Venetian Glass Chain Maille Bracelet

by Kylie Jones

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

An intricate chain maille bead cap with a helm chain border sets off these gorgeous hand blown glass beads.

Materials

Sterling Silver Oval Lobster 11mm - Pack of 1

K3-132

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Price: $2.22
Gold Club Price: $1.67

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15mm Venetian glass oval beads

Lesson Quantity: 4.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

20 gauge AWG 0.8mm ID 1/8" 3.2mm jump rings sterling Silver

Lesson Quantity: 24.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

18 gauge AWG 1mm ID 5/32" 4.1mm jump rings Sterling Silver

Lesson Quantity: 21.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

18 gauge AWG 1mm ID 3/16" 5mm jump rings Sterling Silver

Lesson Quantity: 30.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

16 gauge AWG 1.2mm ID 13/64" 5.4mm jump rings Sterling Silver

Lesson Quantity: 24.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

16 gauge AWG 1.2mm ID 5/16" 8.2mm jump rings Sterling Silver

Lesson Quantity: 24.00 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: 1.00 each
Price: $32.95
Gold Club Price: $24.71

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5 Piece Steel Mandrel Set

G7-5

G7-5
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $12.95
Gold Club Price: $9.71

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Instructions

Step 1

Using the 3.2mm rings place 4 closed rings on an open ring and close the ring.

Kylie Jones's Venetian Glass Chain Maille Bracelet - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Place 4 closed jump rings on an open ring

Step 2

Split the 4 rings so you have a 2-1-2 chain. With an open ring go through one set of 2 rings add 2 closed rings and close the ring. You now have a 2-1-2-1-2 chain.

Kylie Jones's Venetian Glass Chain Maille Bracelet - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , split the 4 jump rings so you have a 2-1-2 chain

Kylie Jones's Venetian Glass Chain Maille Bracelet - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , go through one set of 2 rings add 2 closed rings

Kylie Jones's Venetian Glass Chain Maille Bracelet - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , close the jump ring

Step 3

To join this chain into a circle take an open ring and go through the first and last 2 ring links.

Kylie Jones's Venetian Glass Chain Maille Bracelet - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , join the chain into a circle

Kylie Jones's Venetian Glass Chain Maille Bracelet - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , join the ends of the chain with another jump ring

Step 4

Place this chain ring onto a bamboo skewer, making sure to go through the center of the chain circle and not through any rings.

Kylie Jones's Venetian Glass Chain Maille Bracelet - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Place a mandrel through the center of the chain

Step 5

The 3 sets of 2 rings have the one ring lying on the other. Flip the top ring over 180 degrees so it lies flat against the skewer, do this for all 3 top rings. You may need to slide the whole piece down towards the point where the bamboo is thinner to be able to rotate all 3 rings. This piece is now 3 rows of round maille.

Kylie Jones's Venetian Glass Chain Maille Bracelet - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Flip the top ring over to lie flat

Kylie Jones's Venetian Glass Chain Maille Bracelet - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , flip the the top rings over to lie flat

Kylie Jones's Venetian Glass Chain Maille Bracelet - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , 3 rows of round maille

Step 6

For the next row using the 5/32" rings take an open ring and go through 2 rings that are next to each other at the point where they meet, close the ring.

Kylie Jones's Venetian Glass Chain Maille Bracelet - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Use a 4.1mm jump ring and go through 2 rings next to each other

Step 7

Take another open ring and moving around the piece go through the next 2 rings where they meet and close the ring.

Kylie Jones's Venetian Glass Chain Maille Bracelet - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , use a 4.1mm jump ring and go through the next 2 rings next to each other

Step 8

To add the last ring of the row go through the last place where 2 rings are next to each other.

Kylie Jones's Venetian Glass Chain Maille Bracelet - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , use a 4.1mm jump ring and go through the last 2 rings next to each other

Step 9

Add another row exactly as before using the same 5/32" rings.

Kylie Jones's Venetian Glass Chain Maille Bracelet - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , add another row of 4.1mm jump rings

Step 10

Add 2 rows with 3/16" rings.

Kylie Jones's Venetian Glass Chain Maille Bracelet - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Add 2 rows of 5mm jump rings

Step 11

Add one row with 13/64" rings.

Kylie Jones's Venetian Glass Chain Maille Bracelet - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , add one row of 5.4mm jump rings

Step 12

Add 2 rows with 5/16" rings. At this point you can pop one of the glass ovals inside the chain. If you find it keeps coming out and is difficult to manage you can wait until you have completed the next row and put it in then.

Kylie Jones's Venetian Glass Chain Maille Bracelet - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Add 2 rows of 8.2mm jump rings

Step 13

Add one row with 13/64" rings.

Kylie Jones's Venetian Glass Chain Maille Bracelet - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , add 1 row of 5.4mm jump rings

Step 14

Add 1 row of 3/16" rings, 1 row of 5/32" rings and 1 row of 3/16" rings.

Kylie Jones's Venetian Glass Chain Maille Bracelet - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , add 1 row of 5mm and then 4.1mm jump rings

Step 15

Repeat rows 11-14. This adds the second enclosed glass bead.

Kylie Jones's Venetian Glass Chain Maille Bracelet - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Repeat rows 11-14

Step 16

Repeat rows 11-14 once more. This gives you 3 enclosed glass beads.

Kylie Jones's Venetian Glass Chain Maille Bracelet - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , repeat rows 11-14 again

Step 17

Repeat rows 11-13 then add 2 rows with 3/16" rings and 2 rows with 5/32" rings. Now there are 4 enclosed beads.

Kylie Jones's Venetian Glass Chain Maille Bracelet - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , repeat rows 11-13 then add 2 rows of 5mm and 4.1mm jump rings

Step 18

Add 3 rows with 1/8" rings. If you want to increase the length you can add more rows with 1/8" rings at both ends.

Kylie Jones's Venetian Glass Chain Maille Bracelet - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , add 3 rows of 3.2mm jump rings

Step 19

To finish off the ends you work 2 partial rows that taper to 1 ring. The first of these 2 rows is exactly as before but you only add 2 rings not 3, the place where the third ring would be added is left empty.

Kylie Jones's Venetian Glass Chain Maille Bracelet - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , add 2 partial rows of jump rings

Step 20

The 2nd of the tapered end rows is just one ring. It goes through both rings of the previous row where they meet. On one end add a clasp to this last ring before you close it.

Kylie Jones's Venetian Glass Chain Maille Bracelet - , Chain Maille Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , add the clasp on one end

Reviews

Kylie Jones

I am a jewelry designer living on the Sunshine Coast, Qld, Australia. I love the challenge of designing jewelry, the mix of creative energy and problem solving. I love chain maille because it is low tech, it makes gorgeous ornamental patterns and textures, and it has a strong link to the past. You can see more of my work at: www.ringsandstones.com.au