b

stepbystep[1] Open an 18-gauge 3mm brass jump ring and close ten 20-gauge 3mm color A jump rings (Basics).[2] Slide ten As on the 18-gauge jump ring. Close the 18-gauge jump ring. Open two more As, and attach them to the 18-gauge

jump ring. Close the As (photo a), making sure they do not go through any of the previous As.[3] Open 12 20-gauge brass jump rings. Slide one open jump ring through two As and close the jump ring. Continue around the As, sliding a brass jump ring through the next A and in

front of the second A of the previous pair. Connect the last brass jump ring through the back of the first A of the first pair and the front of the second A of the previous pair (photo b).[4] Open 24 20-gauge 3mm color B jump rings, and slide two Bs through each brass jump ring (photo c).

Circular chain mail earrings

Combine colored metal and brass or sterling silver jump rings to make a pair of chain mail earrings. Colored jump rings make it easy to see the interlocking pattern.

designed by Sandy Amazeen

MATERIALSearrings• 2 3mm accent beads• 12 in. (30cm) 20-gauge brass wire• 2 18-gauge brass or sterling silver jump rings, 3mm inside diameter• 20-gauge brass jump rings, 3mm inside diameter 24 color A 48 color B 72 brass or sterling silver• pair of earring findings• 1-in. (2.5cm) dowel• hammer• steel block or anvil• bentnose pliers• chainnose pliers• roundnose pliers• wire cutters

EDITOR’S NOTE:For more colors and gauges of jump rings, visit artisticwire.com.

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©2007 Kalmbach Publishing Co. This material may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher.

[5] Open 24 20-gauge brass jump rings and connect one brass jump ring to a pair of Bs as in step 3 (photo d).[6] Cut a 6-in. (15cm) piece of 20-gauge brass wire. Bend the wire around a 1-in. (2.5cm) dowel. Make a right-angle bend on the top of the circle, leaving a 1⁄2-in. (1.3cm) overlap. Straighten the wire above the bend (photo e). Put the wire frame on a steel block or anvil, and tap it with a hammer to harden it.[7] Slide the entire outer round of jump rings onto the wire frame (photo f).[8] To maintain the frame’s

diameter, grasp the crossed wires with chainnose pliers, and wrap the short tail around the long tail twice, making the wraps next to the pliers (photo g). Trim the short wire.[9] String an accent bead and make a wrapped loop (Basics). Open the loop of an earring finding and attach it to the wrapped loop.[10] Make a second earring to match the first. w

f

g