Brick Stitch Hoop Earrings: A Beginner-Friendly Way to Bead in Circles
There's something so satisfying about turning a plain metal hoop into a piece of woven, textured jewelry. In my latest tutorial, I'm showing you how to make these brick stitch hoop earrings — a beginner-friendly project that introduces you to circular brick stitch, a fun twist on one of the most classic beadweaving techniques.
If you've dabbled in beading before, or even if this is your very first project, this is a great one to add to your list.
What Is Circular Brick Stitch?
Brick stitch gets its name because the beads stack on top of each other like bricks in a wall, offset row by row instead of lining up in neat columns like peyote stitch. It's a technique that gives your beadwork a slightly different texture and drape.
Circular brick stitch takes that same logic and wraps it around a frame — in this case, a hoop earring finding — instead of building straight rows. As you stitch, the beadwork follows the curve of the hoop, gradually filling it in until you've got a fully beaded, textured arc.
It's a great technique to learn because once you understand how to "brick" your beads onto a hoop, you can apply the same skill to hoops of any size, and start experimenting with color patterns, gradients, and bead mixes.
Why This Is a Great Beginner Project
- Clear structure — the hoop itself acts as a built-in guide, so you always know where your beadwork should go.
- Fast and satisfying — you'll have a finished pair of earrings in one sitting, without a long, multi-session commitment.
- A gateway technique — circular brick stitch shows up in tons of other jewelry designs, so mastering it here means you'll recognize it (and know how to tackle it) in future projects.
- So much room to customize — swap in different bead colors and finishes to make the design totally your own, the way I did with the mint and gold combo in this tutorial.
What You'll Need
(Adjust this to match your exact supply list from the video.)
- Miyuki Delica beads or seed beads in your chosen colors
- Beading needle (size 10 or 12)
- Beading thread (like Nymo, FireLine, or C-Lon)
- A pair of hoop earring findings (beadable hoops)
- Scissors or thread snips
- A beading mat or tray to keep your beads organized
What to Expect in the Tutorial
This tutorial is designed with beginners in mind, so I walk through everything step by step, including:
- How to attach your thread and beads to the hoop to get started
- The rhythm of circular brick stitch and how it differs from working in straight rows
- How to keep your tension even so the beadwork hugs the hoop smoothly
- Tips for closing up your circle and finishing your thread securely
- Ways to play with color placement to change the whole look of the earrings
By the end, you'll have a finished pair of hoop earrings that look far more advanced than they actually are to make — plus a new technique you can use again and again.
Ready to Try It?
Grab your hoops, thread up a needle, and let's bead a circle! This one's quick enough to make in an evening, and addictive enough that you'll probably want to make a few pairs in different colorways once you get the hang of it.
Want more free patterns to keep practicing with? Check out the free beading pattern downloads page. And if you'd like exclusive monthly tutorials and patterns, come join Bead Camp!
If you make a pair using this tutorial, I'd love to see them — tag me or drop a photo in the comments. Happy beading!
~ Darcy