Chain Mail Pearl Bracelet Pattern

Pretty and rich with pearls, this bracelet is designed to be eye-catching with any outfit.  This unique, funky statement bracelet is an intermediate project that can be created in an afternoon.  In this tutorial you’ll learn how to make a beaded pearly chain mail bracelet with either sterling silver or silver plated jump rings.  Learning the chain mail technique is made easy with these step-by-step instructions and illustrations.

Beading Level: Intermediate

Materials:                                                                                                                                                                                                                        150 – 8mm open jump rings

Toggle Clasp

5 – 7mm open jump rings

25 – Fresh water pearls

25 – 1.5″ Head pins

***Note*** This bracelet can be made with either sterling silver or silver plated jump rings and head pins

Bracelet Base:

1. Assemble a group of rings (Figure 1) by opening your jump rings, joining them together and closing them.  To do this, open one jump ring, put 4 closed rings on and close the open one.  Next, open another jump ring and put two of the previously closed jump rings on the open one.  Then put another two closed jump rings on the open one and close it.  This should create a cluster of rings as pictured in Figure 1.  Once they are assembled, lay out your assembled rings on a flat surface so they look like Figure 1.
2. To create the next row on the bottom, open a jump ring and join the ring on the left hand side and the middle ring together, then close the jump ring.  Open another jump ring and join the ring on the right hand side and the middle together, then close the jump ring. There should now be two rings next to each other at the bottom (Figure 2)
3. To create the next row, open a new jump ring and join the two bottom rings together.  Now, open another jump ring and attach it to the jump ring on the left and close it.  Open another jump ring and attach it to the jump ring on the right hand side.  (Figure 3)
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until the work is long enough to fit your wrist.  Keep in mind that the pattern just consists of rows of rings that alternate between a row of 2 jump rings and a row of 3 jump rings.
5. To add the toggle clasp, attach a jump ring and one side of the toggle to the middle ring of the first row.  Next, attach another jump ring and the other end of the toggle to the middle ring of the other end of the bracelet. 
   

Making wrapped Loops:

1. Place one pearl on a head pin.
2. With the tip of your roundnose pliers, grasp the wire approx. 2mm above the bead.  Bend the wire by rolling your hand back so that the it creates a right angle. (Figure A)
3. Position the jaws of your roundnose pliers vertically in the bend.
4. Using your free hand,  pull the wire over the top jaw of the pliers (Figure B) and back around to create a loop.  (Figure C)
5. Keeping the jaws vertical, reposition the pliers’ lower jaw snugly in the loop.
6. Using your free hand, grab the wire and wrap it around the stem from top to bottom, covering the area between the loop and the bead.  Trim the excess wrapping wire and press the end close to the stem. (Figure D)
7. Repeat this process for all of the pearls, so you should have a total of 25 wrapped loop pearls.

Adding the Pearls:  

1. If you look at the base of your bracelet, you will see that the jump rings form rows of two’s and three’s.  Find the middle of the bracelet and attach a 7mm jump ring onto the two jump rings together.  Slide one of each color of your wrapped pearls onto the 7mm jump ring and close the ring.
2. Count 5 rows along from the middle of the bracelet and attach another 7mm jump ring and pearls, as in the step before.
3. Count another 5 rows along form the last pearl cluster and add another one.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 on the other side of the bracelet, to finish.  Enjoy your bracelet!