By coiling wire around a dowel, we can create all kinds of jewelry pieces. I’ve used this technique a number of times on this site. One example is the Sterling Silver Coil Earrings project. Now you can make a chain to match these earrings by using the same coiling technique.
You’ll need:
choice of wire
dowel
wire cutters
flat nosed pliers
jewelers’ files
1. First, wrap the wire around your dowel. There is no specific size requirement here. Just remember, the thicker the wire and dowel, the thicker the chain will be. I used 18 gauge round copper wire and a pair of knitting needles for my dowel to create the coils pictured.
2. Pull the coiled wire off the dowel.
3. Skip the first half coil, count over 3 complete coils, and cut the fourth coil in half. File the ends of each coil.
4. Continue step 3 until you have enough to make the length of chain you want. (For the size coils I have, five coils equaled about 1 inch once connected.)
5. Now slip the end of one coil (A) onto the middle part of another coil (B)
6. Continue to turn the A coil around the B coil until you’ve come to the end of coil A and both coils are completely connected.
7. You’ll notice that the ends of the coils are sticking out. To have a more finished look to the chain, use pliers to tuck in the ends of the coil.
8. Continue theses steps until you have the length of chain you desire.
You can find clasp instructions and much more in the Wire Projects/Articles archives.
Here's a printer friendly copy of this file.
All graphics created by Tammy Powley.
