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Chained: Create Gorgeous Chain Mail Jewelry One Ring at a Time
Unchain your creativity!
Whether you are new to chain mail or a seasoned weaver, Chained will introduce you to the art of combining metal jump rings into intricate designs, in a new way. No other book shows how to use so many weaves in so many ways, or gives this ancient art such a beautiful and modern twist. Techniques once used for armor now have a new life and can be used to create elegant adornments.
Open Chained and
• Clear, detailed step-by-step photos that will take you from opening and closing jump rings to finishing your first (or fiftieth!) project
• Easy-to-navigate "Weave in a Nutshell" options for many weaves that will show advanced chain mail weavers the weave of a project in just a few steps
• 22 beautiful projects plus dozens of variations, including earrings, bracelets, necklaces and pendants, each with its own skill level and time investment rating
• Endless choose your favorite colors, your favorite metals, customize the size of your project, and find inspiration to add your own unique stamp to any piece of chain mail jewelry
Gather your pliers and piles of jump rings and weave your way to beautiful jewelry with Chained .
Whether you are new to chain mail or a seasoned weaver, Chained will introduce you to the art of combining metal jump rings into intricate designs, in a new way. No other book shows how to use so many weaves in so many ways, or gives this ancient art such a beautiful and modern twist. Techniques once used for armor now have a new life and can be used to create elegant adornments.
Open Chained and
• Clear, detailed step-by-step photos that will take you from opening and closing jump rings to finishing your first (or fiftieth!) project
• Easy-to-navigate "Weave in a Nutshell" options for many weaves that will show advanced chain mail weavers the weave of a project in just a few steps
• 22 beautiful projects plus dozens of variations, including earrings, bracelets, necklaces and pendants, each with its own skill level and time investment rating
• Endless choose your favorite colors, your favorite metals, customize the size of your project, and find inspiration to add your own unique stamp to any piece of chain mail jewelry
Gather your pliers and piles of jump rings and weave your way to beautiful jewelry with Chained .
144 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2010
37 people are currently reading
92 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 29, 2010
This book has got to be added to the library of every mailler or wannabe mailler out there! The pictures are outstanding - you can see each step. The detailed instructions make even the hardest of weaves understandable. For the beginning student, each section starts with an easy weave and then progresses to intermediate, advanced and expert. The beauty of this is that you are able to learn each weave (or review it) then go on to more difficult, intrecate variations. You'll feel like an expert in no time! The first chapter provides so much useful information for people who are new to chainmaille or to those who have been weaving for a while. By far, this is the best chainmaille book I have ever seen.
December 9, 2010
I can't wait for this book! I've learned so much from the kits at Blue Buddha Boutique and I am now addicted to making chain mail jewelry!
My book arrived today!!! It's absolutely fantastic! The instructions are clear and concise and the pieces are absolutely beautiful. I've already planned out my Christmas gifts and I can't wait to get started.
This is absolutely THE chainmail book for everyone especially beginners.
My book arrived today!!! It's absolutely fantastic! The instructions are clear and concise and the pieces are absolutely beautiful. I've already planned out my Christmas gifts and I can't wait to get started.
This is absolutely THE chainmail book for everyone especially beginners.
August 18, 2017
Beautiful book, very detailed exploration of the basics of working with metal rings and how to make them close in a tidy manner, and then a nice grading of projects. I must admit though, I'm a run before I walk type of person, and motivating myself to do a 'beginners' project would be difficult, especially as they tend to earrings, and other things I'm not motivated by. And while I *could* gift them, I'm not sure that I should inflict a beginners item on a friend (even if I have guesses as to which friends might like them). And more importantly, I don't have time for a new hobby. But applying some of the ideas to the repair work that needs to be done on beaded items might be useful.
Recommendation: This looks like a good place to start if you are interested in this type of craft. It is also an interesting read from a detached observer perspective.
Recommendation: This looks like a good place to start if you are interested in this type of craft. It is also an interesting read from a detached observer perspective.
August 28, 2019
Very good. She has a tendency to get very fancy with her chain mail; focusing on more of a jewellery beauty of the piece and not just fancy patterns. I think I like the patterning of the mail a a little more. On the other hand, I did turn the pages and go 'Wow!' and then show it around. What I'll probably end up doing is a few pieces that are pure beauty and a few pieces that are complex.
This is fantastically good as a introduction and learning book, and I will come back to it once I have a little more pocket money and I'm ready to start.
This is fantastically good as a introduction and learning book, and I will come back to it once I have a little more pocket money and I'm ready to start.
September 17, 2019
Very detailed and superbly explained designs in this book. For a novice chain maille artist, her instructions couldn’t be any easier. The artist is a wonderful person to talk with and learn from. Highly recommend! Plus the pictures are stunning.
