You’ve Got Maille

Katie Georgiou shows how linked jump rings, gems and charms combine to form unique jewellery

Katie Georgiou, MJ Designer

Our kits are available in lots of different colourways, here are just three of my faves!

The traditional technique of chain maille has been given a stylish, 21st century twist to create these distinctive bracelets and earrings. While jump rings are normally used to attach items together, here they form the actual jewellery itself, embellished with glimmering crystals, pearls and leaves in popping shades.

Bracelets

1. Start by forming two chains from the jump rings. To make the first, take 66 jump rings and open 32 of them. Connect pairs of closed jump rings to pairs of open jump rings until all are linked. This forms a basic 2+2+2 chain (see diagram 1). Repeat to make a second chain.
2. Join the two chains. Take 36 open jump rings. Connect the first pair on the first chain, to the first two on the second chain. Skip the next pair. Continue to link every other pair of rings (see diagram 2).
3. To finish, add a single jump ring to one end and a jump ring and a lobster clasp to the other. This makes a bracelet of 20cm. Add bicones and pearls to give a random mix of shapes and colours.
4. To attach a bead, take a 10cm length of fine silver wire. Thread a crystal halfway along it, fold and twist gently below to form a double strand. Thread it through a pair of jump rings and wrap ound the first chain rings twice.
5. Wind the remaining wire three or four times firmly around the wire below the bead to secure it and cut close to the gem. Add three pearlised leaves to each side, using the small jump rings.

Earings

1. Wind the remaining wire three or four times firmly around the wire below the bead to secure it and cut close to the gem. Add three pearlised leaves to each side, using the small jump rings.