Bead Chain Jewelry

Handcrafting Chain and Bead Jewelry shows how to create beautiful, dimensional silver, copper, and brass chains using simple tools. The main style is based on the elegant, classical Byzantine pattern, and uses the Golden Ratio to determine the circumference of a chain’s interlocking rings based on the thickness of the wire. Illustrated step-by-step directions show how to calculate the circumference of the rings, how to wrap wire into coils, how to cut, and finally, how to assemble the chain. Starting from the basic Byzantine, new chain makers can then progress to increasingly Byzantine variations, including linear, knot, crown, and combination chains. Incorporating beads and charms offers endless possibilities for crafters who will soon, surely, be locked up in chains!

Bestselling author and chain mail expert Whyte presents his time-tested, time-saving techniques with more than 30 breathtaking projects, ranging from extremely simple to challenging. Illustrations throughout.

Beaded Chains & Ropes presents many ideas for making over 25 sturdy, pretty chains and ropes. Using popular stitches such as tubular herringbone, spiral rope, bead crochet, kumihimo, right-angle weave, and more, stitchers are sure to find the designs they are looking for! This book is for anyone who wants to use their favorite seed beads to create a classic chain, loves to stitch fabulous beveled pendants, or is looking for a way to display their favorite focal beads in an attractive, handmade way. Also, you aren’t going to want to miss this collection of projects featuring your favorite designers including Jill Wiseman, Anna Elizabeth Draeger, Beth Stone, Carolyn Cave, Rebecca Combs, and many more. This is the perfect collection that makes it easy to find any chain or rope you want to make, all in one place.

Use chain to make dangle earrings, create a bracelet, or stretch expensive pearls into a multi-strand necklace.

In Chain and Bead Jewelry Geometric Connections, wirework jewelry designer Scott David Plumlee shares his techniques for creating an amazing array of original designs using copper, silver, brass, and gold jump rings, all inspired by geometric shapes. By adapting and building on the traditional Byzantine chain configuration, Scott creates unique collections of earrings, bracelets and necklaces, from three-sided Tripoli to the four-sided Quatrefoil to the five-sided Pentagon, plus innovative Organic designs, including fish, five- and six- pointed snowflakes, and a butterfly. The thorough “Chain and Bead Basics” chapter, which guides readers through all the essential tools and techniques, makes it easy for beginners to re-create these stunning pieces.

Handcrafting Chain and Bead Jewelry shows how to create beautiful, dimensional silver, copper, and brass chains using simple tools. The main style is based on the elegant, classical Byzantine pattern, and uses the Golden Ratio to determine the circumference of a chain’s interlocking rings based on the thickness of the wire. Illustrated step-by-step directions show how to calculate the circumference of the rings, how to wrap wire into coils, how to cut, and finally, how to assemble the chain. Starting from the basic Byzantine, new chain makers can then progress to increasingly Byzantine variations, including linear, knot, crown, and combination chains. Incorporating beads and charms offers endless possibilities for crafters who will soon, surely, be locked up in chains!

Far from its original utilitarian use—to create armor—the chain-mail technique has been adapted over time to create beautiful, unique jewelry. In Chain and Bead Jewelry Creative Connections, chain-mail expert Scott David Plumlee shows jewelry makers, beaders, and crafters at all skill levels how to incorporate beads into a variety of chain-mail weaves to create showstopping pieces. First, Plumlee walks readers through basic skills and provides detailed information on traditional chain designs. He then presents more than 20 wire-wrapping and bead-setting techniques that incorporate beads seamlessly into a variety of designs, from the creative “Chaos” wire-wrapped bead to the sinuous Snake. With step-by-step instructions for assembling age-old chain patterns—from simple to complex—and gorgeous designs that can be executed using only simple hand tools, Chain and Bead Jewelry Creative Connections is sure to inspire jewelry artisans at all levels to expand the creative possibilities of their work.

Welcome to the next plateau of your beaded chain jewelry adventure, as we step beyond the basics of cold-connected chain patterns and overcome our fear of the flame, to explore twenty simple solder projects. Learn to solder silver, bronze, copper, and gold jump rings into stunning beaded chain jewelry designs with renowned book author and workshop instructor Scott David Plumlee.