Has anyone ever made hoop earrings using byzantine or jens pins? I have had a request for them. the chain isn't the problem but the finding or rather making the hinged post and clasp--does anyone have any idear or pictures or patterns or anything?? thanks in advanceAunt Pennies

This is just an idea and I don't even know if it would work.....but what about threading the weave onto a pre-formed hoop? It will mean spitting some of the Byzantine links a little to fit it through, but the hoop doesn't need to be a particularly heavy gauge and if you're using a reasonable sized ring to make the weave, it might hide it nicely. Like I said, just an idea and I've never tried it...... I know that I've used beading wire between weaves before to hold pearls in place and you can harden thin wire to create the necessary tension and shape....

 I have a little piece of jens pind that I made as a test sitting on my desk that I constantly play with - the rings are just slightly too small so it isn't completely flexible.  It will hold a loop, all I would have to do is join the ends with a jump ring and attach a ear wire.  Not sure about the byz...maybe over an existing earring (as suggested earlier)...

Tried it with Byz and I found it difficult,getting the chain to bend correctly and not distort.  As you know these two weaves especially look right in really tight AR's...when you try to bend Byz the rings look like they fly out. Not good. Maybe if you do some fusing or soldering it would work.

How about trying viking knit instead? I've seen this done in a hoop and because it is actually woven wire instead of rings it holds it's shape well, and you could insert a wire through the middle. 

 Good luck!

Round maille, in the right AR will also suit the job. I've made loops with viking knit and they always look great, but you really need to finish them off with a curved tube (or similar) to cover the loose end bits. It's an old post now, but maybe worth the discussion????

Thanks everyone for the great ideas.  We are going with a small gauge silver wire threaded through the back to hold it in the hoop. It works great with the usual tight byz weave. not as great with the looser weave we have been asked for. We are test wearing them now to see if they hold up at all.

Aunt Pennies

 Love to see them when finished. Please post a pic.