Beaded chain maille looks really effective and is easier than it looks. This week, the Bead Doctor shows you how to make this stunning bracelet.
Step 1: Gather materials
Find a list of everything you will need below.
Pause the steps at any time by mousing over the slideshow and clicking the pause button. Click the pause button again to continue.
Use the left-right arrows or slide numbers to navigate.
Step 2: Cut wire, add first jump rings
Cut 20cm of plastic coated wire.
Thread on a crimp and pass the end of the wire back through the crimp to make a loop. Squeeze the crimp flat.
Open a jump ring, thread on a jump ring, the loop of the wire and another jump ring.
Close the open jump ring.
Step 3: Standard 2-2-2 technique
Next add two jump rings so that they sit either side of the wire.
Add another two, followed by two more.
This is a standard 2-2-2.
Step 4: The fiddly bit
Now for the fiddly bit!
Hold the end of the chain section, let the two most recently added jump rings flip open - one falling to each side.
Let the previous two jump rings move away from each other exposing a small section of the jump rings flipped to the sides.
Step 5: Continue jump rings
Use a new open jump ring to hook through the exposed sections of jump rings one side of the wire.
Close the jump ring and add another in the same way so that the wire sits in the middle.
Step 6: Add beads
Thread on a 4mm bead.
Move along the wire until it sits snugly in the middle of the most recently added jump rings.
Step 7: Repeat steps
Add a jump ring each side of the wire to the previous jump rings. Make sure that they sit snugly between the bead and the jump rings.
Add two more jump rings.
Follow steps 3 and 4.
Thread on a bead then follow steps 5 and 6.
Continue repeating until your bracelet is the desired length. Mine is 17cm before adding the clasp.
Step 8: Finishing off
When the chain is the desired length add a single jump ring so that it matches the beginning of the chain.
Pull the chain taught.
Thread a crimp onto the wire, pass the wire through the single jump ring and back through the crimp.
Squeeze the crimp flat and trim the excess wire.
Step 9: Add toggle clasp
Open the single jump ring at one end of the chain.
Add one half of a toggle clasp and close the jump ring.
Repeat on the other end to add the other half of the clasp.
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Top tip
Open a load of jump rings before you start. This will make the making part much easier!
I used 82 8mm jump rings and twelve 4mm beads for a 17cm bracelet before adding clasps.
Greetings form the Bead Doctor
Taking a break from profiteroles!
Whew, it’s been a hectic week! Beads Unlimited is growing and we’ve taken over the unit next to ours to make room for more lovely beads. So we’ve been having a major spring clean in the office ready for our imminent move. Earlier in the week I managed to burn my hand baking for a profiterole competition! In-between all this I’ve been making a new chain maille bracelet for you all to have a go at. I hope you enjoy it, now I’m off for a lie down!
Giving it away!
For a chance to win all the materials to make my beaded chain maille bracelet we’d like you to tell us what new beading technique you would like to try your hand at this year. Please let us know in the comments box below by midnight on Sunday 8th April. The winner will then be notified by email and asked for their postal address. Good luck everyone!
Materials
To add all the materials needed for this project, simply click the button below to add it to your basket. Or, if you are just short of one or two bits, click on the individual items.*
*Craft multi pliers (CRMT) – Not Included
This looks lovely!
I’m quite keen to try kumihimo braiding this year, but also other chainmaille weaves having done a workshop to learn Byzantine chain earlier in February.
Oh my that’s nice, love chainemaille…it’s the cost of the rings etc that holds me back from doing much though. Haven’t tried combining beads and chainmaille yet
. Definitely giving this a go soon though 
As for a new technique I want to try: Kumihimo and resin casting are two I really fancy along with metalwork.
I want to try kumihimo too! Think it is very popular at the moment.
I’d love to try felt beads and turn them into animals for jewellery, also beaded crochet jewellery and a long list of more….. love trying new things, never done this weave before
Ooh actually this is the thing i want to learn the most, i bought a chainmaille bracelet last year and Love it! But i also want to try Kumihimo. I am new to all of this by the way!
Flat braids! Was going to invest in a square disc – but comments about difficulty have put me off – stick with good old round disc – just mastered beaded ones.
That bracelet looks really nice.
I’m into all sort of crafts and I would like bring some of them into my jewellery, such as felting and crochet.
I’d like to try more knitting projects with beads but the chain maille looks fun too. Wil you be planning to stock rings in sterling silver or gold in heavier gauges?
I was going to give chain maille a go so this prize would be brilliant. Also wanted to try some ornate beading techniques but it is a little daunting.
I want to try knitting and crocheting with wire and beads
Would love to try chain maille this year, I keep looking at it, and it seem the in thing at the moment
I have just started doing chain maille so this will come in very handy will give it ago asap.
i really like wire rings as they are in fashion at the moment and really cool
Love this bracelet, the tutorial makes it look easier too! I tried kumihimo after getting a kit for Christmas, its great, I love it!
I have just started trying my hand at making tiara’s and have made two so far, hopefully I will get even better and the tiara’s will get more elaborate – fingers crossed!
Would love a step-by-step on making tiaras, that would be great. Always thought these were too expensive to try and make.
would like to try weaving with beads to make braceletts
I was just thinking of starting with chainmaille, what an amazing project!! I’d love to make this!!
I’d love to try this out, I love the combination of metals, chainmaille is ideal for metal mixing!!
I need to return to the tila wrap bracelet I started last month but lost my patience with after threading only 6 beads. It’s been sitting on my workbench getting in the way and I really should just get it finished. I constantly look for new techniques to learn as it keeps my work fresh and unique. Unfortunately, it also usually means more tools and more supplies to fit into my tiny workroom!
I`ve just started with chain maille, and i`m making my own rings (hand sawing), this gives me much flexibility! so my plan for this year is to try as many different weaves as possible! i love working with wire and i`m in love with glass beads, i want to mix several techniques to create bespoke jewellery.
Great project, I have done one similar some while ago,but would love to do more, also tubular seed bead work, is this years aim.
Great project, I did one similar some while ago. I would like to do more chain/wire work and seed bead tubular stitches,that is the aim for this year.
Definitely would like to do some tubular seed bead projects. I have so many pretty colours and need to put them to good use.
I’d really like to get better at using wire – I bought a Thing-A-Ma-Jig from you a while back but just feel a little stuck about where to go with it! Also just simple things like wire wraps.
I am longing to try chainmaille, but I just haven’t found the time or the money without a job to buy the rings. Would love to win to give it a try xxx
I would love to try the silver clay molding or Resin casting
As I have just gone through the poly clay beads which I am getting a dab hand at making I will probably looking at doing more with glass beads and lampwork… Also lokking forward to doing bits with the steam punk bits and bobs…
That looks great!
My next trick is to learn pyrography so I can ‘draw with fire’ on wooden beads to make patterned beads and beads with letters on to make name bracelets in my own script. This is basically because I can’t find upper case and lower case letter beads in the same style and I think name bracelets for children should have a capital letter at the start and lower case letters throughout, how they are taught to write their own name. I am a teacher so this is important to me
I have recently been on a Tiara making workshop so i would like to practice making more tiaras his year with a view to hopefully being able to sell them. Other techniques I am keen to try in the future will be chainmaille as I have never tried that technique yet. I would also like to practice more wirework as I think the effects can be fantastic.
Hi, i,ve just found your site from your ad in make jewellery as i.m just starting out making! I’d like to learn more about silver clay and wire work. Xx
Hello Helen, Welcome to Bead Barmy!
Have you seen our clematis tiara Jane. It’s an oldie but goodie and always very popular! http://dev.dev.beadbarmy.com/2010/07/wedding-belles-how-to-make-a-tiara/
Hi there. I’m loving the chainmaille bracelet with the bronze metal and green beads. Fab.
I’ve been thinking of incorporating a 2 ply cotton yarn, wire and beads into a bracelet. Lovely spring colours, what do you think?
Lovely bracelet, I’d love to have a go at making it! I went to a class recently where we rolled up strips of magazine pages to make beads, I’d like to hear of any ideas you have for upcycling/recycling things and incorporating them into jewellery/bead work. X
This tutorial is fantastic!! i’ve had a go and posted a picture of the final outcome on your facebook page
xxx
Hi, I’d really like to learn how to make those crochet beads, they look so complicated and lovely!
Hi,
Thank you sooo much for the chain maille bracelet kit. I have now made it and its great. It was my first attempt at chain maille, so thank you very much