If you've ever bought earring findings and thought I go through these so fast — earwire jigs are about to change your life. These little tools let you bend your own earwires from scratch using nothing but wire and the jig itself. Once you get the hang of it, you'll never go back to buying pre-made.
We keep all of these jigs in the store and use them in classes constantly. They're some of our best-selling tools because the math is simple: a spool of 20-gauge wire and one jig will make more earwires than you can count, for a fraction of what packaged findings cost.
A quick note on wire: 20-gauge is the sweet spot for most earwires. It's sturdy enough to hold its shape but thin enough to slip through piercings comfortably. Sterling silver, gold-filled, and copper all work beautifully. If you're just practicing, start with copper — it's forgiving and cheap.
Here are five of our favorite jigs, each with a quick video demo so you can see exactly how they work.
Earring Display Card Hole Punch
This one isn't technically an earwire jig, but it belongs in the same toolkit. It punches perfectly spaced holes into business cards or cardstock so you can display your earrings on them. If you're selling at craft fairs or gifting earrings, this is the finishing touch that makes everything look polished. Works on standard business card stock — just punch, insert your earwires, and you've got professional packaging for pennies.
Square Earwire Maker
This is one of the most versatile jigs we carry. It makes a clean, modern square-cornered earwire — but that's just the starting point. You can also wrap wire around it to create geometric components and small frames for bead dangles. The square shape gives your work a contemporary edge that round wire just can't. If you only buy one jig, this is a strong first pick.
Swan Earwire Maker
Swan earwires have that long, graceful curve that makes everything hanging from them look a little more elegant. They're gorgeous with longer dangles — think gemstone briolettes or chain tassels. And because the jig makes them so fast, you won't feel precious about using them on every pair. Make twenty at a time, keep a stash in your bead box, and grab them whenever inspiration strikes.
C-Hook Earwire Maker
C-hooks are earwires, sure — but we love them for way more than that. The open C shape works as a tiny decorative hanger. We've used them with pieces of driftwood to hang pendants as wall art. Customers have used them on Christmas trees, on wreaths, even as mini ornament hooks for rearview mirrors. Once you start seeing the C-hook as a universal little hanger, you'll find uses everywhere.
Shepherd Hook Earwire Maker
The classic. Shepherd hooks are the most common earwire style — the kind you see on most drop earrings everywhere. This jig is extra nice because it has a built-in wire gauge measure, so you get consistent lengths every time without fussing with a ruler. If you make earrings regularly, this tool pays for itself after one project. Buy a spool of 20-gauge sterling and you'll never need to order earwire findings again.
Getting Started
If you're new to jigs, here's our advice: pick up the Shepherd Hook or Square Earwire maker first — they're the most universally useful. Grab a spool of 20-gauge dead-soft wire (copper to learn, then graduate to sterling or gold-filled), and give yourself ten minutes of practice. By the fifth or sixth earwire, you'll have it down.
All of these tools are in the store and we're always happy to demo them for you. Come in, try them out, and see which shapes speak to your style.