DIY Network

Chain Mail Bracelet From "Jewelry Making" episode DJMK-205

Be versatile: use this technique to make your bracelet as thick or thin as you desire.

Guest artist "Spider" weaves a web of links into a chain mail bracelet.

Materials:

Sterling silver jump rings: 14 gauge, 5.5mm inner diameter (best if made from half-hard wire)
Heavy lobster claw clasp
Chain nose pliers – no teeth on the jaws

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C

1. Prepare two piles of jump rings: one pile closed, and one pile open. You’ll need twice as many closed rings as open.

2. Begin the bracelet by making a tail (figure A), a short segment of rings linked to form a simple chain. The tail will give you something to hang on to while getting the piece started.

3. Next, double-up the last ring on the tail (figure B). And fold those two rings open to make "mouse ears."

4. Hook one of your open rings through the mouse ears. (Go down through one "ear", around the back of the mouse’s head, and back up through the second ear.) Before closing the rings, slip on two of your pre-closed rings.

5. Fold open the two new end rings into another set of mouse ears and repeat hooking step.
   Continue until your piece is barely long enough to fit around the intended bearer’s wrist.

6. Repeat hooking step one last time, but instead of two closed rings, add the lobster claw clasp before closing the ring (figure C).

7. To create a wider bracelet, slip one ring through two along the edge. Add another ring next to the ring from prior step. (The rings will share one base ring between them, overlapping a bit.) Repeat until you’ve widened the entire length of the bracelet, then repeat the last two steps of this technique for the other side of the bracelet.

GUESTS :

Sarinda ("Spider")
Owner
Spiderchain Jewelry
PO Box 20336
Castro Valley, CA 94546
E-mail: spider@spiderchain.com
Website: www.spiderchain.com