Learn the Coraling Beading Technique
These lacy earrings look like coral or frost. The branched fringe or coraling beading technique is easy to do and yields stunning results. Once you master the stitch you can use it to make necklaces or to adorn clothing.
Beaded Earrings Overview
Learning the Coraling Technique
Coraling is easy, but it does require that you have practice controlling your thread tension. Also, it uses a large number of beads and takes a bit of time. Feel free to vary the number of beads between branches, the length of the branches, etc. I would rate this an intermediate level beading project. It will take a few hours to complete a pair of earrings. Have fun!
Beaded Earrings Materials List
Size 11 Seed Beads
I used a main color and a contrast color. Smaller beads work well (e.g., 13s or 15s), but larger beads will yield heavy earrings.
Earwires
Or other earring findings. Buy them or make your own.
Bead Tips
Optional. I like to hang the beadwork from beadtips because the dangles swing freely and the thread isn't damaged during wear.
Flatnose or Chainnose Pliers
For attaching bead tip to earwire.
Thread Snips
I used my wire cutters.
Beading Needle
I used a size 10 beading needle.
Thread
I used size D Nymo. Personally, I find other types of thread too stiff for this technique. Nymo B is great with size 14/15 beads.
Accent Beads
Optional. I used a pair of 4-mm beads for the white earrings and a pair of 8-mm beads for the tutorial.
I used a main color and a contrast color. Smaller beads work well (e.g., 13s or 15s), but larger beads will yield heavy earrings.
Earwires
Or other earring findings. Buy them or make your own.
Bead Tips
Optional. I like to hang the beadwork from beadtips because the dangles swing freely and the thread isn't damaged during wear.
Flatnose or Chainnose Pliers
For attaching bead tip to earwire.
Thread Snips
I used my wire cutters.
Beading Needle
I used a size 10 beading needle.
Thread
I used size D Nymo. Personally, I find other types of thread too stiff for this technique. Nymo B is great with size 14/15 beads.
Accent Beads
Optional. I used a pair of 4-mm beads for the white earrings and a pair of 8-mm beads for the tutorial.
Find Materials to Make Earrings
You should be able to find materials to make these earrings in any craft store, but materials are also available online. These earrings use a lot of beads, so be sure to have enough.
Bead Boutique Bead Box - Seed Beads
Amazon Price: $7.70 (as of 11/23/2009) 
Bead Boutique Bead Box and Silver-Lined Seed Beads
Amazon Price: $7.70 (as of 11/23/2009)
NYMO Nylon Beading Thread Size D for Delica Beads - White 64 Yards (58 Meters)
Amazon Price: $0.80 (as of 11/23/2009)
Blue Moon 8mm Clamshell Bead Tip - 84PK/Silver
Amazon Price: $2.82 (as of 11/23/2009)
Sterling Silver 0.6mm Flat French Earwires with Coil, 4prs
Amazon Price: (as of 11/23/2009)
Beaded Earrings Step 1:
To start, cut at least a meter of your chosen thread. If desired, condition your thread with beeswax or Thread Heaven. If you can, it's better to work with a single long thread than to have to add thread, since adding thread will make it harder to keep the beads under tension. I threaded one seed bead onto the string, let it fall about a third of the way down the string, and tied a knot around it. Beaded Earrings Step 2:
Put both ends of the thread through a bead tip. This bead will support the beadwork. Beaded Earrings Step 3:
Using the shorter strand, string on 1 seed bead, your accent bead, and 40 main color seed beads (this will be the final length of your earring, so adjust it longer or shorter as desired by adding or subtracting beads in multiples of three). Beaded Earrings Step 4:
String on three accent beads. Go back through the last two main color seed beads. Tighten the tension so there are no gaps between the beads. If you are using nymo or any other nylon thread, remember that it stretches over time, so your beadwork needs to be fairly tight. On the other hand, if you are using Power Pro or another fluoropolymer, remember that this thread will not stretch, so you want the tension such that there are no gaps between beads yet loose enough for the beadwork to be fluid. Beading with the Coraling Technique
Coraling Technique: Step-by-Step Instructions For Making Ten Original Design Necklaces, Bracelets And Earrings In The Most Popular Russian Beading Technique
Amazon Price: (as of 11/23/2009)
If you like this project, then you'll probably love the designs in Varvara's book. This beading book features elaborate patterns for beaded jewelry made using the coraling technique. Though the designs look complex, they are simply variations on the technique used to make these earrings.
