Verity Vintage Studio

Tutorial: How to Make 1950s Style Beaded Earrings

Anyone who likes to browse antique shops will recognize the popular bead cluster earrings from the 1950s. Often part of a matching set, they have a quintessential mid-century look. Because of their size and bulk, many of them are clip-ons and too heavy to work well converted to pierced. But no fear! Now you can make your own, in your preferred colors!

 

For this project you will need:

2 large bead caps (I used 25mm size of a generic style easily found in craft stores)

beading needle

beading string (similar to fishing line)

beads

hammer

2 earring posts

metal-bonding glue like E-6000

 

How To

On a surface that you can't scratch, carefully use the hammer to flatten out the bead caps. They won't be perfectly flat, but as you can see, the inner edge is flattened down, and the outer edge is flattened out.

 

The difference:

 

This makes the base for your earring. (I'm sure there are bases out there that are actually made for this, but I found bead caps to work well and be very inexpensive, plus common to access.)

With your beading thread on your needle, tie the other end through the bead cap. Now you are ready to start beading.

 

Start by sewing down beads the whole way around the bead cap. I found the best results by going up and down in the same hole. I used 3mm glass pearl beads because I wanted a daintier earring, but you can certainly use larger beads and not sew one in each hole if necessary. In general, small beads will work best.

 

There will be spaces between them - that's ok. You'll fix it later.

 

Now move to the center and do another circle of beads. They won't all fit in a tidy ring, but start "clustering".

 

At this point, you may wish to add an extra bead here or there in order to make a tight cluster that hides the bead cap. Try to add them evenly and not all on one side, or your earring will grow lopsided.

 

For the center, I used a 6mm glass pearl. Make sure to turn it so the side is facing instead of the end with the hole.

 

Next, go back and tighten any loose beads by adding another stitch through them. Knot your beading thread and weave it through the ends of some of your stitches before cutting it off. You don't want to cut it too close to the knot.

Make the 2nd earring, trying to keep the number of beads the same so they end up the same size.

 

Turn them over and glue an earring post to the back of each one. 

 

That's it! Leave them to dry overnight, and the next day you can put on the earring backs and wear them.

I used all one color, but you can mix colors too! Here is a set I made earlier, with mixed sizes, colors, and textures of beads. There are endless options out there!

 

These could coordinate perfectly with my two-strand pearl necklace, if you need a matching set!

 

My new pearl bead cluster earrings side-by-side with true vintage 1950s bead cluster earrings. It's nice to be able to make a new, authentic-looking pair in a particular color any time I need to!

Flower-Fringed 1940s Hat

The last few weeks have not been very productive, sewing wise. I was on vacation, then had crochet deadlines to meet, and anyway I wasn't really in the sewing mood. I did get a fun small project finished, though!

 

I've already made this hat from VaVoomVintage twice - a simple black version, and last year's Easter hat which I trimmed with a vintage veil and some paper flowers. These hats are so quick and easy to make, and very flattering. The simple base can be decorated a myriad ways. There are so many options, I'll have to make a lot more before I'm able to use all my trimming ideas!

 

This one was made in navy blue wool felt. I bent the top wire to give a little heart shape, just for fun. I think it adds to the 1940s silhouette. I could also wear it farther front on my head like a headband.

 

The trimming for this version was also in felt. I used small circles of the navy felt, and also a lighter shade of blue to make flowers to line the front edge.

 

These flowers were super easy. I started with a circle about 1 1/2 in. across, in the light blue felt, and one slightly smaller out of navy felt.

 

I snipped them around the edges to create fringed petals. I was not particular at all, so they are not even. You can't notice, so there's no need to stress out about getting each cut the same width and depth.

 

Stack them up and pinch them in half! I pinned them around the front edge to figure out how many I would need, then secured each flower with a few stitches in just the center, to allow the petals freedom to go a little wonky if they want.

 

I've seen similar hat trimmings on actual vintage hats from the era, so the overall appearance is very period correct. 

 

Just to show how versatile this hat pattern is, here's another one I made as a birthday gift for my sister. This one was trimmed across the front with a 1 1/2 in. strip of felt that was pleated evenly and sewn down with pearl beads.

 

This style of trimming is very 1950s, and you can see from the silhouette that it looks quite a different era from the blue one.

 

Very fun projects to add a quick accessory to a collection - both hats together took me 1 1/2 hours or less to complete. A refreshing change from elaborate or time-consuming sewing projects! I'll definitely continue to use this pattern. 

1950s Mod Wool Dress

I originally had this thrifted vintage wool fabric slated for a coat dress, but when I went to cut it out I discovered there were only 2 yards of it. Thankfully a wide width, but certainly not enough for a dress with overlap. Time to find another option. 

 

The cobalt blue and white striking houndstooth print is probably from the 1960s, but I don't really do 1960s style, so I went with a later 1950s pattern instead. One that would hopefully fit on the fabric!

 

I was prepared to cut facings out from a different cloth, but was pleasantly surprised to find it just so barely all fit on my wool! As long as I kept a short sleeve option, that is.

 

The fabric is a bit thick perhaps for this use. It probably would have been better suited as a jacket or coat. But I'm reasonably well pleased with the dress.

 

I really like the notched neckline!

 

But I am not a fan of the darts. I did them exactly as placed on the pattern, but they are angled strangely. Before I wear it again I'll have to redo them.

 

Actually, I'm glad I went with short sleeves, even though wool seems to call for a cold weather style. I think it would have been just too hot with longer sleeves.

 

It has a skirt yoke and the notches at the neck for interest, but otherwise is pretty basic.

 

I love how my brooch from VivaLaLux is exactly the right color! Also, I notice that my first two projects of the year were both blue, and in the same shade of blue! That was unintentional, but it's funny to see them side by side on the blog. :-)

 

I paired this outfit with gray, mostly because I had a new hat I wanted to wear. I was given an Etsy gift card for Christmas, and I ended up purchasing two vintage hats with it. I was originally going to go with a more flamboyant 1930s hat, but talked myself out of it when I realized that I already had several favorite hats in that color and I almost always end up wearing the simple, tailored beret styles. 

 

This was a happy decision (though I did end up getting a flamboyant hat also!) because I loved this hat even more in person. The subtle details, flattering shape, and that matching hatpin are all just perfect! Classy and elegant without being ostentatious. Plus it was a new color for my collection.

 

While not a house dress, the weather was not cooperating for outdoor pictures, so my kitchen background will have to suffice.

 

The whole dress came together smoothly until the very, very end. Somehow I managed to get one buttonhole an inch too close to the one above, and didn't catch it until the buttons were on and the buttonholes cut! I thought I was done, and then saw something was wrong...I was so bummed. But it was way too noticeable to just hope for the best.

 

Patching was not really an option. The fabric is too loosely woven and too noticeable a print. I ended up fixing the problem by adding 3 more buttonholes and doing sets of 2 smaller buttons instead. Not what I originally wanted, and some of the buttonholes are larger than the others because of this fix, but at least it's fixed.

 

It was an enjoyable, fairly quick project, despite the buttonhole fiasco at the end - which was certainly frustrating. I thought I was on the home stretch, and instead had to put another hour or two into it. 

It probably won't be a top favorite dress, but it is certainly colorful and unique.