Love Knot Chain Bracelet and Earrings

by Deborah Kelly

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

This simple link makes a beautiful chain. Embellish it or use it leave it plain. It can be used for necklaces as well as bracelets and earrings!

Materials

14 Gauge Round Half Hard 1/10 Sterling Silver Filled Wire

H10-14H

Lesson Quantity: 3.00 feet
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 5FT
Price: $21.80
Gold Club Price: $16.35

Out of Stock

18 Gauge Round Half Hard 1/10 Sterling Silver Filled Wire

H10-18H

Lesson Quantity: 3.00 feet
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 5FT
Price: $8.48
Gold Club Price: $6.36

Out of Stock

24 Gauge Round Half Hard 1/10 Sterling Silver Filled Wire

H10-24H

Lesson Quantity: 20.00 inches
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 5FT
Price: $2.06
Gold Club Price: $1.54

Add to Bag

26 Gauge Round Dead Soft 1/10 Sterling Silver Filled Wire

H10-26D

Lesson Quantity: 20.00 inches
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 5FT
Price: $1.57
Gold Club Price: $1.18

Out of Stock

Add All Items to Cart

Tools

Chain Nose Wire Pliers

G2-508

G2-508
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $32.95
Gold Club Price: $24.71

Add to Bag

4.5 Inch Round Nose Pliers

G2-12

G2-12
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $3.97
Gold Club Price: $2.98

Add to Bag

6 Step Barrel Plier - Pack of 1

G2-503

G2-503
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $14.95
Gold Club Price: $11.21

Add to Bag

Add All Items to Cart

Instructions

Step 1

About 2 ½ inches from one end of the 14 gauge wire wrap around the largest mandrel or largest step on the bail making pliers. Pinch wire together about ¼ inch from the mandrel.
This forms a teardrop shape in the wire.
Cut wire so legs are the same length coming off the tear drop shape.

Deborah Kelly's Love Knot Chain Bracelet and Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , love knot chain

Step 2

Make two of these.
Set aside.

Step 3

Next wrap the 14 gauge wire around the 7.5 mm mandrel or 2nd largest step on the bail making pliers about 2 ½ inches from one end of the wire.
Pinch the wire together to make a tear drop shape.
Cut off the wire at the length of the short leg.

Step 4

Make 6 of these.
These should be slightly smaller then the first 2 made.
Put aside.

Step 5

Go back to the first 2 links which were put to the side.
Put a gentle bend in both links between the wide part of the tear drop and and where the wire is pinched together.
Try to put the curve in the same place on both links
This is not a big bend just a slight one.

Step 6

With the curves facing each other on the two links slip the legs of the links thru the tear drop shapes on the other end of the link.
The curve in the wire should make it so the two links slip together.

Step 7

Pull the legs of the two links to form the love knot.
Cut the ends of the links to ½ inch from where they stick out from the curved end of the tear drop shape they are going thru.

Step 8

Use round nose pliers or the smallest step on the bail making pliers to bend the legs into loops on both sides.
This is the center link of the bracelet.

Step 9

Take the 6 links put aside earlier and cut the legs of the link to ½ inch long from where the wires were pinched together after the tear drop.

Step 10

Slip one of the links thru the loops on one side of the love knot

Step 11

Use round nose pliers or the smallest step on the bail making pliers to make loops at the end of the link.
Make sure the loops are going in the same direction as on the love knot.

Step 12

Pinch the ends of the links together just where the loops at the end of them are.
Put 2 more links on so there is 3 links coming off the center knot.

Step 13

Start on the other side of the knot and put the last three links on the same way.
Put on off to the side.

Step 14

Take what is left of the 14 gauge wire and put a loop in the very end of it.

Step 15

About ½ inch away from the loop use round nose or the 2nd smallest step on the bail making pliers and bend the wire around in the opposite direction as the loop in the end of the wire 180 degrees so the long end of the wire goes next to the loop

Step 16

About ½ inch from the loop first put in, use round nose or the bail making pliers to bend the wire back around at a 180 degrees
Cut wire off at the same length as the end of the first 180 degree bend put in the wire.

Step 17

Slip the clasp thru the loops of one of the end links on the bracelet.

Step 18

Curl up the end of the clasp into a loop to finish the clasp.

Step 19

Put one of the bigger jump rings on the other end of the bracelet. The attach the 2nd large jump ring to the 1st one.

Step 20

Take the 24 gauge wire and wrap one end around one side of a link three time.
Make sure the the long wire is coming from the outside edge to the top of the link.
Cut the small tail end off and smooth with pliers.

Step 21

Cut the 24 gauge wire about 2 ½ inches long.
Slip one of the larger beads on the wire.
Wrap the 24 gauge wire around the other side of the link 3 times.
Cut the 24 gauge wire close and smooth with pliers.

Step 22

Repeat on the other 5 links on the bracelet.
No bead goes in the love knot in the center.
Bracelet is now done, set aside.

Step 23

With the 18 gauge wire make 4 links like in step 1and 3 around the 6 mm dowel and 6 links around the 4.5 mm dowel.

Step 24

Put a slight bend in the 4 larger links at the small end of the tear drop shape.
Do this step just like with the bracelet.

Step 25

Use the 4 links to put together 2 knots like done for the bracelet.

Step 26

Cut the ends of the wire used to make the knots ½ in from the large curve of the tear drop it is going thru.
Use round nose pliers or the smallest step on the bail making pliers to make loops of the wire ends.
Do this on both knots made.

Step 27

Measure ½ from where the wire was pinched together down the wire on all the links and cut off.
Thread a link thru the loops on one side of one of the love knots.
Use round nose or the smallest step on the bail making pliers to make loops in the end of the link.
Use pliers to pinch the loops on the end of the links together.

Step 28

Repeat with 2 more links.
Repeat with the other love knot.

Step 29

Take the rest of the 18 gauge wire and put a loop at the end with the tip of round nose pliers.

Step 30

Make a 180 degree bend in the wire going in the opposite direction of the loop about ¼ inch from the loop with round nose pliers.

Step 31

Slip a small bead onto the wire and push down to the bend.
¼ inch from where the wire goes by the loop make another 180 degree bend in the wire in the opposite direction of the last with round nose pliers.
Cut the wire the same length as where the first 180 degree bend is.
Repeat and make another clasp end.

Step 32

Slip a clasp end on the end of the last link of one earring.
Curl the end of the clasp into a loop in the opposite direction of the last 180 degree angle done.
Repeat with the other earring.

Step 33

Take the 26 gauge wire and wrap one end around one side of a link.
Make sure the wire comes from the outside of the link to the top of it.
Cut the small tail wire from wrapping off close to where it is wrapped around and smooth with pliers.

Step 34

Cut the 26 gauge wire about 2 inches long and slip a bead on.
Wrap wire around the other side of the link 3 times.
Cut the wire off close and smooth down with pliers.
Repeat with the other 2 links on the earring.
Repeat on 2nd earring.

Step 35

On the end of the love knot the links are not hanging from put one of the smaller jump ring on.
Put an earring hook onto the jump ring.
Repeat on the other earring.

Reviews

Deborah Kelly

Deborah got into wire work about 4 years ago and is now a snow bird who spends the winter in Quartzsite, Arizona. She does volunteer work while there and teaches 'Creative Wire Wrap' at the "Quartzsite Roadrunners, Gem & Mineral Club." In the summer she travels the Western US with her family and they make and give away free jewelry with their own private philanthropic endeavor that they call The Free Jewelry Project.