What is Chainmaille?
Chainmaille ( is also known as chainmail, and also maille) is typically armor or jewelry made by connecting metal rings to one another. The word maille derives from the French wordmaille (mesh), which comes from Latin macula (mesh of a net).
Creating something out of maille involves a few steps:
Wrap metal wire around a rod to make a coil.
Cut the coil, well actually it's way better when you saw each loop of the coil to get flush ends that perfectly fit together in creating individual "jump rings."
You can also buy the jumprings, but than I would look for flush cut ones meaning without a bevel. They do cost a bit more, but like I said before...it is so worth it!!!
Using two flat nose pliers and link the rings—one at a time—into a pattern. Yes is is a lot of work, but it is so worth it in the end.
About History of Chainmaille
Chainmaille is one of the earliest forms of metal armor. The oldest piece of maille armor that can be accurately dated is more than 2,700 years old. It was discovered in the graves of Celtic warriors. Earlier evidence of chainmaille has been found in graves from the 5th century BC in Scythia (an area between Europe and Asia). Although most historical chainmaille is armor, jewelry techniques were also used by cultures as diverse as the Vikings and the ancient Egyptians. It is difficult to trace the history of chainmaille, because much of the "evidence" was destroyed in battle. Many pieces that survive today may have been high-quality pieces passed on from generation to generation (or even stolen from a corpse after a battle). These may or may not be a good sampling of the most common maille used. Read more about the history of chainmaille at Wikipedia.
As you may or may not know about my Beaded Jewels Designs they are one of a kind...unique as you will!
This first necklace shown here is titled. "WARRIOR PRINCESS NECKLACE" The red and orange swarovski crystal dangles kind of remind me of blood drops. Her heart was wounded because she lost her beloved in the war, can't you see it?
Beaded Jewels ~ Unique Chainmaille Designs
The second necklace kind of has a vintage flair I think, maybe it's from the soft colors or maybe it is just my perspective. Anyway I am more drawn to soft colors like these beautiful orchid / lavender candy jade semi precious gemstone drops surrounded by fuchsia AB square swarovski crystal charms. The lavender and fuchsia 6mm bicones reflect the colours of the drops and squares. The two tone lace cords carry on the necklace color theme, but also make a bold statement through the black lace.
This bracelet you see here was my first try in making chainmaille jewelry. I found the pattern in a beading book and decided to make it my own. So I chose a fading color scheme from purple fading into pink and back into purple. The sterling silver brass plated jump rings bring a certain flair to this bracelet which measures 7 1/2 inches which is just right for a 7 inch wrist. You don't want them bracelets to tight , because it squishes the bracelet. All jump rings are inter connected and not attached to anything.
This Beaded Jewels Chainmaille Bracelet is made the exact same way just with different colors. How dramatic it looks with the jet black swarovski crystals the gold plated brass, and the sterling silver brass and the black brass jump rings. I think it's elegant and needs to be worn on an evening out. Both bracelets are finished off with exquisite sterling silver large toggle, which itself are beautiful and only adds to the bracelets flair.
