It’s been so long since I made any chain maille jewellery that it’s the first time I have written about it on this ‘ere blog. I bought a kit while in Canada – must have caught my eye whilst shopping for other crafty bits in Vancouver – which has languished on my shelves ever since. Today I decided to tackle it… and remembered why my interest in maille-work waned!

It’s taken 4½ hours to make, three pinged rings onto the floor and more tutting and huffing than I care to admit. No swearing though!. The small connecting rings really didn’t leave much space to get the pliers in to twist the jump rings back into place. And the swirls themselves were a fiddle to get the right way round – I kept getting mirror images which accounts for the alternating pattern you may not have noticed.

It’s an example of how a pretty bracelet probably has a materials-cost higher than some might be prepared to pay for the completed piece. A ‘reasonable’ purchase price would definitely not include the time costs. 

For those interested, the pattern (which is excellently explained) is available as a PDF download from weavegotmaille.com in the USA. I’ve used beadsisters.co.uk in the past for UK-based jump ring supplies.