Directions for making a chainmail bracelet

• 1 piece of corrugated cardboard, at least 2 inches larger than the size of your finished bracelet.
• 6-8 straight pins
• 160-200 6mm jump rings, depending on the size of your bracelet
• 2 pair toothless needle-nose pliers. If you only have the kind with teeth, wrap them with masking tape to keep them from damaging the rings.
• 1 lobster clasp
• 6 2 or 3mm jump rings
• 2 multi-loop bars   

If you are right-handed, open your jump rings so that the left side goes back. They are easiest to work with that way.

The edges will have a tendency to fold over the wrong way - it is important to keep an eye on this. A straight pin is the easiest thing to use to flip them back over.

If you cannot find appropriate jump rings, you can make them yourself. Wrap your wire around a knitting needle or the handle of a crochet hook, taking care to wind it consistently. I recommend tin snips to cut them rather than wire cutters. Tin snips give a clean cut, whereas wire cutters crush the ends, leaving a very rough join.


The very first section is the most difficult, and it has to be arranged just right. Open one jump ring and string four more onto it. Close the central ring and pin the section to the edge of your cardboard. You must have it arranged like so:
First, position the top two rings. The center part of the top two rings must go over top of the central ring, like so:
Pin both of these down on the cardboard. Next, arrange the bottom two rings to lay over the top ones like scales. From the side, your rings should look like this:
Now you are ready to start adding length to your chain. Take one ring, open it, and slip two others onto it. Then slip the open ring through the bottom two rings of your section, so that it follows the same pattern exactly as the first central ring does, and close it. Your chain should look like this:
Make sure you flatten your now-bottom two rings into the same positions as the previous ones before adding another set of rings. Continue repeating this until the chain is about 1cm shorter than you want your final product, to allow for a clasp. You will want to pin down the completed section as you go along.

Once you have the chain as long as you want, you are ready to add width. This is tedious, but simple. Open one ring and slip it between the top and bottom rings on one side of your original section. Continue down the entire length before you start the next row.
When you have finished your section of chainmail, use smaller jump rings to attach the ends to your multi-loop band, and join them together with a lobster clasp. Your finished product should look something like this:
Enjoy!

Directions for adding beading to an ornament

• 1 unbreakable ornament
• 1 vial small beads
• 42 large beads
• 1 beading needle
• 2 yards beading floss
• loop of ribbon

1. Thread Floss onto needle.
2. String 5 small beads and one large bead onto floss. Repeat 6 times. You should have 6 large beads at this stage.

3. Tie beads into a circle and double knot, leaving a tail about 4 inches long. Note: Knot can be sealed with a drop of Krazy glue, if you wish. Thread the short tail back through the beads to hide it.
4. Where the long tail exits from beside one large bead, add 5 small beads, one large bead, and 5 small beads. Then thread through the next large bead in the original loop.

5. Repeat #4 six times, then thread floss through half of the first repetition, so that it exits beside the large bead.

6. String 8 small beads, one large bead and 8 small beads. Thread through next large bead.

7. Repeat 6 times, then thread floss through half of the first repetition, so that it exits beside the large bead.

8. String 20 small beads, one large bead, and 20 small beads. Thread through the next large bead.

9. Repeat 6 times, then thread floss through half of the first repetition, so that it exits beside the large bead.

10. Repeat #8 and #9.

11. String 9 small beads, one large bead, and 9 small beads. Thread through next large bead as before. The net will no longer lay flat.
12. Repeat 6 times, then thread floss through half of the first repetition, so that it exits beside the large bead.
13. String 7 small beads, one large bead, and 7 small beads. Thread through next large bead, keeping this layer loose.
14. Repeat 6 times, then thread floss through half of the first repetition, so that it exits beside the large bead.
15. Stretch net over ornament. The first loop fits over the top of the ornament, and the net will hang loose at the bottom.

16. Fill in the gaps. String 6 small beads, thread through last large bead, repeat six times.
17. Tighten up the net. Pull gently on the floss (don't worry, it won't break) until the net fits snugly around the ornament. Wrap your free hand around the ornament, net and all, so that there is no tension on the floss itself. Tie off with a double knot. You can seal the knot with a drop of Krazy glue if you wish.
18. Thread several inches worth of floss ends back through the beads to hide them, then trim off the rest.
19. Tie ribbon loop onto top of ornament.
20. Enjoy the product of your labors!

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