Combine Chainmail with Links

by Marilyn Gardiner

Here's a beautiful way to use the many fun links available at your favorite bead store!

Instructions

If you browse the findings section of your local bead store you will likely find a variety of links different shapes, sizes, and materials.

The first photo shows metal ones. The first two rows are sterling silver, the third has silver plated examples and the fourth has antiqued copper, black, gold plated, and pewter.

Marilyn Gardiner's Combine Chainmail with Links - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Design, Variety of links

The second photo has examples of stone (Sardonyx) and crystals. You’ll also find links made from mother-of-pearl, plastic, and resin.

Notice that some have holes for jump rings, some don’t, some are textured, some are antiqued, and some have decorative details. Notice also the varied shapes: round, oval, square, and twisted.

For size, the largest sterling silver one is 33mm diameter, the Sardonyx one is 38mm, and the small black one is 13mm.

Once you have some links you like, choose a chainmail weave, make some pieces, and start joining them with links to make a necklace. I prefer to use weaves that lay flat with the thin links, while the thinker links can handle round weaves.

Here’s an example that combines Jens Pind Linkage, twisted links, and a beaded section on flexible beading wire.

Marilyn Gardiner's Combine Chainmail with Links - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Design, Purple and Black Chainmaille necklace

Here’s a pair of funky chains that I wear together—often over a white blouse. The weave with the oval grey links is Orchid weave, while the other is just 2 rings-into-2 rings.

Marilyn Gardiner's Combine Chainmail with Links - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Design, Chunky links with chainmaille

Materials

Jump Rings

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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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Category: Chain Maille
Technique(s): Design

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