Beaded, Crochet Granny Square Earrings Pattern

I'll be publishing some of my crafting articles previously published on HubPages starting with this fun, funky pattern for experienced crocheters.  Enjoy.

Orange Dream earrings, Photo credit Trish Deneen

Frugal and Beautiful Crochet Jewelry

Making crocheted jewelry is fun and frugal way to use up bits of thread to make beautiful gifts for holidays and birthdays. The classic granny square is easily adaptable to any style you want to make it from vintage to modern. This tutorial will give you the basic pattern and steps to use to make your own beaded crochet granny square earrings.

Supplies Needed

You will need the following supplies to complete this project.

·         Small amount of DMC size 12 thread or crochet cotton size 10, 20, or 30. The finer the thread, the daintier the final result.

·         Seed and other craft beads of your choice.

·         Beading thread and bead needle. Sewing thread can be substituted.

·         Fabric glue or stiffener.

·         Earring wires.

·         Round nose jewelry pliers.

·         Craft Styrofoam board.

·         Head pins.

·         Wax paper. Plastic wrap (cling film) may be substituted.

Granny Square Pattern

Crochet abbreviations:

·         ch = chain

·         dc = double crochet

·         sl st = slip stitch

Row 1: Begin with ch 6, sl st into first ch to create round.

Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as first double crochet on each row). Two dc in round. Ch 3, 3 dc in round three times. Ch 3 and sl st in beginning ch 3.

Row 3: Sl st to ch 3 space. Ch 3, two dc in same ch space. Ch 3, three dc in same ch space. *Ch 1, three dc in next ch space. Ch 3, three dc in same ch space. Repeat from * twice more. Ch 1, sl st in first ch 3.

Row 4: Sl st to ch 3 space. Ch 3, two dc in same ch space. Ch 3, three dc in same ch space. *Ch 1, three dc in next ch space. Ch 1, three dc in next ch space. Ch 3, three dc in same ch space. Repeat from * two times. Ch 1, three dc in next ch space. Ch 1, sl st in first ch 3. Finish off.

Stiffen Earrings

Water down fabric glue or stiffener to a 1:1 ratio of glue and water. Use more or less depending on how stiff you want the finished earrings. Block out earrings on Styrofoam board covered in wax paper and pin in place to dry.

I don't like to make these too stiff just enough so they don't look limp when you're wearing them. The finished earrings you see in these pictures are flexible enough to bend but they hold up well dangling from the ears without looking floppy.

This step is completely optional, but I think that because of the added beads this style really looks better stiffened a little bit rather than left as is. If you do stiffen them, try not to get them wet as this will lessen the stiffness.

Purple Leaves

The pair below has plastic beads, seed beads and purple leaf beads attached in the same fashion as mentioned above.

Purple Feather, Photo credit Trish Deneen

Adding Beads and Ear Wires

For this pattern, we'll be attaching the beads in one corner of the square so that the earrings appear to be diamond shaped. A longer piece of beading thread will make this easier to work with—at least 18 inches. String thread through a corner chain space of an earring and tie a double knot in the middle to secure. You now have two threads to work with of equal length to add the beads of your choice.

Place the beading needle on one of the threads and string on seed beads. To secure them, go over the first bead you strung on the thread and up through the rest of the beads and tie and cut off. You may want to do this as many times as the size of the holes in the beads allow to add security. Repeat with the other thread.

Add threads as desired (see Celebration earrings below). To get the look of the orange dream earrings above, place two larger beads on both threads before separating the threads to add seed beads.

Add the ear wires at the top of the earrings with the round nose jewelry pliers.

Variations

These can be beautifully adapted to Steampunk fashion, Victoriana, goth style, frilly or simplistic using any color thread and beads. Variegated thread can be used as in the purple leaves pair below and the orange dream pair. I've also used ecru colored thread with wood beads for more of an earthy look.

Celebration Crochet

I call the style pictured below celebration granny squares because they're so colorful even with plain white squares. This is a great way to use beads up from the multi-colored grab bags sold at craft stores or those you have in your own bead stash. I'm unsure but I believe I used cotton crochet thread size 20 or 30 for this pair.

Celebration Granny Squares, Photo credit Trish Deneen

Changing the Place of the Beads

It's easy to put the beads under the ear wires instead of at the bottom of the earrings. Just follow the same principles as in the tutorial. See the photo below for an example.

Rose Bead, Photo credit Trish Deneen

(c) Patricia Deneen (No, I know I don't own the copyright to the granny square, but please don't copy this article/pictures and claim yourself as the author.  Make and sell all the granny square jewelry that you want. Happy crocheting!)