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Diamond Bracelet

Weaving a chain has a wonderful, Zen-like quality, but there is just something about building components that I find really satisfying. Perhaps it’s some sort of repressed Lego Master Builder drive left undiscovered from my childhood. With these diamond components, I can keep it simple and stick to a pendant or double them up and make earrings —or explore different colors and create a chain for a bracelet or even a belt. With chain mail components, you can always tweak or deconstruct/reconstruct a piece.

This project is not to be digitally reproduced and is intended only for in-store use as a participant of Kalmbach Books Reward program. This project is copyright protected and property of the author. Any misuse of this policy will result in immediate cancellation of the Rewards program benefits. Effective 2013.

Chain MailPlayWITH

Theresa D. Abelew

4 WEAVES = 20+

JEWELRY DESIGNS

• Everything from quick and easy earrings to “wow” necklaces

• Step-by-step instructions that make learning a snap

• Colorful, affordable materials your wallet will love

• Lots of variations without lots of extra supplies

• Bonus jump ring chart makes it easy to shop for supplies

Wearable, colorful, simple to make!

9 7 8 1 6 2 7 0 0 1 7 2 4

ISBN 978-1-62700-172-4

52199

0 6 4 4 6 5 1 7 8 5 8 2

67858

www.JewelryandBeadingStore.com

$21.99CAN $22.99

PL

AY W

ITH C

HA

IN M

AIL

AB

ELEW

You don’t need to master every weave to create many

chain mail looks. This book shows you how to use just

four—Byzantine, Rosette, 4-in-1, and Helm—to make a

wide variety of jewelry designs. Because many projects

require just a small variety of jump rings, you’ll appreciate

the streamlined supply list. The possibilities grow when

you bring your own creative flair to the process!

20+projects to fit

your taste — and your schedule

BKS-67858-CV1.indd 1 11/25/15 12:46 PM

This project is not to be digitally reproduced and is intended only for in-store use as a participant of Kalmbach Books Reward program. This project is copyright protected and property of the author. Any misuse of this policy will result in immediate cancellation of the Rewards program benefits. Effective 2013.

77

a b c

d e f

Weave the Component1. Refer to the “Classic Chain,”

p. 72, to make one helm segment.

Use anodized rings (shown in

black) to connect three pairs of

stacked large rings (shown in silver)

and four large sandwiched rings

(shown in copper) (a).

note Make sure the

helm chain starts and ends with

a sandwiched ring.

2. Fold the chain in half. Orient the

segment so the sandwiched rings

at the ends of the chain are next to

each other (b).

3. Working below the sandwiched

rings at the ends of the chain,

thread an open large ring (shown in

purple) through both sets of

connector rings. Close the large

ring (c). Working on the oppo-

site side of the sandwiched rings,

thread a second open large ring

(shown in green) through the same

sets of connector rings. Close the

ring (d).

4. To lock these rings into a

diamond shape, you may need

to do a little shuffling of the

sandwiched rings (copper rings

from step 1). Look at the center

of the component; adjust the

sandwiched rings so two rings on

opposite sides of the component

overlap the second set of sand-

wiched rings. Thread a small

ring through the top set of

sandwiched rings. Close the

ring (e) and double it (f).

materials Bracelet, 8 in. (20cm)

Aluminum jump rings:

• 72 16-gauge 3⁄8 in (9.5mm) ID (large)

• 58 18-gauge 3⁄16 in (4.76mm) ID (small)

117 16-gauge ¼ in. (6.35mm) ID anodized aluminum jump rings (medium)

Three-ring slider clasp

One component, 11⁄4x11⁄4 in. (3.2x3.2cm)

Aluminum jump rings:

• 12 16-gauge 3⁄8 in. (9.5mm) ID (large)

• 8 18-gauge 3⁄16 in. (4.76mm) ID (small)

16 16-gauge ¼ in. (6.35mm) ID anodized aluminum jump rings (medium)

Note: One component measures 11⁄4x11⁄4 in. (3.2x3.2cm). Five segments create a bracelet 7 in. (18cm) long.

This project is not to be digitally reproduced and is intended only for in-store use as a participant of Kalmbach Books Reward program. This project is copyright protected and property of the author. Any misuse of this policy will result in immediate cancellation of the Rewards program benefits. Effective 2013.

This project is not to be digitally reproduced and is intended only for in-store use as a participant of Kalmbach Books Reward program. This project is copyright protected and property of the author. Any misuse of this policy will result in immediate cancellation of the Rewards program benefits. Effective 2013.

78

5. Thread a medium ring through

the eye of a sandwiched ring and

pair of stacked rings. Close the

ring (g).

6. Repeat seven more times,

working around the component

(h).

7. Thread a small ring through the

two medium rings that flank a set

of stacked rings (i). Repeat three

more times for each corner of the

component.

note Before connecting the

components, decide how you want

to arrange the inner rings. For this

piece, I have them aligned vertically

to the bracelet.

Weave the Bracelet8. Thread a small ring through

the small rings at the corners of

two square components. Close

the ring (j). 9. Repeat to attach the second

corner of the components (k).

10. Thread an open medium jump

ring through the sandwiched rings

between the two components.

Close the ring, double it, and add

a third ring. Repeat steps 8–10

to connect the remaining

components (l).

Attach the Clasp11. Using medium rings and the

same connection points on the

components (small rings and

sandwiched ring), attach one half

of a three-ring slider clasp to one

end of the chain (m).

12. Repeat to attach the other half

of the clasp to the other end of the

bracelet (n).

note The depth/thickness

of these components need to be

taken into consideration when

making them into a bracelet. Six

components yields a bracelet nearly

8 in. (20cm) long; however, because

of the depth of the chain mail, it’s a

tighter fit than the length would lead

you to believe and fits comfortably on

someone who would normally wear a

7–7½-in. (18–19.1cm) bracelet.

You can reduce the number of

components by using larger rings

or multiple rings between segments

and/or the clasp to customize the fit.

g h i

j k

This project is not to be digitally reproduced and is intended only for in-store use as a participant of Kalmbach Books Reward program. This project is copyright protected and property of the author. Any misuse of this policy will result in immediate cancellation of the Rewards program benefits. Effective 2013.

79

design alternativeMake a three-color pendant: Swap out the stacked pairs of silver

aluminum rings with anodized aluminum rings in the same size

(in this case, purple). Attach a jump ring to act as a bail through

one of the small corner rings. Run a chain through the bail.

l m

n

This project is not to be digitally reproduced and is intended only for in-store use as a participant of Kalmbach Books Reward program. This project is copyright protected and property of the author. Any misuse of this policy will result in immediate cancellation of the Rewards program benefits. Effective 2013.

This project is not to be digitally reproduced and is intended only for in-store use as a participant of Kalmbach Books Reward program. This project is copyright protected and property of the author. Any misuse of this policy will result in immediate cancellation of the Rewards program benefits. Effective 2013.