Kylie Jones's Sterling Silver Chain Maille Bridal Earrings, Chain Maille Jewelry. Making Chain, Chain Making . This chain maille weave is called helm chain.

Sterling Silver Chain Maille Bridal Earrings

by Kylie Jones
  • Category: Chain Maille
  • Technique(s): Chain Making
  • Skill Level: Beginner
This chain maille weave is called helm chain. It is a decorative chain in a flower like pattern to which I've added a reflective central Swarovski crystal. The ear wires are large and add a touch of elegance.

Materials

20 gauge sterling silver 3.2mm jump rings
  • Lesson Quantity: 16.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Sterling Silver Jump Ring Open (.030) 20ga. (OD) 6mm (ID) 4.27mm - Pack of 10
K11-29
  • Lesson Quantity: 24.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 2.00 pieces
  • Price: $3.66
  • Gold Club Price: $2.75
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20 Gauge Round Half Hard .925 Sterling Silver Wire
H8-20H
  • Lesson Quantity: 9.00 inches
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
  • Price: $4.08
  • Gold Club Price: $3.06
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4mm Crystal 5328 Bi-Cone Swarovski Crystal Beads - Pack of 10
A13-53A
  • Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Price: $1.57
  • Gold Club Price: $1.18
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Tools

Flat Nose Wire Pliers
G2-506
  • G2-506
  • Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $32.95
  • Gold Club Price: $24.71
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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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5 inch Plato Slim Flush Cutters for Wire Working or Beading - Pack of 1
G35-3
  • G35-3
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $11.95
  • Gold Club Price: $8.96
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6 Inch Metal Ruler - in Inches And Centimeters
G7-7
  • G7-7
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $2.97
  • Gold Club Price: $2.23
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Instructions
Step 1
For chain maille, particularly jewelry made with fine jump rings like these, the jump rings need to be closed under tension. To do this use 2 flat-nose pliers and gripping both sides of the ring push the ends of the ring a little further than closed so the ends overlap, then bring the ends back to meet. There is usually a little clicking sound when they go from overlapped to meet perfectly. Check by feel or use magnification. If your rings aren't right keep adjusting and overlapping till you get a perfect ring.
Kylie Jones's Sterling Silver Chain Maille Bridal Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Use two pliers to close the jump ring tightly.
Kylie Jones's Sterling Silver Chain Maille Bridal Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Use two pliers to close the jump ring tightly.
Step 2
Place 4 closed large rings on a small ring and close the ring. Add another small ring in the same place as the first small ring.
Kylie Jones's Sterling Silver Chain Maille Bridal Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Place 4 large jump rings on a small jump ring and close the ring.
Kylie Jones's Sterling Silver Chain Maille Bridal Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Add another small jump ring.
Step 3
Take an open small ring and go through 2 of the 4 large rings, add 2 closed large rings and close the small ring. Add another small ring in the same place.
Kylie Jones's Sterling Silver Chain Maille Bridal Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Take a small jump ring and go through 2 of the 4 large jump rings.
Kylie Jones's Sterling Silver Chain Maille Bridal Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Close the small jump ring.
Kylie Jones's Sterling Silver Chain Maille Bridal Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Add another small jump ring.
Step 4
Add another link of 2 large rings in the same way as before, make sure to add the second small ring.
Kylie Jones's Sterling Silver Chain Maille Bridal Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Add another link of 2 large jump rings.
Step 5
Join both ends of the chain together with a small ring. Add a second small ring in the same place. You now have a square looking chain shape.
Kylie Jones's Sterling Silver Chain Maille Bridal Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Join the ends of the chain together with a small jump ring.
Kylie Jones's Sterling Silver Chain Maille Bridal Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Close the small jump ring.
Kylie Jones's Sterling Silver Chain Maille Bridal Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Add another small jump ring.
Step 6
