggest you get a couple of ear wires that you like the size and shape of, and play around with 20 ga brass or copper for practice until you get a result you like with your pliers. Then, figure out what length you need to get there. You might also want to try hammering just the front part of the ear hook to harden it and help keep its shape.

Oh, just fyi, I use 1-3/4″ to 2″ of 20 ga sterling for my hooks.

By: Kathy Statton

Kathy Statton — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 16:05:09 +0000

I use 2.5 inches of wire – sterling silver or gold filled – here is an example of my earwires:
etsy.com/listing/74945882/green-brown-jasper-earrings?

put 2 pieces of wire side by side – use small round nose pliers & wrap both wires around till ends touch on other side; the put pliers behind the circle &
make a wider circle – for the rest of the earring by hand. hope this isn’t too confusing. Kathy

By: Lynda

Lynda — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 15:51:09 +0000

Lots of good advice already stated. If you are looking for a cheaper alternative to sterling, I’ve had good success with the ‘non-tarnishing silver plated’ craft wire in 20 or 18 gauge. You can lightly hammer the curve for strength and definition without damaging the surface. I do not tumble these however. Another quick ear wire can be made from silver plated ball head pins. I found some that are a perfect 19 gauge. These are 2 inches long. I just use my chain nose pliers and turn up the ball end about a quarter of an inch (open up to attach the earring). Then use a pen shaft to form the curved part of the ear wire. It’s also a good practice to do this with both ear wires at the same time to achieve uniformity.

By: Michelle Buettner

Michelle Buettner — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 14:00:14 +0000

As stated above, it does depend on the size you want your earwires/hooks to be. I use 2 inch wire to make a simple ‘french style’ hook ear wire and they are not too large or too small – pretty basic. I use 20g round wire,…usually sterling silver, 14K gold-filled, copper, brass or bronze wire. I don’t use the artistic wire because I cannot tumble it in the tumbler to harden it w/out having the colors come off and I find it doesn’t get stiff enough just by hammering with a rubber mallet to work harden it. Some people have sensitivities/allergic reactions to metals so if you’re making them for clients, be sure to tell them the type of metals you are using. You can also watch videos on You Tube and on other websites on how to make different kinds of earring wires – that might help you.

By: Barbara

Barbara — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 12:18:18 +0000

The easiest way to find what looks “right” is to make some and keep notes on the length of the wire you’re using. Maybe have a little notebook and tape in an example of each style you come up with. There are no “rules”. But I would not use craft wire as it’s too soft to last. Sterling and copper are what I use for my handmade wires, I don’t use gold at all in my work.

I had a customer bring me a pair of earrings that didn’t sit right. The original designer made really nice handmade sterling earwires, but the loops for the dangles sat too high up close to the piercing in the woman’s ears and so the dangles sat against her earlobe. That was my ah-hah moment. The earwires might have been perfect for little kids’ earrings, but not for most adults.

The best way to judge the “right” length is to try your earwires on, see what they look like on and how they suit the overall design of the earrings themselves. And, of course, they’ll look completely different on someone else, who might want or need a longer or shorter earwire.

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 10:17:54 +0000

Hi Rups, You'll find some basic earwire info here: Earring Wire Guidelines. I'm not sure what style of earwire you're making, but for a regular fishhook style, I use a piece of wire that's somewhere between 2.25" to 3.25", depending on the design details and the size I want the finished earwires to be. :)