Kylie Jones's Orbital Chain Maille Earrings, Chain Maille Jewelry. Making Chain, Chain Making . This chain maille weave has
Orbital Chain Maille Earrings
by Kylie Jones
  • Category: Chain Maille
  • Technique(s): Chain Making
  • Skill Level: Beginner
This chain maille weave has "orbital" rings that go around other rings to create a decorative texture. The gemstones are Iolite, also known as water sapphire, their color changes from sapphire blue to smoky quartz depending on the light.

Materials

Sterling Silver Jump Ring Open (.040) 18ga. 5mm Heavy - Pack of 10
K11-34
  • Lesson Quantity: 24.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 3.00 each
  • Price: $3.44
  • Gold Club Price: $2.58
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28 Gauge Round Dead Soft .925 Sterling Silver Wire
H8-28D
  • Lesson Quantity: 15.00 inches
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 5FT
  • Price: $2.53
  • Gold Club Price: $1.90
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20 Gauge Round Half Hard .925 Sterling Silver Wire
H8-20H
  • Lesson Quantity: 4.00 inches
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
  • Price: $3.84
  • Gold Club Price: $2.88
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3mm gemstone briolettes
  • Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
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Tools

Round Nose Wire Pliers
G2-507
  • G2-507
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $32.95
  • Gold Club Price: $24.71
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Chain Nose Wire Pliers
G2-508
  • G2-508
  • Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $32.95
  • Gold Club Price: $24.71
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C.H.P Milano Italian Flush Cutter, 5 1/2 Inches
PLR-487.00
  • PLR-487.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $16.97
  • Gold Club Price: $12.73
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Stainless Steel Ring Mandrel Sizes 1-15
G7-2
  • G7-2
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $32.95
  • Gold Club Price: $24.71
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WireJewelry Professional Single Barrel Rotary Rock Tumbler with 3 Pound Capacity Drum (2021 Version)
G24-1V2
  • G24-1V2
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $106.60
  • Gold Club Price: $79.95
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Instructions
Step 1
Place a briolette on the 28g wire about 1" from the end. Bend both wires up towards the top of the stone, cross them at the top of the stone and where they meet straighten the 2 wires so they sit side by side. Bend both wires to make a 90 degree angle, place your round nose pliers at the top of the bend and wrap both wires around in a loop. Secure the loop by wrapping the 2 wires around the wires below the loop and onto the stone, alternating each until the tail of the short end runs out. Wrap firmly and keep the tension on the wire as you go. Continue to wrap around the stone until the wires coming from the hole are covered. Trim the ends and reshape the loop on the round nose pliers if needed. This twisted briolette has flat sides and corners and is a little more difficult to wrap than a more rounded drop, the tension needs to be tighter than normal wrapping. Once you let go of the wire it does spring back and you may need to cut off the last wrap. Do this for both stones.
Kylie Jones's Orbital Chain Maille Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , thread the wire
Kylie Jones's Orbital Chain Maille Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , cross the wires
Kylie Jones's Orbital Chain Maille Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , bend up the wires
Kylie Jones's Orbital Chain Maille Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , fold both wires over round nose pliers
Kylie Jones's Orbital Chain Maille Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , wrap the neck
Kylie Jones's Orbital Chain Maille Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , wrap down the stone
Step 2
Place 2 closed rings on an open ring and close the ring. With an open ring go through the 2 rings you just added, add 2 closed rings and close the ring. With an open ring go through the 2 rings you just added and close the ring. You now have a 1-2-1-2-1 chain.
Kylie Jones's Orbital Chain Maille Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , add two rings
Kylie Jones's Orbital Chain Maille Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , add a third ring
Kylie Jones's Orbital Chain Maille Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , add 2 more rings
Kylie Jones's Orbital Chain Maille Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , add another ring
Step 3
To add the decorative orbital rings start at the 1st link with 2 rings. Take an open ring and go down into the bottom ring and out of the top ring and close the ring. These orbital rings go around the bottom of the top ring and the top of the bottom ring and hold the 2 rings apart. Add a second orbital ring in the same place.
Kylie Jones's Orbital Chain Maille Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , add an orbital ring
Kylie Jones's Orbital Chain Maille Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , close the ring
Kylie Jones's Orbital Chain Maille Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , close the ring
Kylie Jones's Orbital Chain Maille Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , add a second orbital ring
Step 4
Add 2 orbital rings to the second link with 2 rings.
Kylie Jones's Orbital Chain Maille Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , add another orbital ring
Kylie Jones's Orbital Chain Maille Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , add a second ring
Step 5
To join the chain take an open ring and go down into the front of the last ring of the chain and out through the back of the 1st ring of the chain. Close the ring.
Kylie Jones's Orbital Chain Maille Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , close the chain
Kylie Jones's Orbital Chain Maille Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , close the chain
Step 6
Attach the briolette to the middle single ring sitting in between the 2 orbital links.
Kylie Jones's Orbital Chain Maille Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , add a briolette
Step 7
Repeat Steps 1 - 6 for the second earring.
Step 8
To make the ear wires cut 2 pieces of 20g wire about 2" long. Bend them around the mandrel, one at a time. With the both wires together place them in the jaws of the flat nosed pliers a little bit off centre and bend the wire ends down so each ear wire has 2 half curves. One curve on each ear wire will be slightly longer. I do both ear wires at the same time so they have the same angle. Then working on them separately, using your round nose pliers make a loop on the longer end of the ear wire. To work harden the ear wires either put in a tumbler or hammer with a mallet on a steel block.
Kylie Jones's Orbital Chain Maille Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , cut 2 pieces of 2 inch wire
Kylie Jones's Orbital Chain Maille Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , bend in the middle
Kylie Jones's Orbital Chain Maille Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , make a loop on the end
Step 9
Attach the ear wire to the middle ring of the 3 single rings. Repeat on the second earring.
Kylie Jones's Orbital Chain Maille Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , add an ear wire