Chain Maille Flower Bracelet Tutorial Created by XQ Designs www.handmade-jewelry-club.com, www.diylessons.org Please do not distribute, lend or copy. Do not mass produce. Copyrights 2010 XQ Designs This is an interesting wire jewelry project. The design is based on chain maile or small metal rings that are linked together to form flower motifs. All motifs are then chained up together to form the bracelet. This tutorial shows you how to make jump rings using copper wire. The following number of jump rings will be made as preparation for the subsequent steps: Rings in diameter size I motif 1 bracelet (approx 5 motifs) 0.4cm (small ring) 24 152 0.8cm (medium ring) 12 60 1.1cm (big ring) 2 18 With pictorial step by step guides it is easy to follow even for a beginner. Page 1
Materials required: Tools Needed 20 gauge (0.8mm) copper wires 28 gauge (0.3mm) copper wires 30 x 4mm beads Round nose pliers Flat nose pliers Wire Cutter 1 x 1 to 1.5cm bead Page 2
Step 1: This chain maille bracelet requires some rings or loops made of copper wires. The table below detailed down size and quantity of rings needed to make this design: Rings in diameter size I motif 1 bracelet (approx 5 motifs) 0.4cm (small ring) 24 152 0.8cm (medium ring) 12 60 1.1cm (big ring) 2 18 Step 2: Let s start by making rings based on the size of 0.8cm in diameter. Take a mandrel that is measuring about 0.8cm in diameter. In this case, I am using the pliers holder as shown in the picture. Cut approximately 20cm of 20 gauge wires and attached it onto the mandrel and bend one end upward. Page 3
Rotate your wrapping hand towards your body to wrap the wires around the mandrel. Repeat to make the subsequent circles until you reach the end of the wires. You may leave approximately 1.5cm of wires unwrapped. Page 4
Step 3: Remove the coils from the mandrel. Page 5
Step 4: Step 5: Use your wire cutter to trim the end of the coil. Notice I use the flat side of the pliers to cut the wire to ensure the end is flat. Loosen out the space between the coils by pulling them outward. Page 6
Step 6: This is how the ring looks like after you cut it out. Page 7
Step 7: Use flat or round nose pliers to close the gap by moving 2 sides of the ring to centre of the ring. Tips: Do not pull the gap outward as it could be hard to go back to shape later. You will be using this technique through the jewelry making process for the bracelet. This is how the jump ring will look like once you close it. You should repeat step 2 to 7 to make approximately 80 0.8cm (dia) rings, 90 0.4cm (dia) rings and 10 1.1cm (dia) rings. Remember to use different size of mandrels for the respective rings. For easy reference, we will call them small, medium and big rings as per table below: Rings in diameter size 0.8cm 0.4cm 1.1cm Refer to Medium ring Small Ring Big Ring Page 8
Step 8: Now take out 2 medium rings and put them side by side. Step 9: Place the 2 rings into 1 small (0.4-dia) ring as shown in picture with the help of 2 pliers to open and close the small ring. Page 9
Step 10: Place in another small ring. Step 11: Chain in 2 medium rings into the 2 small rings. You will always pair 2 medium rings with 2 small rings throughout the jewelry making process. Page 10
Step 12: Continue to chain up the other 4 pairs of medium rings using the small rings. Step 13: Now get ready with 1 pair of big rings (1.1cm dia) and chain them up with 2 small rings. Page 11
Step 14: Connect the big rings to the first ring of the chain you made earlier through the small rings. Continue to link up the second medium rings with another 2 small rings onto the big rings. Page 12
Step 15: Continue to link up the third medium rings and the big rings thru 2 small rings. Step 16: Repeat step 16 until all 6 medium rings are connected to the big rings. Page 13
Step 17: Link up the first and last pairs of medium rings by 2 small rings. You have just formed a flower motif. Step 18: Now, let s decorate the flower motif. Open one ring as shown in picture and place in a bead. Close the ring and insert the end of the ring into the bead to ensure the bead won t fall off. Page 14
Step 19: Place in 5 more beads into each petal. You should make 5 more flower motifs by repeating the steps above. Page 15
Step 20: To connect 2 motifs together, let s place 1 pair of medium rings to the first motif by linking them to 2 petals using small rings. Repeat the step to chain up all 6 flower motifs. Page 16
Step 21: At one of the bracelet, place 2 rings at both ends. Place a hook at one end. You have made a nice bracelet which is ready to be worn. If you wish to decorate the bracelet further, let s read on the subsequent steps. Page 17
Step 22: In this design, I have attached a beautiful flower bead made of shell. You need to identify which motif you wish to attach the flower bead to. Then cut one 28 gauge wires for approximately 3 inches long. Attach it against the big rings by wrapping them 3 times. Thread in a flower bead onto the thin wires. Page 18
Wrap the remaining thin wires onto the big rings at the bottom 3 times to secure the position. Cut of excess wires. You are done with the beautiful decorated chain maille bracelet! Page 19
Step 23: I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. If you have any query of feedback for the tutorial, please contact me at diyjewelryclub@gmail.com. Please do not distribute, lend or copy. Do not mass produce. Copyrights 2010 XQDesigns Page 20