How to Design Your Own Chain maille Jewellery Patterns: A Creative Guide

Chainmaille jewellery is more than a craft — it’s a full-on art form. It’s the place where history, creativity, and a slightly obsessive love of jump rings all come together. While you can absolutely make stunning pieces with classic weaves, the real magic begins when you start creating your own custom chainmaille patterns. That’s when you move from making jewellery to designing wearable works of art.

In this blog, I’ll walk you through the process of designing your own chainmaille patterns — step by step. Whether you’re a complete beginner or already deep in the world of pliers and rings, these tips will help you craft jewellery that’s unique, handmade, and unapologetically yours.

Step 1: Master the Basics

Before you can become the Picasso of chainmaille, you’ve got to learn your scales. Think of weaves like European 4-in-1 or Byzantine as your alphabet. Once you’re fluent in how rings connect and flow, you can start remixing the classics into something new.

Step 2: Gather Your Arsenal

You’ll need:

• Jump Rings – in different sizes, metals, and finishes. Think of them as your palette of paints. Stainless steel for durability, copper for warmth, anodised aluminium for colour — the options are endless.

• Pliers – chain nose and flat nose pliers are your best mates here. They’ll open and close rings, save your fingernails, and probably become an extension of your hands.

  
  

Step 3: Sketch It Out

Don’t panic — you don’t need to be Michelangelo. A scrappy doodle on the back of a receipt works just fine. The goal is to visualise shape, flow, and density before you dive into the actual weaving.

Step 4: Experiment with Samples

Want to know a secret? Your first attempt will probably look a bit… wonky. And that’s fine! Use inexpensive rings or scrap metal to weave small test sections. Play around, pull it apart, and try again. Chainmaille is forgiving — it wants you to experiment.

Step 5: Plan Your Ring Placement

Here’s where things get juicy. Do you want a tight, armour-like pattern? Or a more airy, boho weave? Placement is everything. Move rings around, try variations, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Sometimes the best designs come from happy accidents.

Step 6: Think About Colour and Texture

Chainmaille isn’t just silver rings and medieval vibes. You can mix different metals, finishes, or coloured rings for a modern twist. Picture a necklace with alternating stainless steel and copper — instant drama. Or add a splash of anodised aluminium for festival-ready flair.

Step 7: Add Unique Elements

Want to take things further? Beads, crystals, charms, or even shells can be integrated right into the weave. It’s like turning your jewellery into a story — every extra element adds personality.

Step 8: Make It Yours

This is where you lean into your own style. Love minimalism? Keep it sleek. Love chaos? Pile on textures and colour. Your custom weave should reflect you. And if you’re more of a visual learner, there are plenty of YouTube tutorials (or of course, you could just check out one of my handmade chainmaille jewellery pieces ).

Step 9: Refine and Repeat

Designing new patterns isn’t always smooth sailing. Sometimes you’ll invent something incredible, other times it’ll look like your cat helped out. The trick? Keep refining. With every iteration, you’ll sharpen your style and push your creativity further.

Step 10: Document Everything

Nothing’s worse than creating an amazing weave and realising you have no idea how you did it. Keep a notebook (or digital file) with:

• Ring sizes and materials

• Placement notes

• Variations you tried

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Future You will thank Present You.

In Conclusion

Designing your own custom chainmaille jewellery patterns is exciting, rewarding, and honestly, a bit addictive. With a solid grasp of the basics, some patience, and a willingness to experiment, you can craft necklaces, bracelets, and earrings that are truly one-of-a-kind.

The best part? The process is just as fun as the final piece. So grab your pliers, raid your jump ring stash, and get weaving — because the world needs more jewellery that screams you.

Chainmaille jewellery UK: handmade, unique, and never boring.