Knit Your Own Jewelry: Square Earrings Knit from Wire

Knitting wire is a bit different from yarn in the texture, weight, feel, and size. But once you can knit successfully with yarn, moving into new materials should be fine, especially since the basic concepts are the same with wire. Earrings are a popular item to knit on your own, using great patterns collected from around the internet. Remember, don't be intimidated by the wire. Treat these projects similarly to the scarves and sweaters you might take on at home. This beautiful pattern is a great one to get you started.

Squarish Earrings, by Helena Callum
To create beautiful square-shaped earrings, measuring 20 mm on each side, choose this fun and fairly simple pattern. You will walk to use a thin stainless steel in the color of your choosing. Try something like Habu Textiles A-20, 1/20 silk stainless steel. You will also need a pair of 2 mm (US) needles and 14 seed beads (size 8 work well), plus a beading needle, sewing needle, pair of ear wires, two 5 mm jump rings, two 5 mm open jump rings, two pairs of flat nosed pliers.

Abbreviations
These abbreviations will be used:
CO: Cast on
k: knit
k2tog: knit two together
p: purl
p2sso: pass both the 2 slipped stitches over
RS: Right side
sl: slip
sl2: Slip 2 sts as if to k2tog
st: stitch
sts: stitches
WS: Wrong side
sl2 = Slip 2 sts as if to k2tog
pb = Place Bead: Slide bead up the working yarn until it is as close to the needle as it will come. Work next stitch/es as instructed.
p2sso = pass both the 2 slipped stitches over the st just worked

The Pattern
Use beading needle to thread 8 beads onto the yarn, then begin the following pattern. Try to work loosely as you go to keep your project easy to finish.

CO 15 sts using the cable method
Row 1 (RS): k15 [15 sts]
Row 2 (WS): k6, sl2, pb, k1, p2sso, k6 [13 sts]
Rows 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13: k across
Row 4: k5, sl2, pb, k1, p2sso, k5 [11 sts]
Row 6: k4, sl2, pb, k1, p2sso, k4 [9 sts]
Row 8: k3, sl2, pb, k1, p2sso, k3 [7 sts]
Row 10: k2, sl2, pb, k1, p2sso, k2 [5 sts]
Row 12: k1, sl2, pb, k1, p2sso, k1 [3 sts]
Row 14: sl2, pb, k1, p2sso [1 st]
Row 15: k1 [1 st]
Row 16: Cut the yarn, leaving a tail of 15 cm or 6". Pass this tail through remaining the st and pull tight.

To finish, use the beading needle to sew the knitted square onto one of the closed jump rings, then pass the tail through the last bead 2 or 3 times to secure. Tie the tail to the WS of the work, weave in all the ends, and trim the loose pieces. Make sure all the beads are placed on the right side of the work. You should be able to slide them into place if they are not, then reshape the square as needed.

Attach the closed jump ring onto the ear wire, being sure that the right side of the square is facing forward (so that when you wear them, the beads are visible). Sew it if you like, or use the open jump ring and the pliers to attach it. When you've finished, move on to the second earring being sure to make it the exact same way.

References:

Knit Pattern Central.
Helena Callum: Squarish Earrings.