Now we add 4 decorative rings, these rings don't go through any rings. They sit between the 2 large rings and go around the 2 small rings to create the pattern. The first ring will go around the 2 small rings at the bottom of the square. Take an open large ring, if you open it a little more than you usually do it will make it easier to manipulate. To make it easy to see I have marked this ring with a red dot. Starting at the bottom of the square, weave the ring up between the 2 large rings on the left of the bottom 2 small rings. Take this ring around the 2 small rings and down between the 2 large rings on the right. Close the ring.
Kylie Jones's Sterling Silver Chain Maille Bridal Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Add a large jump ring sandwiched between the other large ones.
Kylie Jones's Sterling Silver Chain Maille Bridal Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Weave a large jump ring between the others.
Kylie Jones's Sterling Silver Chain Maille Bridal Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Close the large jump ring around the two small jump rings.
Step 7
To add the 2nd decorative ring move on to the next 2 small rings. Take an open large ring, weave this ring up between the 2 large rings on the left of the small rings, around the top of the small rings and down between the 2 large rings on the right. Close the ring.
Kylie Jones's Sterling Silver Chain Maille Bridal Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Add a 2nd large ring around the next 2 small rings.
Kylie Jones's Sterling Silver Chain Maille Bridal Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Add a 2nd large ring around the next 2 small rings.
Kylie Jones's Sterling Silver Chain Maille Bridal Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Add a 2nd large ring around the next 2 small rings.
Step 8
Add 2 more decorative rings around the 2 remaining small ringed links. Make 2.
Kylie Jones's Sterling Silver Chain Maille Bridal Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Add two more large rings around the 2 remianing small ringed links.
Step 9
To add the crystal cut a piece of wire about 1.2" (3cm) long. Place the edge of your flat-nose pliers about 2mm from the end of the wire and turn it back on itself to form a hook shape. With your pliers flatten the hook so the 2 sides are next to each other. Place a crystal bicone on the wire and with your round-nose pliers make a wrapped loop.
Kylie Jones's Sterling Silver Chain Maille Bridal Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , .Make a small head pin
Kylie Jones's Sterling Silver Chain Maille Bridal Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Make a small head pin.
Kylie Jones's Sterling Silver Chain Maille Bridal Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , String on the crystal bead, and make a wrapped loop.
Step 10
Take your chain maille shape and position one of the small 2 ringed links at the top. Attach the wrapped loop of the crystal drop to both of these small rings.
Kylie Jones's Sterling Silver Chain Maille Bridal Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Attach the crystal dangle.
Kylie Jones's Sterling Silver Chain Maille Bridal Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Attach the crystal charm.
Step 11
To make the ear wire I find it easiest to make both ear wires at the same time, so doing each step for both rather than making one then trying to make the second look the same. For each ear wire cut a piece of wire about 3.15" (8cm) long. Mark the middle of the wire. Hold the middle mark on your mandrel and bend the wire to the shape of the circle. It will spring back a little and end up a bit larger than the mandrel shape.
Kylie Jones's Sterling Silver Chain Maille Bridal Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Cut an 8cm piece of 20g wire.
Kylie Jones's Sterling Silver Chain Maille Bridal Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Curve the ear wire.
Step 12
Place the side edge of your flat-nose pliers next to the middle mark, bend both sides of the half circle towards each other to make the ear wire shape. On one of the ends, with round-nose pliers make a loop that curves away from the main shape. If you like you can put a slight bend in the other end. The ear wires need to be work hardened so they maintain their shape. You can do this by hammering them with a rawhide or plastic mallet, or put them in a jewelry tumbler.
Kylie Jones's Sterling Silver Chain Maille Bridal Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Make an ear wire.
Kylie Jones's Sterling Silver Chain Maille Bridal Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Make a simple loop.
Step 13
Attach the ear wire to the large ring above the crystal.
Kylie Jones's Sterling Silver Chain Maille Bridal Earrings - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Add the ear wire to the earring.