July 12, 2025
Excellent tutorials from beginner to advanced, easy to follow with step-by-step pictures.
January 27, 2014
I've been making chainmaille for 5 years now, and I know Rebecca as a customer of Blue Buddha Boutique, and have bought tutorials from BBB before. Her tutorials are thorough, easy to follow, with fantastic pictures. As such, I would have expected her book to be great.
I wasn't in the least disappointed. This book should be the bible for ANY person who makes chainmaille or wants to. She takes you from the ground floor - how to open and close jump rings properly - spending several pages on the subject. She covers the pros and cons of various metals to use for maille, and tools.
The projects start very easy, with the fantastic clear photos I'm used to from the tutorials, as well as detailed info on what size/metal rings to use, and other things you can do to make variations in the design. The ONE thing that I think is missing is a thorough discussion of aspect ratio. I get that she left it out so as not to confuse the beginning mailler, but I think no book on maille is quite complete without it.
That said, I haven't run across a book on chainmaille that I thought I could learn a thing or two from. But I found myself highlighting projects and getting more excited about doing something new than I've been in a while, and I picked up a few tips and tricks along the way. Looking forward to dabbling in some new techniques.
I wasn't in the least disappointed. This book should be the bible for ANY person who makes chainmaille or wants to. She takes you from the ground floor - how to open and close jump rings properly - spending several pages on the subject. She covers the pros and cons of various metals to use for maille, and tools.
The projects start very easy, with the fantastic clear photos I'm used to from the tutorials, as well as detailed info on what size/metal rings to use, and other things you can do to make variations in the design. The ONE thing that I think is missing is a thorough discussion of aspect ratio. I get that she left it out so as not to confuse the beginning mailler, but I think no book on maille is quite complete without it.
That said, I haven't run across a book on chainmaille that I thought I could learn a thing or two from. But I found myself highlighting projects and getting more excited about doing something new than I've been in a while, and I picked up a few tips and tricks along the way. Looking forward to dabbling in some new techniques.
May 13, 2014
Outstanding step-by-step color photography, this resource made me feel like I took a workshop retreat! Learned historical tidbits, detailed metal facts (pros, cons, how to clean...), 4 different weave families (Japanese, Byzantine, Helm, Coiled), a great website with an extensive library (M.A.I.L)., and MATH! Who knew there was so much math in chain maille?! Something for every skill level - the charts make it worthwhile even for advanced weavers. Dozens of projects from beginner to expert with time-to-complete each from under an hour to over 7 hours. I am wearing my brand new ripple earrings today and have discovered a new hobby for life. The only thing that prevents 5 stars from me is the omission of a tutorial on European 4-in-1 mesh. Recommending that my library purchase this book because after patrons see me wearing my new chain maille stuff (especially a book character costume I have planned), they will want to make their own.
March 18, 2015
This is actually my second copy; the first one went to a good friend. Large photos and great color choices make the directions easy to follow. Each basic project has wonderful variants to challenge and delight the intermediate and advanced weaver. (And Blue Buddha Boutique, the author's store, offers quality pre-made rings online so you can start making chain-maille anywhere.)
February 22, 2014
Love this book! So easy to use, with step by step pictures to help you learn. The author lists all the tools and techniques you need to use. Then she gives projects in four different categories: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, & Expert. "Chained" will really be a help to me as I learn to make Chain-mail jewelry.
September 7, 2014
Seven Out of Five Stars
This is the book I used to learn how to make chain maille jewelry. I used this book so much it finally fell apart, so I bought the ebook version. Instructions are clear and simple, and the pictures really help a lot. I would recommend this book to newbies and pros alike!
This is the book I used to learn how to make chain maille jewelry. I used this book so much it finally fell apart, so I bought the ebook version. Instructions are clear and simple, and the pictures really help a lot. I would recommend this book to newbies and pros alike!
October 30, 2012
This book actually assumes the reader is using pre-made jump rings instead of making them. Great projects with lots of alternatives. As a new chain mailler, it was just the book for me. It contains specific information for using ready made rings which other books lack.
August 4, 2013
Brilliant! There are projects for those new to Chain Maille, but also for those more advanced.
The instructions are clear and precise, accompanied by lovely photographs which makes the whole experience that much better.
The instructions are clear and precise, accompanied by lovely photographs which makes the whole experience that much better.
June 22, 2014
really psyched to make some of these
September 4, 2016
Very beautiful and impressive!
January 15, 2015
Fantastic ! 5 Big Stars
So easy to understand. Graphics are the best and charts in back of book are invaluable. This book is a must for anyone interested in Chainmaille.
So easy to understand. Graphics are the best and charts in back of book are invaluable. This book is a must for anyone interested in Chainmaille.
October 8, 2012
Clear instructions. Very easy for a beginner to follow. My items came out just like the pictures!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews