How to make colourblock hoop earrings

Making your own vibrant hoop earrings is easy to do and requires no sewing ability, says Embroidery Now author Jennifer Cardenas Riggs

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Published: September 10, 2020 at 10:36 am

No stitching required to bring these beautiful earrings to life! These colourblocked hoops are so simple to create you’ll be tempted to make a pair to coordinate with every outfit you own.

Top tip: Remember to smooth out your embroidery thread extra well before you wrap! Keeping the thread smooth will ensure your earrings look as flawless as possible.

You Will Need

Hoop earrings
Embroidery scissors
Embroidery thread (floss):
DMC #224 Very light shell pink
DMC #930 Dark antique blue
DMC #3826 Golden brown

Step 1

Unlike other projects where you cut the embroidery thread before you stitch, with this project it is best to leave it uncut because you will be wrapping the entire hoop earring with the uncut strands.

Step 2

Start pulling out threads from all three skeins, running it between your fingers to smooth out any kinks. Add a small dab of tacky glue to the end of one of your hoop earrings and place the ends of all three of your embroidery colours into the glue, smoothing down with your finger to secure.

Step 3

Take the #930 Dark Antique Blue in one hand and hold your hoop earring as well as the other two colours (#224 Very Light Shell Pink and #3826 Golden Brown) in the other hand. Begin wrapping the #930 Dark Antique Blue around both the hoop earring and the other two thread colours. Your wrapping will hide both the hoop earring and the other two colours so they will no longer be visible. Work slowly, smoothing your threads as you go as well as keeping the wraps tight so there are no gaps.

Step 4

Continue wrapping with the #930 Dark Antique Blue until you reach the halfway point of your hoop earring. Here you will want to switch out the next colour that you would like visible on your hoop earring.

Step 5

Switch your hand placement so you are now holding the #3826 Golden Brown in one hand and holding your hoop earring and the other two thread colours in your other hand. Repeat the same process as in step 3, this time wrapping the #3826 Golden Brown around both your hoop earring and the other two colours. Continue wrapping until you are at the three-quarter point of your hoop earring.

Step 6

Switch your hand placement so you are now holding the #224 Very Light Shell Pink in one hand and holding your hoop earring and the other two thread colours in your other hand. Repeat the same process as in step 3, this time wrapping the #224 Very Light Shell Pink around both your hoop earring and the other two colours.

Step 7

When you near the end of the hoop earring, cut the #930 and #3826 embroidery threads. Continue wrapping the #224 around the hoop so the ends of the other two colours are hidden and secure underneath.

Step 8

At the end of your hoop earring add a small amount of tacky glue. Cut the end of your #224 and continue wrapping around the earring, smoothing the end of your embroidery thread into the glue. Secure it by gently running your finger along it a couple of times.

Step 9

Repeat steps 2–8 to create a matching earring.