Double Spiral Chainmail Weave Earrings

by Marilyn Gardiner

Category: Chain Maille
Technique(s): Chain Making
Skill Level: Beginner

Materials

Silver Filled Headpins 22GA 1.5 inch - Pack of 10

S8-11

Lesson Quantity: 3.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Price: $2.52
Gold Club Price: $1.89

Out of Stock

Sterling Silver Earwire w/ Ball & Coil 19.5mm - Pack of 2

K19-40

Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Price: $2.10
Gold Club Price: $1.58

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Silver Filled Jump Rings Closed (18ga) 5mm - Pack of 10

S11-19

Lesson Quantity: 18.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 2.00 pieces
Price: $2.40
Gold Club Price: $1.80

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Sterling Silver Jump Ring Open (.040) 18ga. (OD) 4mm Heavy (ID) 2.33mm - Pack of 10

K11-32

Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Price: $3.02
Gold Club Price: $2.27

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Tools

Flat Nose Wire Pliers

G2-506

G2-506
Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 2.00 each
Price: $32.95
Gold Club Price: $24.71

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Instructions

Step 1

Overview: This weave is part of the spiral family of chainmail weaves. The Double Spiral chainmail weave has each pair of rings placed through the previous 2 pairs. Notice the third pair of rings from the beginning. This pair passes through the first and second pairs of rings.

Marilyn Gardiner's Double Spiral Chainmail Weave Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Double Spiral chainmail weave

Step 2

The First 4 Rings: Close 2 rings (JR-1&2) and open several more. Put an open ring (JR-3) through the 2 closed rings & close it. Put another open ring (JR-4) through the first 2 rings, and close it too. Put a twist tie or piece of wire through the first two rings so you have a "handle" to hold onto.Your rings should look like this photo.

Marilyn Gardiner's Double Spiral Chainmail Weave Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Beginning chainmail pattern

Step 3

Find the Hole: Hold the twist tie & the edges of JR-1&2. Flip JR-3&4 upwards, and notice the hole, marked with an X, where the two pairs overlap. See the photo

Marilyn Gardiner's Double Spiral Chainmail Weave Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Working chainmail pattern

Step 4

Add Ring 5 Insert JR-5 into that "hole". See the photo. Tip: Be sure to open the rings wide enough so that you can maneuver them into place easily.

Step 5

Arrange Ring 5. Close the ring. Let it flop downwards so it's out of the way. See the photo.

Step 6

Add Ring 6. Insert JR-6 into the same "hole", just above JR-5. See the photo.Close the ring. Tip: Be careful not to go through JR-5 by accident.

Step 7

Observe Rings 5 & 6. Notice in this photo that JR-5&6 go through the previous two pairs of rings.

Step 8

Find the Hole & Add Ring 7. Push JR-5&6 upwards against JR 3&4.You will see the hole through the center of these four rings. Insert JR-7 into this opening. See the photo. Close the ring.

Step 9

Add Ring 8. Insert JR-8 in the same hole, just above JR-7.See the photo.

Step 10

Observe the Pattern. This photo shows the first 4 pairs of rings.You can see the spiral pattern developing.

Step 11

Continue the Pattern. This photo shows the first 5 pairs of rings. To keep the spiral pattern, always push the most recent pair upwards to expose the hole for the next 2 jump rings.
Tip: The word "upwards" makes sense if the twist tie is in your left hand and the chain is horizontal. If you hold the chain and let it dangle, then you will be pushing the last pair of rings "to the right" or "clockwise" Continue this pattern, always adding 2 rings through the previous 2 pairs. Stop when you have a total of 7 pairs. This is the first earring. Make a second earring identical to the first.

Marilyn Gardiner's Double Spiral Chainmail Weave Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Double spiral chainmail

Step 12

Add the Ear Wires: Use an 18 gauge, 3 mm jump ring to connect each earring to an earring finding.

Congratulations! You've made your first Double Spiral Chainmail Weave Earrings.

Marilyn Gardiner's Double Spiral Chainmail Weave Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Adding Earwire

Marilyn Gardiner's Double Spiral Chainmail Weave Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Completed Chainmail earrings

Reviews

Marilyn Gardiner

I am a teacher who worked for many years as a teacher librarian and educational computer consultant. As part of my job I taught teachers and principals how to use computers in the classroom and I developed curriculum modules.I love jewelry, color, pattern, and design. It is thrilling to create something new that others love too. And I truly enjoy breaking down something complex into an easy-to-learn sequence that I can share with others, whether in print or in a classroom.

During the past 10 years I have energetically and enthusiastically developed my beading and chain mail skills and used my teaching background with adults to develop bead work and chain mail kits with step-by-step instructions that really work. I know that the kits have good quality instructions because of the positive feedback from students I teach and from customers who buy the kits at shows and from my online store.I regularly teach classes locally in Toronto ON, as well as occasionally in Mississauga, Barrie, Temple TX and San Antonio TX.I have been a vendor at bead shows in Toronto ON, Guelph ON, Montreal QC, Ottawa ON, Calgary AB, Halifax NS, Milwaukee WI, and Tucson AZ - and I teach a full slate of classes at these shows. My website has details.

In 2007 I was "Folk Artist in Residence - Beadwork" at the Joseph Schneider Haus in Kitchener ON. This involved setting up a series of lectures, seminars, and demonstrations throughout the year. There was also a good-sized gallery exhibit of beadwork that featured my work and included the contemporary and historical work of many others. The residency resulted in several articles in the local media.

I later completed a bead work commission for the museum, and some of my work is sold in the museum gift shop.I have published projects available online at Beading Times, Bead Bugle, All Free Jewelry, and The Beading Gem's Journal. Some of my kits are sold online through Beadfx. Kalmbach Publishing published my first book, Modern Chain Mail Jewelry, in 2015.Most of my time at present is directed to creating new chain mail projects.

I am currently working on several new designs that will be ready as kits and for teaching this fall. Each of these will have an Argentium sterling and a copper or Jeweler's Bronze version, and a couple will be silver filled 925/10. This will bring my chain mail kit total to more than 150. (My husband makes all our jump rings and packages the kits. Good man!)

Website: www.marilyngardiner.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/GardinerDesign