Oscar de la Renta Inspired Earrings

I was, like so many of us, born with expensive taste and a moderate budget. The internet has given me an easy way to window shop for fancy things I can’t afford from the comfort of my own bed. Every so often though, I see something so glam I just gotta have it somehow! Even if it’s just my own DIY spin on it. Today it’s a pair of Oscar de la Renta earrings, unfortunately my accessory budget is way less than the $490 price tag of the real deal so I’ll be getting crafty with you today.

Gorgeous Green Supplies

Supplies:

Make sure they are even

I used the measuring tape when I cut the chainette mostly to make sure I was getting it even, not going for a specific length. Though I do have to say this size happened to work out really well, when folded into thirds, it looked a lot like the inspiration earrings size.

Make sure they are even when folded too!

Originally I was going to use the chainette just folded one time on itself but the fringe didn’t look full enough, folded in thirds the chainette fringe looks so much better!

Stitch it all up

I sewed the chainette together to keep it in place and prevent fraying while I get to the fun part…

All the pretty beads!

Beading!

These steps were a little tricky to capture in photos because of all the green on green going on. The edges got wrapped in a 6 count. If you hold the beads to the fabric you can tell about how far they can go without stretching out or having gaps.

Stitch through to the other side

Stitch through to the other side, slightly above where your thread ended earlier because you will be working your way up.

Continue your way up the edge

Pull your thread and get ready for the next stitch, pick up another 6 beads and do go around again. I found 4 rows gave nice coverage for the side.

After the side, next is the shoulder cap

After the last row on the side, pull the needle up through the center of the top and pick up 4 beads. The needle goes back in as close to the center of the last row as possible. Pull the needle out in between the last side row and the top center row you just put in. You are basically using what you need to fill in space up here, so stitch in beads where they look necessary. I did 4 in the center row and 2 beads each on either side beside it.

Start your first stitch of beads to cover the front and back after the side is complete

After completing the shoulder of the side part, pull the needle out in the top part behind the beading you’ve just completed so you can start covering the front and back with beads. Pick up 7 beads and insert the needle in the bottom next to the first row of beads you stitched on the side. Pick up another 7 beads, hook through the fabric on the top of the earring and repeat until you get to the other side, leaving space to cover the second side with rows of beads the way you did the first side.

How the front and back should look at this stage

Cover the edge on this second side the same way you did on the first side. (See above if you need a refresher) Then work your way to the center with your needle and thread to make beaded loops. I made mine 10 count beaded loops, you could make yours a little larger or smaller if you’d like.

Beaded loops on top to attach the hooks to

For the large beaded joint there is a loop of 6 beads that goes through the loop of beads on the earrings and then I went back through these beads a second time to reinforce the whole thing. This part was tricky to photograph so I made these sketches.

Reinforce with 2 stitches

For the last step I strung on the large focal bead, 3 of the size 10 beads, an earring hook, then the last 3 beads. After all that you go back through the focal bead and knot your work underneath. For extra stability you can go back around the 6 beads in the lower loop then back up and through the the top 6 and the earring hook and knot it all again.

Pull tight, then knot below the large focal bead

Do it all over again with the other piece of chainette you cut and then you will have a gorgeous pair of earrings ready to hit the town in!

That’s it for this time ladies & gents, please enjoy more photo goodness of the earrings worn. Please feel free to leave any questions or comments you have below!