Chain Mail Jewelry: Contemporary Designs from Classic Techniques

by Terry Taylor, Dylon Whyte

Chain mail is enjoying a creative resurgence and this attractive, full-colour book is a valuable resource for beginners and intermediates. This title thoroughly introduces all the key construction procedures with computer-generated illustrations for every step. It includes 30 projects plus a gallery of works by professional jewellers. Thanks to its exquisite, easily mastered techniques and elegant lines, chain mail, the classic art of linking metal rings, is enjoying a creative resurgence among jewellery makers. This attractive, full-colour book is a valuable resource to help beginners and intermediates get in on the craze. With computer-generated illustrations that show every step, it thoroughly introduces all the key construction procedures, including the proper methods of winding, opening and closing the metal rings. The 30 projects include a simple pendant encasing a large semiprecious stone and a flat chain-mail neckpiece that colourfully combines copper and blue titanium rings. Plus, there's advice on polishing the pieces, tips on adding pearls or beads and a gallery of works by professional jewellers.

Genres: Crafts, Jewellery, Nonfiction, Reference, Jewellery Making, Art, Beading

144 pages, Hardcover

First published May 28, 2006

Reviews

[Punk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crafts. The best guide to chain mail jewelry I've seen. The use of a consistent color-coded system makes the diagrams easy to follow and the author's confidence that anyone with two pliers can do this makes you want to pick up your pliers and give it a shot.

The jewelery is a good mix of styles, from light and dainty to heavy and bold, made from a variety of materials, with smart use of rubber o-rings and even a few drop beads. Each piece has at least one photo of the finished product along with a short description of its aesthetic.

There's a basic introduction to tools and materials, but unfortunately it's missing a resource guide and a thorough review of each metal's properties. If it had those things, this would be a five star book. While that information can easily be found elsewhere, it would be nice to have it all in one place.

Four stars. Thirty projects in three different skill levels with something for everyone. Easy to understand diagrams and great jewelry.

[Christopher Escue · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is a waste of money! The authors seem to speak bad of making your own jump rings. These people are not artists- they are people that buy jump rings and assemble them. I am an artisan jewelry artist and I found this book to be crap. A simple, easy way out of hand making jewelry, only to make a buck out of someone else's work. To be an artisan of jewelry, you must be able to make your own work material. I use a few of the designs and the gauge of rings that were to be used were very flimsy and the rings did not stay together. The designs also use rubber rings. As if anyone would purchase these and claim that they have purchased fine crafted artisan jewelry. The way that these authors have written out the instructions, you may as well say that it was written for grade school children. My advise, move on and don't waste your money on this book.

escueartstudio.com
Nashville, TN

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had purchased this book several years ago when my interest in making jewelry started to emerge coupled with the fact that chain maille is so cool, right? At the time, it was fun to look through but seemed overwhelming. Fast forward to the present and my jewelry-making interests have collided with chain maille. I learned some basic patterns from a wonderful website then revisited this book and it didn't seem so overwhelming any more! For anyone with a good basic knowledge of constructing chain maille, including wire gauges and aspect ratios, this book is a wonderful jumping-off point for designing your own creations.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is for beginners or early intermediate chain mail jewelry makers. All projects require pliers as the only tool.
Chain Mail Basics - great directions for simple projects, lots of pictures
Beginning Projects - great directions for simple designs such as bracelets and earrings
Intermediate - Using colored links, Byzantine patterns, necklaces
Advanced - using smaller rings, braiding, Japanese
Beautiful gallery that has great photography of chain mail pieces.

[Tom M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book offers some good designs but too many of them use rubber washers or other non-jewelry items that, to me, were a waste of time. It was as if the authors had to stretch out the number of projects to meet a specific page count.

Since there are very few books available for jewelry designs using chain mail this book will likely be the best reference for a while.

[Kittiya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found that the patterns to be simple, lovely and well explained. It has both women and mens patterns. There are more than a few I fell in love with. Even if you don't plan on making the jewelery, I feel this is a good book to sit a brows through.

[Janie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The visual schema seems well done! While I'm not taken with some of the designs, my overall impression was "I could do this.": craft book win.

I appreciated the bonus gallery. I would have appreciated a resource guide.

[Elaine Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn't get a chance to try anything before it had to go back to the library, alas. I really want to make a few of the designs, although some others looked quite silly.

[Mariah Tessin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy directions and pictures to follow! Highly recommend .

[Kimberley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some pretty good designs in it - wouldn't say contemporary...

[K]

Not at Phoenix Library

[Katrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the Hana-Gusari Anklet on page 24. Really like the Gold and Amethyst Parure on page 36, but I would make it in silver.