If you have followed my previous posts you will have seen that I have been fascinated by making chainmaille or chain maille. There are so many different variations of designs that you can make simply by linking metal rings together. I was interested to find out about the history of chain maille and how it evolved from purely functional (battle armour) to the more decorative versions we see today. Chain maille is a type of armour consisting of small metal rings linked together in a pattern to … [Read more...]
More Chain Maille Cuff Bracelets
I have previously posted on some chain maille bracelets that I made. Since then I have continued to try out a range of different designs - and it never ceases to amaze me at the variety of different patterns that you can make simply using metal rings. How many ways can you loop rings together and get something that looks completely different? Last time I showed you a European 4-in-1 design and a Helm's Cuff design. This time I will show you a Ruffles Cuff bracelet and my favourite Dragonscale … [Read more...]
Chainmaille Wallet Chain
A chainmaille wallet chain (and/or a key chain) is a quick and easy gift to make - particularly for a male. It is perfect for someone who is a keen traveller and would appreciate a bit more security for a wallet they keep in their trousers pocket. Wallet chains first came into fashion in the 1950s in the biker subculture as a pragmatic way of keeping their wallets safe as they rode at speed. In the 1970s wallet chains were incorporated into punk dress both as a way of preventing … [Read more...]
Chain Maille Jewellery Designs
In the past I have shown you different chain maille jewellery designs and I have continued to explore the vast range of designs that are possible. I find that purchasing kits from Weave Got Maille is a great way to get exposed to different patterns. This time I explore a Double Orbital bracelet, a Tear Drops Necklace that builds on the Double Orbital design, and a Swirls bracelet that uses a repeating mobius unit. The Double Orbital (and Tear Drops) design are supposed to be a beginner's … [Read more...]
Viking Knitting Project
In an earlier post I described some of the Viking Knitting projects I had been doing, making simple knitted wire rope jewellery based on an ancient technique but made easier with modern tools. The Lazee Daizee™ Viking Knit Tools were developed by Stephanie Eddy and I was browsing her website to see what a more advanced jewellery maker could make - her inspiration gallery is certainly inspiring - and discovered that she had a sale on some jewellery kits. Unfortunately she is moving away from … [Read more...]
Chain Maille Cuff Bracelets
My latest foray into jewellery making has been to make chain maille cuff bracelets using a couple of different more advanced designs: European 4-in-1 and Helm Cuff. These bracelets are both more of a statement piece of jewellery and I'm very pleased with the results. European 4-in-1 Design I followed the design for this in a book called Basic & Advanced Chain Maille that I purchased from Weave Got Maille along with the 3.5mm internal diameter 18 gauge wire jump rings that were … [Read more...]
Coloured Chain Maille Jewellery
Today's post is about making coloured chain maille jewellery using contrasting or complementary colours of jump rings, and I also try some new chain maille designs. I have posted before about my passion for making chain maille jewellery and how I have been trying many different basic chain designs to see which I like the most and then trying some designs that incorporate beads to give different looks. This post expands on that by using contrasting or complementary colours of jump rings in … [Read more...]
Chain Maille Jewellery with Beads
Previously I have shared my new-found passion of making chain maille jewellery. In this post I will show you how I have expanded from the basic designs and tried different sorts of chain maille jewellery with beads. I can't claim any credit for these as I am still trying different kitsets from Weave Got Maille to see what things are possible and which I really enjoy making and giving as gifts. I was delighted to see a YouTube video recently in a series called World's Greatest that show-cases … [Read more...]
Making Chain Maille Jewellery
I have got the bug for making chain maille jewellery - big time! I have been experimenting with lots of different chain maille designs and will share some of these with you. Since I managed to find a source of the required jumprings so that I didn't have to make my own like my friend Elena (see my earlier post for some of Elena's beautiful pieces) life has become so much easier for me to pursue this interest. Elena makes all her materials from scratch from copper or silver wire but the … [Read more...]
Making Chain Jewellery
My friend Elena makes the most beautiful chain jewellery (see some examples at the end of the post). I was so inspired by her efforts that I really wanted to have a go at making my own. I bought a book on her recommendation: Handcrafting Chain and Bead Jewelry by Scott David Plumlee and started getting excited about all the beautiful things I wanted to make. Then I hit a snag! Making chain jewellery depends on having the individual chain links (jumprings) measure particular internal diameter … [Read more...]