Chain Maille Pendant Necklace with Agate Beads

With an open ring go up through the 2 front rings of column 1 and down through the 2 front rings of column 3, add 2 closed rings and close the ring. This step has added 1 ring to each of columns 1, 2 and 3.

To add a ring to each of columns 4 and 5 take an open ring and go up through the front 3 rings of column 3 (the first of these 3 rings was added in step 3) and down through the front 2 rings of column 5 add a closed ring and close the ring.

Using the 16g 13/64" ring and beginning on the left side go up through the single front ring of column 3 and down through the 2 front rings of column 5, then to attach the right side go up through the 2 front rings of column 5 and down through the single front ring of column 3 and close the ring.

Using the 16g 5/16" ring and starting on the left side go up through the single front ring of column 1 and down through the single front ring of column 3, then to attach the right side go up through the single front ring of column 3 and down through the single front ring of column 1 and close the ring.

The bead drops are made with different lengths of 18g wire. With a ball-peen hammer on a bench block hammer down from the point on the wire where you want the bead to sit, down to the bottom of the wire. Once the bead is securely held by the spread of the hammered wire you can texture the wire above the bead and loop over the top of the wire. Tidy up and smooth the edges.

To attach the bead drops decide which side of the chain maille you want for the front and add a bead drop to the bottom large 16g middle ring. Using the 18g 1/8" rings start at the left hand side, take a ring through the first 3 rings of the bottom row (column 1), make sure these rings are all lying in the same direction, add a beaded drop and close the ring. Continue adding this bottom edging row by going through the last captured ring of the previous step and 2 free hanging rings until all of the rings along the bottom edge are captured. A bead drop is added to rings 1, 3 and 5. Do the same with the other side.

The beaded agate chain is made up with double wrapped loops using the 22g wire. These are joined together with 20g 1/8" jump rings in an uneven pattern of 1, 2 or 3 jump rings between each bead to break up the symmetry of the necklace. The chain is attached to the front focal piece with 18g 1/8" rings through the first ring of column 4 on both sides.