Japanese Origami Bracelet

by Marilyn Gardiner

Category: Chain Maille
Technique(s): Chain Making
Skill Level: Beginner

You only need two sizes of jump rings to make this bracelet, and one of them is quite large. That's what makes this such a substantial piece.

Materials

Sterling Silver Jump Ring Open (.051) 16ga. 9mm Heavy - Pack of 10

K11-36

Lesson Quantity: 31.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 4.00 pieces
Price: $11.02
Gold Club Price: $8.27

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Sterling Silver Toggle Clasp Twisted 12mm - Pack of 1

K3-172

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Price: $4.62
Gold Club Price: $3.47

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Sterling Silver 16 gauge (AWG), 3mm ID ( inner diameter) jump rings

Lesson Quantity: 95.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

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Tools

Flat Nose Wire Pliers

G2-506

G2-506
Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 2.00 each
Price: $32.95
Gold Club Price: $24.71

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Instructions

Step 1

Make 2 Lengths of Chain:
Close some large rings and open a number of small rings.
Scoop up 2 large rings with a small ring and close it.
Open up the pair of large rings.

Continue the chain: pick up a small open ring and use it to add another large closed ring to the chain. Continue the chain until it has about 12 large rings.
Start a new chain and use about 13 large rings.
Lay them out one above the other.

Marilyn Gardiner's Japanese Origami Bracelet - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Linking large and small Jump Rings

Marilyn Gardiner's Japanese Origami Bracelet - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Jump rings completing 2 chain maille components

Step 2

Adjust the Chain Lengths to Fit:
Measure your wrist and decide on a finished bracelet length.
Subtract 1" for the clasp.
The length of the longer chain should equal this length.
Adding one large ring will increase the bracelet length by 1/4".
The two lengths of chain can have an equal number of large rings, or one can be a ring shorter than the other.

Step 3

Join the 2 Chains:
The photos show a close-up shot and a look at the whole chain.
Notice that the large rings of the top chain sit in between the large rings of the bottom chain.
You will use 2 small rings to connect each pair of large rings in the top row to a large ring in the second row. See the red dots.

Each large ring (except at the ends) will have 4 small rings connecting it to the rings that surround it.

Marilyn Gardiner's Japanese Origami Bracelet - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Using small jump rings to link

Marilyn Gardiner's Japanese Origami Bracelet - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Completed jump ring connections.

Step 4

Fold and Connect the 2 Chains:
This is the fun Origami folding step!
Fold the top chain over top of the bottom one. It will look like the photo.
(Now is the time to make any final adjustments in length.)

Now, connect them together at the bottom edge. See the red dots in the photos below that show where to place the first two small rings.

Continue adding small rings that join the edges until you reach the other end.

Marilyn Gardiner's Japanese Origami Bracelet - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Fold chain maille chain over

Marilyn Gardiner's Japanese Origami Bracelet - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Small Jump rings used to connect

Marilyn Gardiner's Japanese Origami Bracelet - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Jump rings used to complete

Step 5

Add the Toggle Clasp (Ring and Bar):
At one end of the chain put a 3 mm jump ring through the end ring and through the loop on the back of the ring-part of the toggle clasp.

The bar-part of the toggle needs a shank so that it can fold sideways to pass through the ring-part. You'll use about 4 or 5 small rings and link them together into a mini chain like the photo.

Start by putting one small ring through the end ring of the bracelet. One-by-one, link a couple more rings onto that one, and then connect the final ring to the bar-part of the toggle.

Congratulations! Your bracelet is ready to wear and admire!

Marilyn Gardiner's Japanese Origami Bracelet - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Toggle clasp added

Marilyn Gardiner's Japanese Origami Bracelet - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Finished Japanese Origami Bracelet

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