Daddy Cool Chain Maille Gifts

Create James Stevenson's fab chain maille gifts for the man in your life!

James Stevenson, MJ Designer

If you pierce a hole in the end of the suede thong with a needle, then thread a piece of wire through, it will make it easier to pull through the box chain bracelet

Chain maille is perfect for creating men's jewellery that's masculine and stylish! These chunky bracelets are formed with a box chain weave, threaded with faux suede thong, while the circular mobius ring weave is perfect for a pair of cuff links. For those who aren't keen on accessories, combine the two techniques to form a snazzy keyring instead!

Opening & Closing Jump Rings

1. To open the jump rings for each project, use two pairs of pliers and hold a jump ring with the opening at the top. Twist one half of the jump ring towards yourself, whilst holding the other side firmly in place. Close the jump ring by holding and twisting it in the same manner.
2. ID – Internal diameter
3. WD – Wire diameter

To download the images for the Box Chain and Mobius Figures Click Here

Bracelet

1. Create a chain of two 4mm jump rings and two 7mm jump rings and two 7mm jump rings (Box Chain, Fig.1). You may find it useful to wrap a sandwich bag tie or scrap of coloured wire around the pair of 4mm rings to use as a handle and marker.
2. Fold back the second pair of 7mm jump rings over the central pair of 7mm jump rings. (Box Chain, Fig.2). Slip an open 7mm jump ring through the centre of both the rings that you’ve just folded back, between the two ‘outside’ rings, and close. Repeat with a further 7mm jump ring, and close (Box Chain, Fig.3).
3. Slip two 7mm rings through the last two rings added in step 2 and close (Box Chain, Fig.4)*. Repeat steps 2 to 3 using just 7mm jump rings until you have created a length of box chain that has 33, 7mm rings showing on every side of the chain, and has used 132, 7mm jump rings.
4. Add two 4mm jump rings to the last set of 7mm jump rings added, then attach a further two 4mm jump rings to the ones just added. Remove the scrap of wire used in step 1 as a marker. Slip two 4mm jump rings onto the two 4mm jump rings already there and close.
5. Cut the ends of a 30cm length of faux suede thong at an angle. Thread the suede down one side of the box chain, and through the two 4mm jump rings on the inside at the end. Thread the suede back up the other side and adjust the two ends so they are even in length.
6. Pass one end of the suede through one of the outside 4mm jump rings at the top of the bracelet, and repeat for the other side. Thread each length of suede through both 4mm jump rings at the other end of the bracelet.
7. Measure 13cm from where each length of suede exits the bracelet, and slide a large seed bead on each end to that point. Tie a knot immediately in front of the bead and trim the excess. The bracelet can be fastened by sliding the beads down to the jump rings and using them as a stopper, or by wrapping or knotting the thong around itself.

Key Ring

1. Create a chain of 2 x 2 x 2, 7mm jump rings (Box Chain, Fig.1). Wrap a sandwich bag tie or coloured wire around the first pair of rings to use as a handle and marker; alternatively add a large keyring instead. Repeat steps 2 and 3 from the Bracelet up to * to start your box chain. Continue until you have created a length that has 10 rings showing on every side of the chain, and has used 40 jump rings.
2. Make a mobius chain maille ring for the top of the keyring by closing one jump ring (Mobius, Fig.1) and adding another jump ring (Mobius, Fig.2). Add a further jump ring, making sure that it goes through the centre of the previous jump rings (Mobius, Fig.3). Continue adding jump rings (Mobius, Fig.4), until you have seven making up the mobius ring. Add a final jump ring through all of the rings and slip on one end of the box chain, then close to secure. Add a large keyring to the other end, if you haven't already done so.