Byzantine Chain Maille Pendant

This is a very tight weave, and this tightness is what gives the pendant the shape but there isn't a lot of space to get your pliers in to grip the rings to close them. You can use chain nose pliers if you find the flat nose pliers too bulky.

Close the large 11/64" ring and using the 1/8" rings, add 2 rings to it. Add 2 more rings to the first 2 rings to make a 3 link chain with a 1-2-2 pattern.

Fold back the 2 rings from the 3rd link, one on each side so they sit next to the large ring in the 1st link. Take an open ring and part the 2 rings from the 2nd link and go through the 2 folded back rings and close the ring. Add another ring in the same spot. At times getting the second ring through the space will be difficult, opening the ring a little more makes it fit through the small space a lot easier, also making sure the first ring is pushed right over against the other side will make the space as big as possible.

Add 2 rings to the last 2 rings. Add another 2 rings to make 3 links with 2 rings in each link.

Fold back the 2 rings from the 3rd link, one on each side so they sit alongside the rings in the 1st link. Take an open ring and part the 2 rings from the 2nd link and go through the 2 folded back rings and close the ring. Add another ring in the same spot.

Keep repeating steps 3 and 4 until you have used all of the small rings. There should be a 3 link chain remaining at the end of the byzantine chain. Fold back the rings from the 3rd link and now you can see 6 full byzantine weave sections, each has a double ring link in the middle. Find the middle link in the long chain, this is in between the 3rd and 4th full byzantine patterns. Bend the chain at the middle link into an upside down V. Bend the chain again at the pivot link between the 2nd and 3rd byzantine patterns and also the 4th and 5th patterns and bring the ends of the chain together.

Add some Liver of Sulfur (LOS) gel to warm water and dip you pendant into the water. Dip and rinse until you have a darker silver. Once it is dry buff the dark patina off around the outside of the chain maille, leaving the inner parts darker and the outer areas bright and shiny. The bail I bought was already oxidized, if your bail is bright silver add it to the LOS.

Open the 20g 3/16" ring and go through the Swarovski crystal and through the bottom of the large ring and close the ring.