Project: Meridian faux-chainmail bracelet tutorial

 

While I love doing some real chainmail, linking each little ring into several others, it can be tricky for the beginner, especially doing the first few rows while keeping all those jumprings in place. Well the other day I saw a chain which appeared to be European 4-1, but on second look was actually much simpler. I went home, recreated the technique and designed my own bracelet, adding large jumprings and an art glass hoop. The result was this bracelet, called Meridian. This super-easy wire bracelet requires only simple wire bending and minimal jumpring opening to achieve the sophisticated look of chainmail without all the fumbling! 

You will need: 18 gauge round wire, 28 or so 8mm 18 gauge round jumprings, 5 5.5mm jumprings, 2 16mm 14 gauge jumprings, 1 lobster clasp and 1 small Halo Heaven ring (from Unicorne Beads or Sonoran Beads). Tool list: round nose pliers, 2 pairs flatnose pliers, cutters, ruler.

 

Step 1: Cut 27 pieces of  18 gauge wire, appr. 1 1/4 inches long. This will make enough figure-8 links to make a bracelet for a 7 inch wrist. Grasp the tip of the wire with roundnose pliers. and make a loop on one end.

 

 Make a loop going the opposite direction on the other end, making a figure 8 shape. 

 

                                                           Repeat for all the wire pieces.

 

Step 2: Open an 8mm jumpring and place two figure-8 links inside. Close the jumpring.

  

Step 3: Open another 8mm jumpring, insert inside ONE of the pair on the previous jumpring, and place another figure-8 link on the new jumpring. Close. 

Step 4: Open another 8mm jumpring, insert into the previous figure-8 link, and place another figure-8 link on the new jumpring. Repeat step 4 for a total of 13 figure-8 links.

 

Step 5: Open a 16mm jumpring. Insert into the latest figure-8 link, and add the glass hoop. Close the jumpring. Open the second 16mm jumpring, insert a figure-8 link, and close.  Repeat step 4 for the remaining figure-8 links, and end with an 8mm jumpring.

 

Step 6: Open two 5.5mm jumprings and connect the two 16mm jumprings with each. Close.

Step 7: Open a 5.5mm jumpring and connect the lobster clasp to one end of the bracelet. Close.

Step 8: Open two 5.5mm jumprings, and connect the last 8mm jumpring to the other end of the bracelet. Close.

Congratulations, your bracelet is finished!

Some fun variations include using a crystal, resin or metal hoop instead of glass, using more than one, and embellishing the faux-chainmail base edge with more jumprings, perhaps even combining it with real chainmail!

Inspired by the runway

Sometimes I like to watch a bit of Project Runway, hoping for some inspiration as well as armchair critiquing of the designs themselves (not to mention Tim Gunn's motherly "make it work, designers"). But today my inspiration came, not from the runway fashions, but from the designers themselves. Mila was preparing for her show at Bryant Park, wearing a long necklace of a rectangle with fringe coming off the bottom. I was immediately struck by a desire to make a necklace similar to hers! I had no idea what her necklace was made of or how it was constructed, but I knew just how I'd make mine--in chainmail, with chain fringe. So here it is, my necklace inspired by Mila's, but designed by me.

Ladykiller Lava

A while ago I had a dream about a vague design involving black lava spears, ruby red glass and chainmail. (It also involved Iron Man hanging naked from a helicopter doing something heroic, but let's not get distracted, shall we? Besides, it was from really far away so you can't really see anything in terms of nudity.) When I woke up I set to work figuring out the exact design, and this is what turned out. Slinky silver chainmail 'flames' set off by red glass drops and showcasing the inverted teardrop shape of the black lava beads. I love these beads, and have only a few of them left. Got two strands of them at a bead shop a few years ago, and haven't been able to find them since. Someday...

lucky thirteen!

DeviantArt user Jayetta has woven copper jumprings into a clever setting for a genuine jade cabochon. someday I hope to be able to do something half as clever!