Chained Hearts Earring & Necklace Set

Designed by Lena Bugrimenko ©2010

As a mixed media jewelry designer, working with chain maille designs is one of my favorite skills. I enjoy combining different components that most often result in unique designs that can be altered by simply changing the style of finished chain or the color and/or style of the beads used. I hope you have fun learning a basic chain maille weave while making this complete set!

Skill Level: Beginner/All

Technique: Involved Components, Chain Maille, & Chain

Materials

• Forty 7mm jump rings
• Twenty 8mm twisted jump rings
• Four 10mm faceted heart Siam Swarovski® crystals
• One 18mm faceted heart Siam Swarovski® crystal
• Four 10mm Siam bi-cone Swarovski® crystal beads
• Eight 6mm Siam bi-cone Swarovski® crystal beads
• Nine 2" eyepins
• One 1 ½" headpin
• 5x3.5mm cable chain, 16"
• One 14 x 8mm lobster claw clasp

Tools

• Flat Nose Pliers
• Chain Nose Pliers
• Round Nose Pliers
• Jump Ring Opener
• Wire Cutters
• Ruler

Instructions

1. Begin by closing four large rings. Then open two large plain rings and two twisted large rings.
   Hint: You may find it helpful to place them in the same positions as shown.
   
   
2. Pick up one open twisted ring, and slip the four closed rings onto it. Close the open twisted ring.
   
   
   
3. Pick up the second twisted open ring. Pass it through the four closed rings from step 2. Close the open ring. Lay out the rings as pictured.
   
   
4. Attach one of the remaining large open rings to each double set of rings, forming a 1-2-2-2-1 chain.
   
   
   
5. Separate the set of two rings that are to the farthest right, and grab the inner side of the last outside ring. Flip the ring so that inner side is now on the outside. Repeat with the other side. This makes a "flower." Following the same procedure, make a total of eight flowers for the necklace (or ten if you plan to make the matching earrings).
   Note: In the first image, the right side has been flipped, and the left side is waiting. Both sides have been flipped in the second image.
   
   
   
6. On one eyepin, slide on a 6mm, 10mm and another 6mm bi-cone. Immediately after the last bead, use round nose pliers to make a simple loop and trim. This is the center connector. Follow the same procedure to make two additional connectors, each with a single 10mm bi-cone. Now make six more connectors, using the remaining eyepins, each with a single 6mm bi-cone crystal. Each of the connectors should have a loop at each end.
   
   
   
7. Using the 5x3.5mm cable chain, cut four pieces of chain that are six rings long, and two pieces that are eight rings long. Cut two additional chain lengths that are 5 to 6" long (length depends on how long you desire the finished necklace to be).
   
   
   
8. Open a large plain ring, slide a 10mm heart onto it and then close the ring. Open one small ring. Into this small ring, insert one end of two 6-ring chains and the large ring with the 10mm heart. Close the small ring firmly. Repeat this step again, using the remaining two six-ring chains and another 10mm heart. Repeat it once again, using the 18mm heart and the chains consisting of eight rings.



9. Using chain nose and flat nose pliers, connect all of the components you have made, using the finished photo as a guide. Finalize this piece by making a single headpin charm to hang from the "eye" end of the necklace.
   
   
10. To make the matching earrings, follow steps 1 through 5, creating two individual flowers. Attach a 10mm heart to the bottom ring of each, and an ear wire or stud to the top.
    
    

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