Ronghua Tutorial: How to make Ink Butterfly Ear Cuff

With its soft gradients and airy wings, the butterfly ear cuff wraps gently around the ear as if it has just landed, mid-flutter. This piece plays with contrast: strength and fragility, structure and freedom, turning a fleeting moment into something you can wear.

Preparation: What You’ll Need

If you’ve purchased our Ronghua Toolkit, you already have everything required!
If not, prepare the following tools:

1. Bristle brush (Medium to soft hardness)
2. Flat iron (the one you use to straighten your hair)
3. Tweezers
4. At least 2 pairs of Scissors
5. wooden sticks / pencils / chopsticks
6. Hair spray or diluted white glue (1:1.15–1:1.2 ratio)
7. Big clips (around 15cm)
8. Twisting boards and wooden blocks (for even tension)
9. Anti-slip powder (optional but helpful)

Full Tutorial Video

Step 1. Align and Arrange the Silk Threads

Start by untying your silk threads. Locate the knot at one end of each bundle and cut it open carefully. This project uses 5 colours of silk to create 1 silk row. 

Step 2. Group and Prepare the Threads

Each silk bundle consists of tiny strand-like structures — these are your individual strands. 

Align all strands neatly and tie them around a thin stick, keeping the ends even. Avoid uneven lengths — this ensures consistent texture later on.

Step 3. Make Silk Rows

Repeat the above process to create 1 silk row in total. Remember to refer back to the data provided in the diagram for the following rows, as each will differ slightly. Below are the finished silk row we made.

Step 4. Brush the Silk Rows

Fix one silk row onto your stand using big metal clips - if you don't have the wooden ronghua stand, that's totally fine! You can refer to our video about alternative solutions to the stand.

Hold the ends of the threads with one hand and brush gently but firmly from top to bottom. Don’t lift the brush midway. A light mist of water will prevent static. You can apply some pressure — silk threads are stronger than they look! Make sure to brush both the front and back sides until the row looks smooth and fluffy. 

Everyone uses a different brush and hand speed, so the time it takes to complete this step is also different. Taking my situation as a reference, it took me about 10 minutes to brush this silk row. When you feel the hair is soft and fluffy, you can stop and check. When there is no complete linear distinction between the threads, it's ready:) 

Step 5. Attach Copper Wires

When you feel that the silk is brushed enough, secure its tail with another big clip to your table or anything that can help stretch it taut. Take out one copper wire from the folded end of the row and straighten it. Twist the folded part into a spiral of about 3 cm. Clamp the silk threads between two copper wires and twist the opposite side tightly. Pull both wires taut and continue twisting until they merge into one. Remember, the twisting direction for the left and right end are opposite. 

The spacing should be as shown in step 1. 

If you have anti-slip powder, it will be much easier to dip your fingers in it and twist it. 

We highly recommend you watch the video tutorial for this step:)

Once done, remove the silk row from the stand and lay it flat.

Step 6. Cut the Silk Strips

Trim the row’s end neatly, then cut between each pair of copper wires to create even silk strips. When cutting, the scissors must be placed in the middle of two copper wires, otherwise the width of the silk strips will be inconsistent.

If threads stick to your scissors, clean them — it’s usually caused by static or residue. Cut quickly and cleanly for smooth edges. Don't touch the wire or it may get displaced.

Step 7. Center and Twist the Strips

Align the copper wire to the middle of each strip using a flat surface or wooden block.
Once centered, twist both hands in opposite directions to tighten.

Next, place the copper part between the twisting boards and continue twisting in the same direction. Stop when the wire feels firm — twisting too far may cause it to break. How do you know if it is tightened enough? If tightened properly, the copper wire should only faintly show. If the copper wire is very visible, it’s not tight enough.

Step 8. Flatten the Strips

Next, cut off all the copper wire on the darker end of each strip. Once the flat iron is fully heated, flatten the strips from back to front. Always clamp in this direction rather than pressing straight down. After flattening, trim the copper wire neatly at the tail.

Once flattened, soak them in shaping liquid, or gently brush the liquid on if you’re worried about shrinkage.

Prepare your setting solution:

1. Use either hair spray, or
2. Diluted white glue with water or alcohol (1:1.15 or 1:1.2 ratio)

Soak the flattened silk strips, let them absorb the solution, then scrape off the excess.

After drying, flatten the strips once more with the flat iron. This makes them lighter and smoother. 

Step 9. Shape the Strips

Trim the strips into inverted triangle shapes—wide at the top and narrow at the bottom. All strips should be trimmed in this same way.

Step 10. Glue the Strips Together

Apply glue along the edges of the strips. You can use either white glue or jewelry glue. Glue the edges of adjacent strips together and press firmly to secure them. Each wing uses four to five strips, with larger butterflies needing more. You’ll need a total of four wing pieces. 

Once the glue is dry, flatten them again with the flat iron to strengthen the structure.

Step 11. Make the Wings

Use the leftover strips to create templates. Trace the edge of a strip onto paper and prepare two outlines. Draw the butterfly wing shape inside this area. 

Since butterflies are symmetrical, you only need to draw one side. You’re free to design any shape you like, as long as it stays within the boundary. 

The shaded area is the usable section. Cut out the paper template, then trim the silk to match it. 

Refine the details after cutting, and repeat for the remaining wings until you have four small wings.

Use the flat iron to create a gentle curve in the wings. The wings on the opposite side should curve in the opposite direction. Take four gray silk threads and secure the butterfly wings together. Trim the bottom copper wire diagonally—there’s no need to leave it long. Wrap the silk thread all the way down, fold the wrapped copper wire, and continue wrapping while pulling the silk tight. Make sure all copper wire is fully covered.

For a clean finish, use annealed copper wire positioned as shown in the video. Continue wrapping silk around it, thread the silk through the copper wire loop, pull the wire out, trim the excess silk, and lightly melt the end with a lighter. 

You’ll need to make a pair of wings. 

Step 12. Prepare the Ear Cuff

Cut a 15–20 cm length of copper wire, thread on a small bead, then fold and twist the wire. 

Use a twisting board to tighten it further, trim any uneven ends, and thread beads according to the diagram. 

Wrap the wire onto the ear cuff, pulling it tight. This completes the main structure. The beaded section can be bent into any shape you like.

Next, prepare a 15 cm piece of clear fishing line. Lightly melt one end with a lighter to create a bump on that end to stop the bead slipping off, then thread on a small bead. Add the remaining beads in the order shown, fixing them into the three small holes.

Thread through and pull tight, securing the remaining beads the same way. Fishing line is slippery, so be sure to tie extra knots. Trim off the excess and lightly melt the end.

Step 13. Attach the Butterfly To the Ear Cuff

Insert the right wing into the second hole and use four to five strands of silk thread to secure it firmly. Insert the left wing into the first hole and tie it tightly as well. 

This is what the back of the butterfly should look like. 

Wrap the silk toward the tail, then use a folded piece of annealed copper wire to finish as mentioned above. Wrap the silk back around it several times, thread the silk into the copper wire loop, pull the wire out, and trim off the excess. Lightly burn away any frayed edges, keeping the flame very low.

If any bead feels loose, tie it to the ear cuff with fishing line and secure it with knots. Both sides need to be tied. And with that, the butterfly ear cuff is complete.