Handmade fabric jewelry has become a favorite for weddings, festivals and everyday ethnic wear. Instead of buying expensive boutique pieces, you can make your own DIY fabric jhumka earrings in colors that match your outfit exactly.
With lightweight round MDF discs, rich maroon fabric, sparkling Kundan stones and antique gold pearl jhumka bells, you can make a pair of royal statement earrings in about 30 minutes, plus drying time. Because the large stud is built on a thin wooden base rather than solid metal, the earrings look grand without pulling on your ears.
Whether you’re making a pair for your next festive outfit or starting a small handmade jewelry business, here’s the complete step-by-step guide.
Why You’ll Love Making Fabric Jhumkas
- Featherlight comfort: Fabric-wrapped MDF or cardboard discs keep the oversized stud light on your earlobes.
- Perfect outfit matching: Use leftover blouse, lehenga or kurta fabric to match any traditional outfit exactly.
- A boutique finish: Sandwiching two fabric-covered discs hides the raw edges and the earring post, so the back looks as neat as the front.
Watch the Step-by-Step Video Tutorial
Materials and Tools You’ll Need
For one pair of earrings, you’ll make 4 discs: 2 fronts and 2 backs.
- Round MDF or cardboard discs: 2 larger discs for the fronts and 2 slightly smaller discs for the backs.
- Fabric: 4 circles of maroon cotton or silk-blend fabric, each about half an inch wider than its disc.
- Adhesives: White fabric glue for wrapping and setting stones, and a hot glue gun for joining the discs and securing the post.
- Tools: Jewelry hole-punch pliers and flat-nose pliers.
- Earring findings: 2 flat-pad stud posts, 2 sturdy gold jump rings and earring backs.
- Jhumka bells: 2 antique gold domes with dangling white pearl clusters.
- Chains and embellishments:
- Thin gold ball or box chain
- Gold rhinestone (stone) chain
- Marquise (eye-shaped) and square Kundan stones
- A wax jewel-picker pencil for placing small stones
How to Make Fabric Jhumka Earrings, Step by Step
1. Wrap the Discs in Fabric
Center an MDF disc on a fabric circle. Run a ring of fabric glue around the back edge of the disc, then fold the excess fabric tightly over it and press it down. Flip it over to check the front is smooth and taut. Repeat for all four discs.
2. Add the Earring Post
Take one of the smaller back discs and punch a small hole near its upper edge. Push a flat-pad stud post through from the inside, so the flat pad rests against the wrapped side and the pin pokes out through the smooth fabric side. Add a dot of hot glue over the pad to hold it firmly.
3. Sandwich the Front and Back Together
Spread a generous layer of hot glue over the back of a larger front disc, covering its folded fabric edges. Press the back disc onto it, post side facing out, and hold for a few seconds. The raw edges of both discs are now hidden inside, so the earring looks finished from both sides.
4. Attach the Jhumka Bell
Punch a small hole at the bottom edge of the joined disc. Open a jump ring with flat-nose pliers by twisting the ends sideways rather than pulling them apart, which keeps the ring’s shape. Thread it through the hole and the top loop of the jhumka bell, then twist it firmly closed.
5. Frame the Front with Gold Chains
- Pipe a neat line of fabric glue around the outer edge of the front disc.
- Press a thin gold chain along the outer edge.
- Just inside it, press a ring of rhinestone chain into the glue.
- Finish with a second ring of thin gold chain inside the stone chain, creating a framed, antique-gold border.
6. Arrange the Kundan Stones
Dab fabric glue inside the frame. With the wax pencil, pick up marquise Kundan stones and lay them end to end along the inner curve, then place a square Kundan stone at the bottom center, just above the jhumka bell. Let the earrings dry for 2 to 3 hours before wearing them.
Pro Tips for Professional-Looking Fabric Jewelry
- Be patient with the glue. Fabric glue looks milky while wet but dries clear, so don’t nudge the stones while it sets.
- Protect the gold finish. In humid weather, brush clear jewelry lacquer over the chains and jhumka cap, avoiding the Kundan stones, to slow tarnishing.
- Store them flat. Keep the earrings in a box or on a stand away from moisture and perfume, which can dull fabric and metal.
- Try other shapes. Once you’ve mastered the round version, use the same method on square, teardrop or crescent bases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I buy MDF discs and jhumka bells?
Jewelry-making supply shops, craft stores and online marketplaces sell MDF cutouts, jhumka bells, Kundan stones and findings, often in bulk kits. If you can’t find MDF discs, thick cardboard cut into circles works too.
Are fabric jhumkas heavy to wear?
No. The wooden and fabric base is much lighter than metal, so even large statement pairs are comfortable for a full wedding or festival day.
Can I sell handmade fabric jhumkas?
Yes. They’re a popular small-business product because the materials are inexpensive and each pair can be customized to a buyer’s outfit color.
Which Color Would You Choose?
What fabric color would you use for your own pair of Kundan jhumkas? Tell us in the comments, and pin this tutorial to your DIY jewelry board.
