Making chain mail jewelry is so fun and simple to do! It does not have to take a lot of fancy techniques or equipment to make something that looks very pretty when finished. Today, I want to teach you how to make a simple pair of chain mail earrings. I like making them for my daughter and gifts for her friends and her school teachers.

Chain mail is an ancient art that was used to create armor in other centuries. Chain mail consists of a number of jump rings (the round hoops) that are interlocking. They come in a variety of colors and sizes (I typically use 4 mm - 7 mm) as well as different thicknesses (18 guage and 20 guage). 18 guage is thicker and heavier than 20 guage. I personally prefer using 20 guage for earrings as they are lighter, and will use either 18 or 20 guage for bracelets. I like 18 guage for bracelets that need to retain their shape better or if it is a child who will be wearing it.

To make a pair of earrings, you will need two flat-nose pliers, twelve larger jump rings (only six are shown in the photo above - 6 are needed for one earring and 12 are needed to make 2 earrings), and a total of eight smaller jump rings (only four are shown in the photo above - 4 are needed for one earring and 8 are needed to make 2 earrings), as well as two ear wires (only one is shown in the photo above). 

Start by holding onto the ear wire. First, add one small jump ring to the ear wire, and then attach a second small jump ring (the same color as the first) to the first jump ring (printed directions on how to do this are just below).

The way you connect jump rings to one another is by holding one jump ring between the pliers (as shown in the photo below). You should notice that there is a small gap on the jump ring. You want to move the pliers gently back and forth in order to open up the jump ring slightly. Then slip the open jump ring onto the bottom of the ear wire. Now close up the gap in the jump ring by using your pliers. You should hear a small "Click" when the gap closes. Now, take the second jump ring (the same color as the one you just hooked onto the ear wire), and gently open it using your pliers. Then slip the open jump ring into the first closed jump ring. Now close the second jump ring with your pliers.

Now, you should have two small jump rings of the same color vertically aligned under the ear wire. See the photo above.

Now that you have the first two small jump rings (I used pink above) attached to the ear wire, you will now open up two of the larger jump rings (I used blue in the photo above) and link them through one small jump ring (the lowest one).  Close the two large blue rings.  Now, pass a small open pink jump ring through the two large blue rings and then close the pink jump ring.  Continue this process until you have used all six of the larger blue rings and all four of the smaller pink jump rings. You will have completed one earring.  You will then need six more large blue rings and four more small pink jump rings to complete the second earring. 

Note:  You can use whatever colors you want.  I've just used pink and blue to make it easier to describe.