Have you ever wanted to blend embroidery and earrings? If so; you’ve come to the right post! Today’s project involves turning patches into earrings.
The best part of this project is each pair of earrings is completely customizable. Design possibilities and color combinations are endless. Keep reading to find the list of materials and complete instructions for making your own embroidery earrings. Printable earring templates can be found here, or design your own!
* Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I, Leah Gordon, may earn a small commission from purchases made, at no additional cost to you. These are products I highly recommend and use.*
Before getting started, know that there is no wrong shape or appearance of your finished earrings. This project was created as a carefree introduction into jewelry making from textiles. If you need a tutorial and a completely beginner friendly introductory project for using the Embroidery Stitching Tool (Art. No 8800), check out my Wee Lil Cloud project here! Each individual earring will have its own unique characteristics depending on how you transfer your designs and stitch your design templates. With those notes out of the way, let’s get started!
Embroidery Earrings
by Leah Gordon
Craft: Punch Needle Embroidery
Skill Level: Beginner/Intermediate
Time: 30 minute – 1 hour
Stitches: Back Stitch & Satin Stitch
Materials
- Embroidery Stitching Tool (Art. No 8800)
- 6-Ply Needle Refill (Art. No 8803)
- Embroidery Hoop 7″ (Art. No 8812)
- Bordeaux Ultimate Scissors (Art. No 4941)
- Clover Straight Tailor’s Awl (Art. No 485/W)
- Chacopen Blue with Eraser (Art. No 5013)
- Embroidery Thread
- Multipurpose Glue
- Fray Check
- Jump Rings
- Earring Components
- Duck canvas or foundation cloth of choice
- Felt
- Sticky Fabric-Solvy
Instructions
- Prepare Embroidery Hoop 7″ (Art. No 8812) with duck canvas or foundation cloth of choice.
- Thread Embroidery Stitching Tool (Art. No 8800) using 6-Ply Needle Refill and 6-ply embroidery thread of choice.
- Print templates directly onto Sticky Fabric-Solvy and apply to prepared hoop, or sketch design directly onto the prepared hoop using a Chacopen Blue with Eraser (Art. No 5013). Remember to mark areas that will act as placeholders for jump rings if you are free-handing your design.
- Print or trace a second set of templates on plain paper to use as cutting templates. Place templates onto felt square, cut out appropriate shapes to serve as backing for earrings, and set aside.
- Fill in design as desired. DO NOT stitch into areas where jump rings will be located. Use back, satin, or a combination of both stitches. For added texture consider cutting pile (loops) on the “wrong side” of back stitches to create a “fuzzy” appearance.
- Once the design is filled in, remove the foundation cloth. Using Bordeaux Ultimate Scissors (Art. No 4941) or fabric scissors cut out your designs. Cut close to your stitches, be sure not to cut into your stitches.
- Using your Clover Straight Tailor’s Awl (Art. No 485/W) or sharp point tool, carefully poke a hole through desired areas where jump rings will be located on felt backings and patches. DO NOT poke a hole through stitches on your patches.
- Align felt backings with the design pieces, glue the wrong side of your design to the matching felt backing, and allow to completely dry.
- Using Fray Check seal the edges of your earring and allow to completely dry.
- Using your fingers or appropriate pliers, attach jump rings and earring components . If you are using earring posts, glue them in a desired location directly to the felt backing.
Congratulations!
You have a brand new pair of unique to you earrings to wear and enjoy!
Now that you have finished your first pair I hope you are already planning more. This project makes for a great thoughtful handmade gift, or a sustainable way to approach jewelry and accessories. Let your imagination stitch wild! Use hashtags #IPlayWithFiber #IPWEmbroidery to share WIPs and finished projects with me on Instagram, @IPlayWithFiber. If you have any questions feel free to reach me at my contacts below. I look forward to connecting with you!
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