Jewelry Making Fun» Jewelry Making Basics

How to Attach an Eye Pin to a French Hook

admin — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:48:25 +0000

This video demonstrates two ways how to attach an eye pin to a French hook. This is one of the most important basic skills to know when learning how to make jewelry. It’s a good thing that this skill is also very easy to learn.

To do this, you’ll need:

1 or more eye pins
1 or more French hooks
1 pair of chain nose pliers

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Jewelry Making Basics – Using Jump Rings

admin — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:39:24 +0000

This jewelry making basics video demonstrates how to use jump rings. It covers how to open and close the jump rings, as well as how to connect them to one another, in the most basic way, to make a simple earring.

Tools:

Chain nose pliers

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Jewelry Making Basics – How to Make an Eye Pin

admin — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:11:58 +0000

In this jewelry making basics video, I demonstrate how to make an eye pin out of wire. If you don’t have any eye pins handy, you can easily make them yourself from either straightened wire, or even from head pins.

If you don’t have wire, and only have head pins, you can make an eye pin in the same way as I show in the video, only snip off the head of the pin first. One reason you may wish to make your own eye pins out of head pins is to take advantage of volume pricing. Some jewelry shops will offer discounts on larger orders of individual items, such as head pins. You can order more head pins and make eye pins as you need them.

Eye pins are useful for middle sections of jewelry, as, unlike head pins, they can connect at both ends. When you are ready to finish off the eye pin with a top loop, the steps are similar to those used on a head pin.

For information on this, please see the video: How to use a Head Pin

Materials:

Wire (22ga or 24ga works very well)

Tools:

Round-nose pliers
Wire cutters

Please note: I suggest you wear safety glasses when making jewelry, especially when you use wire cutters.

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Jewelry Making Basics – Scratch-Resistant Pliers Tip

admin — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:32:43 +0000

In this jewelry making basics video, I demonstrate how masking tape can be used to reduce the risk of your pliers scratching the softer metals while you make your own jewelry. Also, make sure your pliers have no “teeth”. Pliers with teeth scratch softer metals very easily.

Tools:

Chain nose pliers
Masking tape
Sharp blade such as box cutters

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Jewelry Making Basics – How to use a Head Pin

admin — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:12:02 +0000

In this jewelry making basics video, I demonstrate how to use a head pin, including two ways to finish off the head pin loop and a warning that could save you some time and frustration. Also explained, is the difference between a head pin and an eye pin.

Tools:

Round-nose pliers
Chain nose pliers (I say needle nose pliers by mistake in the video)

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Jewelry Making Basics – Earring Findings

admin — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:24:14 +0000

In this jewelry making basics video, I give an overview of the different types of findings I use to make earrings. I review French hooks, posts and head pins. I explain the difference between head pins and eye pins, and why surgical stainless steel findings are important.

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