Shining Silver Anklet

A beginning chainmaille project where you'll make the perfect "go with anything" anklet. If the price of sterling silver is too steep, you can substitute bright aluminum or niobium at a lower cost. Any of these materials will give you the same results — a great ankle bracelet that's wearable all summer long!

Level: Beginner/Intermediate

Materials (shown for approximately 9 1/2" anklet)
18 g 5/32" jump rings (36)
20 g 7/64" jump rings (71)
4mm sterling silver round beads with large hole (7) (Rings N Things #24-990-04)
Sterling silver flat lobster clasp (1)

This bracelet is an easy 2 in 1 chain, based on Japanese style chainmaille. A small round bead is added to the chain every five rings.

1. Open all 5/32" jump rings and close all 7/32" jump rings, using Beading Help Web's Opening and Closing Jump Rings instructions.

2. Pick up an open jump ring, and thread two closed rings on it. Close the open ring. I like to twist a piece of scrap wire (or even an old bread tie!) to the first large jump ring now...it helps me to keep track of the end of the chain, and to hold on to it.

3. Pick up an open jump ring, thread it through the closed rings you added in Step 2. Add two small closed rings to the large ring before closing it. Repeat until you have four large rings in the chain.

4. You'll be adding a bead to the fifth large ring in this pattern. The hole in the beads should be large enough to accommodate the jump ring wire and the curve of the ring (the Rings N Things product in the materials list worked perfectly for me with the 18g wire). Thread the bead on a large ring, thread the ring through the last closed small rings, and add two closed small rings. Close the large jump ring. Notice that your bead hangs to one side of the chain — this is the "bottom" of the chain. As you continue to add links to the chain, be sure your beads are on the same side of the chain, or it won't hang right when you wear it!

5. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 until you have used all jump rings and beads. You will have one additional large ring and one additional small ring at the end of the chain.

6. Remove the scrap wire or bread tie from the first ring if you added them in Step 2. Add the lobster clasp to the first large ring, with the hook of the clasp on the top side of the chain. The clasp will attach through the last small ring on the opposite end of the chain.

The Finished Product
Click Image To Enlarge

-- L. Kvigne