Knit earrings might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of knitted accessories, but they’re one of the most fun and unique ways to show off your knitting skills! From dainty, delicate pieces to bold statement designs, knitting your own earrings opens up a world of creative possibilities. Plus, when you tell people you’re wearing knit earrings? The reactions are priceless!

Whether you’re using thread for that super fine detail, yarn for a cozy vibe, or even soft metal wire for a bit of edge, there are so many ways to play with texture and shape. Using thread can give you intricate, almost lace-like results that feel light and airy. These knit earrings are perfect for adding a subtle, handmade touch to an outfit. And then there’s the opposite end of the spectrum: yarn earrings. Think bolder, and chunkier, which is a great way to make a statement, especially in colder months when you’re wrapped in your favorite cozy sweater.

But let’s not forget about knitting with wire! Yes, wire! Using soft metal wire gives you a completely different texture—almost like sculpting with your needles. These knit earrings have a bit more structure and are great for creating geometric shapes or adding a metallic pop to your look. Plus, the wire adds a modern and edgy twist to your knitting. It’s something that really stands out when you’re aiming for a look that’s both crafty and chic.

Now, here’s the catch: there aren’t a ton of patterns for knit earrings out there. Sometimes, finding the perfect pattern can feel like a scavenger hunt, and that’s when you’ll need to think outside the box a bit. We’ve included some free patterns that aren’t specifically made to be earrings but that would actually work quite well for that purpose. It’s all about experimenting with scale and seeing what works. You’ll be surprised at how easily some designs can be repurposed!

In this article, I’ve rounded up 25 of the best free knit earring patterns I could find, including a mix of designs made with thread, yarn, and wire. Don’t forget that you can always mix things up by playing with different colors or adding beads or crystals to make them extra special. Scroll down and prepare to be inspired!

1. Pumpkin Earrings

You won’t believe how easy it is to make these adorable little pumpkin earrings. A bit of stockinette stitch in the round plus a short length of icord for the stem is all it takes! With fingering weight yarn, these little pumpkins turn out to be about the width of a quarter. I love that they’re not very big so they won’t weigh your ear lobes down.

Designer: Susan Rainey
Yarn: Dream in Color Jilly (Fingering Weight #1)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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2. Heart of Yarn Earrings

Here’s another adorable earring design that incorporates some knit icord. A bit of wire inside the icord lets you shape it into a cute heart. You could also use this idea to make circles instead or whatever shape you desire. The hearts can be interlocked so you can have 1, 2 or 3 hanging from your ears. Mix and match colors for a bold statement on style.

Designer: AMBAH
Yarn: Love and Speckles Singles (Fingering Weight #1)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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3. Knitted Chandelier Earrings

Knitting with wire may sound a bit intimidating but it’s definitely worth a try. Just look at how cool these chandelier style earrings turned out! Once you get the hang of it, it’s really not any more difficult to work with wire than it is to work with yarn. The hardest part might actually be convincing your friends that, yes, you really did knit them yourself!

Designer: Stitch Diva Studios
Yarn: 28 gauge silver wire
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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4. Berry Trapezoid Earrings

Geometric designs are always a great choice for earrings that will pair well with just about every wardrobe in your closet. They’re not so boring that no one will comment on them and they’re not so bold that you can’t wear them to the office. This “just right” rhombus shaped design incorporates elements of easy lacework as well as berry stitches for a bit of texture.

Designer: Linda Wilgus
Yarn: Rowan Kidsilk Spray (Lace Weight #0) and
Alessandra Filati Lupo Di Mare (DK Weight #3)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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5. Bijouterie

You’d never guess by looking at them that these enchanting earrings were knit. Working with wire opens up a whole new world of possibilities when it comes to making knit earrings. I especially love the incorporation of the beads in this design. The elegant and classy shape gives these earrings a timeless feel that you can enjoy for years to come.

Designer: Rosemary Hill for Knitty
Yarn: 30 gauge sterling silver wire
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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6. Sahelienne

Small chips of precious stones with holes drilled in them can be used in place of beads, as is the case with these cool and organic looking earrings. Some people even believe that the different crystals can have different effects like imbuing luck, or adding a dash of creativity. Well, it certainly couldn’t hurt, and they do look fabulous!