Beaded Earrings Step 5:
Add two main color beads and three contrast beads. Pass back through the two main color beads. Congratulations, you have completed your first pair of branches! Beaded Earrings Step 6:
Pass back through the next 5 beads, going toward the bead tip. Adjust your tension. Beaded Earrings Step 7:
Add 4 main color beads and three contrast color beads. Pass back through the last 2 main color beads. Add two main color beads and three contrast color beads. Beaded Earrings Step 8:
Pass back through the two main color beads, the two next 2 main color beads of this branch and then through the next 3 beads toward the bead tip (total of 7 beads you go back through). So Many Steps!
Don't be intimidated by the number of steps in this tutorial. The technique is easy! I just wanted to photograph every single part of the stitch to make sure you didn't get confused. You'll see how easy it is once you try it.
Beaded Earrings Step 9:
This is what you'll get after you pass through the beads back toward the bead tip. Beaded Earrings Step 10:
From here on, you are just repeating the previous step. Add 4 main color and 3 contrast. Pass back through the last two main color. Add 2 main color and three contrast. Pass back through the 7 main color on the 'branch' and 'stem', going toward the bead tip. You will continue this pattern until you are as near the bead tip as you like (5-6 beads for me). Beaded Earrings Step 11:
Thread up through the accent bead and bead tip, go through the bead in the bead tip (reinforcing your thread), tie a knot using the other thread, and pass back through the 'stem' beads. I ran the thread through several branches to secure it and cut the thread. Thread your needle on the other end of the thread and pass it through the seed bead and accent bead so that it is exiting the accent bead. Make the next stem with branches. This thread should be dangling from the base of the accent bead. I added 26 main color beads. Beaded Earrings Step 12:
Add three contrast beads and pass back through the last 2 main color beads. Add 2 main color beads and 3 accent beads. Pass back through the last 2 main color beads and the next 5 main color beads on the stem (7 main color beads total). Continue making branches until you are within 5 beads of the accent bead. Pass through the main color beads to come out just below the accent bead. More Earring Projects
If you liked making these branched fringe earrings, you might enjoy some of my other earring tutorials.-
Make Pearl Earrings
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Pearl earstuds are a classic fashion accessory, jewelry store staple, and a great gift idea. High quality materials and careful attention to technique will make the difference between heirloom treasures and earstuds that look ill-matched and fall apa...
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Make Beaded Chandelier Earrings
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Chandelier earrings are gorgeous, but large earrings can be heavy and cumbersome and can take a lot of time to make. These earrings have three-dimensional drape and the swingy allure of chandeliers, but they are easy to make and elegant enough to wea...
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Make Chandelier Earrings
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Chandelier earrings are gorgeous! These instructions are for completely hand-made earrings. Use a jig or roundnose pliers to make the chandelier frame. The dangles are attached to the frame use wire or headpins. Finally, the chandelier is hung from a...
Beaded Earrings Step 13:
Make the third stem/branch identical to the second stem/branch. When you are finished, you can knot your thread or work it back through several branches to secure it. Cut the thread. Use pliers to attach the bead tip to the earring finding. Beaded Earrings Step 14:
Here's a finished earring. Make a second earring to match the first. Another Book You May Enjoy
Netting All the Way (Beading with Varvara)
Amazon Price: $21.99 (as of 11/23/2009)
This book on making jewelry using the netting technique is also by Varvara. I like the coraling designs better, but these designs are intricate and beautiful, too.
Sign the Guestbook
Do you have questions or comments about the coraling technique or about making beaded earrings? Sign the guestbook!
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Reply
- Therese Therese Jul 14, 2009 @ 6:21 pm
- Do you have any ideas for making earings into delicate Bucky balls? I think soldering the matrix to make the ball would be too hard. I like beads but the balls are too bulky. I'm looking for very light and delicate. Thanks!
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- Rosi Rosi Jun 22, 2009 @ 12:45 pm
- I am a new "beader" and looking for new simple techniques to try. I can't wait to get home from work and try this with all the seed beads I have. I am thinking they would be gorgeous in mixed pastels for a nice summery look with sherbet coloured T-Shirts.
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Reply
- Distancebiker23 Distancebiker23 Jun 14, 2009 @ 8:06 pm
- Thank you! I wasn't sure what to do for this one necklace that would complement the ocean feel of the focal bead, but you answered it for me!
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Reply
- Cat1974 Cat1974 Apr 1, 2009 @ 7:30 pm
- These are amazing! I love them. Coraling is not something that I've ever tried but you've certainly inspired me to try.
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Reply
- Mortira Mortira Jan 13, 2009 @ 9:54 pm
- Branch and leaf fringe were the first techniques I ever learned, and they're still among my favorites.
Great tutorial! Welcome to the Beads and Jewels group!
by Azareal
Hi. I'm Dr. Anne Helmenstine, scientist, author, and mom. I write and edit About.com's Chemistry Website, which covers general chemistry, science proj... (more)
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