Domed Bracelet
by Lauren Andersen for Beadalon
• Materials & Tools •• Suggested Sterling Silver Jump Ring Sizes:
Sterling Silver Rings
21 gauge 7/64”(2.78mm)
20 gauge 1/8”(3.18mm)
19 gauge 9/64”(3.57mm)
18 gauge 5/32”(3.97mm)
17 gauge 11/64"(4.37mm)
16 gauge 13/64”(5.16mm)
• Suggested Artistic Wire® Jump Ring Sizes:
20 gauge 9/64”(3.57mm)
18 gauge 11/64”(4.37mm)
• Tools:
Chain nose pliers
Flat nose pliers
• Clasp & Ear Wires:
Copper/Sterling Silver
Tips: I will be using different colored jump rings for these instructions. I am making the European 4-in-1 out of gunmetal, the open “working” rings are silver, and the closed rings are copper. The trickiest part of this weave is getting it started. The rhythm of this weave is down thru one ring and up thru two rings. I would suggest that you make the bracelet a few inches longer than needed so that you can save the first part of the weave to use to start another bracelet.
1. I know of at least two ways of starting this weave. You can hold the individual rings in your hand or my preference, make a strip of European 4-in-1 with four sets of “mouse ears”. This strip of Euro 4-in-1 will be used to stabilize the four rings you will need to start this weave.
2. Turn the weave on it’s side. Looking at the rings from right to left, ring #4 should be lying on top of ring #3, ring #3 should by lying on top of ring #2, ring #2 should be lying on top of ring #1. When tilted up, it looks like you are holding four playing cards.
3. The path of the next open silver ring will be, “down” thru ring #3, around and “up” thru ring #1, and “up” thru ring #2.
3a. Take an open silver ring and pick up a closed copper ring, “down” thru “mouse ear” #3, come around the front and come “up” thru “mouse ear” #1, and then “up” thru “mouse ear” #2. Close the silver ring.
4. I am only using three of the four gunmetal “mouse ears”. The closed copper ring added in step 3a is considered your “down” ring. Take an open silver ring and add a closed copper ring to it, with the open silver ring go “down” thru the copper ring added in step 3a and “up” thru “mouse ear” #2 and then “up” thru “mouse ear” number #3. Do NOT go thru the silver ring added in step 3a! Close the silver ring.
5. The closed copper ring added in step 4 is considered your next “down” ring. Take an open silver ring and add a closed copper ring to it, with the open silver ring go “down” thru the closed copper ring added in step 4 and “up” thru “mouse ear” #3 and then “up” thru the closed copper ring added in 3a. Do NOT go thru the silver ring added in step 4! Close the silver ring.
6. The closed copper ring added in step 5 is considered your next “down” ring. Take an open silver ring and add a closed copper ring to it, with the open silver ring go “down” thru the closed copper ring added in step 5 and “up” thru the copper closed ring you added in step 3a and then “up” thru the closed copper ring added in 4. Do NOT go thru the silver ring added in step 5! Close the silver ring. You are now “weaning” you way off of the Euro 4-in-1 strip of rings.
7. Take an open silver ring, add a closed copper ring to it. With the open silver ring go “down” thru the closed copper ring added in step 6 and “up” thru the closed copper ring added in step 4 and then “up” thru the closed copper ring added in step 5. Do NOT go thru the silver ring added in step 6! Close the silver ring.
8. Continue this pattern: “down” thru one and “up” thru two until the bracelet is as long as you want it. Do not add a closed copper ring to the last silver ring you add to your bracelet.
9. Remove all of the gunmetal rings from your bracelet.
10. Now the fun part, adding the clasp. I am using the gunmetal rings to attach the clasp because it is easier to see. With an open gunmetal ring scoop up both the copper and the silver closed jump rings, before closing, add the clasp. Close the ring.
11. For the other end, with an open gunmetal ring scoop up both the silver and the copper closed jump rings. Close the ring.
-Lauren Andersen for Beadalon
The Chainmaille Lady
All Rights Reserved, For Personal Use Only
The instructions with pretty pictures is on Beadalon's website at: http://www.beadalon.com/domed1.asp
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Beadalon!! I love you guys!