Designer: KelaMaiMai Designs
Yarn: Unspecified wire
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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7. Lacey Earring Drops

Add some vintage charm to your jewelry box with these stunning diamond shaped drop earrings. Silver metal wire seems to be the more popular choice for knit earrings, so this pair really stands out in sultry gold. I’ve also seen some lovely pink rose gold wire that I think would look amazing when used for this design.

Designer: Joyce Goodmand
Yarn: 34 gauge wire
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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8. Coralie

Inspired by the colorful structures of coral in the ocean, these beautiful earrings boast a natural and organic shape. This design uses thin metal wire and it has you knit very loosely in order to achieve all that beautiful negative space in between the strands of metal. Delicate wooden beads in a color that’s complementary to the sunshine-y yellow round out the design nicely.

Designer: Sarah Punderson for Knitty
Yarn: Habu Textiles A-20/21 1/20 silk stainless steel (Lace Weight #0)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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9. Blue Chip Knit Wire Earrings

Here’s a close up picture on a pair of knit earrings made with metal wire. I love how you can see the individual stitches. It’s not just wire that’s been wrapped around something. It’s literally knit up with knitting needles and I’m obsessed with the whole concept. This design features a triangular shape and a generous helping of shiny crystal chips along the bottom two rows.

Designer: BooJay Knits
Yarn: 26 gauge wire
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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10. Candy Corn Earrings

You can whip up these adorable candy corn earrings in hardly any time at all, so you still have plenty of time to make them and show them off before Halloween rolls around. Show off your love for this iconic spooky season treat and prepare to receive a ton of compliments. The pattern is super easy to make using just stockinette stitch and decreases.

Designer: Zombies, Knitting, and Time Well Wasted
Yarn: Loops & Threads Impeccable (Worsted Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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11. Silver Leaf Earrings

There is no adornment needed for these stunning leaf-shaped earrings made with metal wire. I am obsessed with the juxtaposition between the metal material used for this design and the natural inspiration from the simple shape of a leaf. They’re perfect for those days when you just want to feel like a forest fairy princess.

Designer: Knitter’s Pride
Yarn: Artistic Wire 30ga Non-Tarnish Silver
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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12. Holly Earrings

Wearing novelty earrings is one of my favorite ways to celebrate the different seasons. These fantastic holly leaf earrings are, of course, perfect for ushering in the season of Christmas. Two little red beads stand in for holly berries in this cute and easy design. They are made entirely using knit picot stitches – such a clever idea!

Designer: Helena Keighley
Yarn: Robin Double Knit (DK Weight #3)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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13. Button Daisies

Here’s a great example of thinking outside the box when it comes to knit earrings. The individual daisies from this cute daisy chain would make the cutest floral earrings. I especially love the yellow button centers of the flowers, as I think it adds a lot of personality. All you need to know is how to cast on stitches, knit stitch, and bind off stitches.

Designer: MontyKnits
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Pure Silk (DK Weight #3)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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14. Loopy Loops

These little loops would be just darling as earrings. You could even turn the loops upside down to make little rainbows out of them. This pattern is easy as pie. It only involves knitting some icord and some simple embroidery techniques. The hardest part might be deciding what colors to make them in. What colors would you choose?

Designer: Donna Herron
Yarn: Berroco Pure Pima (DK Weight #3)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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15. Mushroom

Choose a thin weight of thread to recreate this mushroom pin in miniature form. Make another one so you have a pair and you’ve got yourself the most adorable little fungi earrings. Mushrooms have been having a bit of a moment lately with the rising trend of cottagecore styles, so why not give this idea a go? The pattern involves knitting icord as well as stockinette stitch in the round.

Designer: lake•salt•knit
Yarn: DMC Six Strand Embroidery Floss
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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16. Poppies

These poppies were designed to be used as brooches, but they would totally work for earrings too. Choose a thinner weight of yarn or a thread to make them a more manageable size. Red poppies symbolize remembrance so this adds another layer of meaning to your creations. The pattern calls for just knit and slip stitches.

Designer: Ruth Maddock Designs
Yarn: Patons UK Fab DK Solids (DK Weight #3)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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17. Little Twin Peaks Cherry

If you love to wear knit earrings with a novelty theme, then look no further than small stuffed toys for your inspiration. These little cherries would work amazingly well as earrings, especially in a thinner weight of yarn or with thread instead. The pattern is very quick and easy to make using just knit and purl stitches as well as knit icord.

Designer: bunnymuff
Yarn: Worsted Weight #4
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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18. Bluebells

Inspiration is all around you in the natural world, so it’s no surprise that many ideas for knit earrings have a floral theme. I’m particularly drawn to these charming little bluebells. I really love how the bright blue blossoms pop since they are framed against the dark background. The pattern calls for knit and purl stitches as well as increases and decreases.

Designer: Helena Keighley
Yarn: Robin Double Knit (DK Weight #3)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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19. Cheerful Cuties

Brightly colored jewelry makes a big statement so your accessories can be as bold as your personality. There’s a ton of great ideas here for making super cute earrings. You could make butterfly earrings, heart earrings, or you could take inspiration from the little balls on the necklace or the circular bands that the hearts are attached to.

Designer: Knitti Politi
Yarn: Sublime Yarns Baby Cashmere Merino Silk DK (DK Weight #3)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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20. Perfect Knitted Acorn

Who wouldn’t want to have a pair of cute little acorn earrings? This pattern is already the perfect size for earrings, you just need to attach some earring fasteners. Embrace the cottagecore style with this charming little nod to nature. For this design, you’ll be using knit stitches, knit front back increases, and slip slip knits.

Designer: Stash Enhancement
Yarn: None specified
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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21. Tropical Fruity Charms

Charms and keychains are an excellent source of earring inspiration. These fruity designs offer two sweet options for you to try: strawberries and cherries (although the cherries pictured are blue, so they look more like blueberries to me). This is a super easy pattern that requires only knit and purl stitches as well as increasing and decreasing.

Designer: fluff & fuzz
Yarn: Paintbox Yarns Simply DK (DK Weight #3)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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22. Wee Sweaters

What better way to show off your knitting skills than with a pair of earrings made from a classic knit sweater in miniature form. Best of all, after you make them, you’ll be able to say that you’ve knit a sweater! Sure it was only a mini one, but that still counts. The pattern is free but it does require a newsletter signup.

Designer: Imagined Landscapes
Yarn: Fingering Weight #1
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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23. Wee Tiny Roller Skate Sock

Are you or someone you know obsessed with roller skating or, perhaps, with the sport of roller derby? If so, then you should really make two of these adorable little roller skates and turn them into earrings! They are already the perfect size for earrings and they are just so fun. The pattern calls for knit front back increases, slip slip knits, and knit 2 togethers. There are also some short rows involved.

Designer: Meg Bakewell
Yarn: SweetGeorgia Yarns Tough Love Sock (Fingering Weight #1)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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24. Mini Christmas Stocking

Celebrate and spread Christmas cheer with these super cute mini stockings. They are about the size of a nickel, so they’re pretty much perfect for turning into earrings. I wonder if you could find a small enough candy cane to fit inside them? They’re knit seamlessly from the toe up using the double knitting technique.

Designer: pieKnits
Yarn: Classic Elite Yarns Provence (DK Weight #3)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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25. Wee Mitten

We’ve had mini socks and sweaters. Now here’s a mini mitten you can to your growing collection of knit earrings. These would be perfect for wearing in winter or anytime it’s cold really. They would also make really cute gifts! For this easy peasy design, you’ll just be using knit stitches, purl stitches, and knit 2 together decreases.

Designer: Mandie Harrington
Yarn: Fingering Weight #1
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Knit earrings are the perfect way to combine creativity and fashion, whether you’re making them with thread, yarn, or wire. With these 25 free patterns, you’ll have plenty of inspiration to craft your own unique accessories. Did any of these ideas for knit earrings spark your interest? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

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I’ll see you next week for another free knitting pattern round-up. Make sure to follow the blog so you never miss a post. <3

Happy Knitting!