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Chain Maille Jewelry: Persephone Weave
Chain maille is a two thousand year old art form originally used to create garments worn for protection by warriors from Europe, the Middle East and the Orient. Modern approaches use these classical patterns of cold-connected jump rings for sculpture and jewelry. For these non-traditional applications, hundreds of new patterns have been invented.
Our chain maille classes and workshops teach students how to transform some of these classic patterns of connected rings into striking pieces of jewelry - This workshop focuses on creating a matching set consisting of a bracelet, pendant and pair of earrings using the Persephone pattern, shown above.
The Persephone weave forms a unit resembling a delicate 4-petal flower. Students will learn how to create stand-alone units to form the earrings and pendant. Students will then learn how to connect the units to create an attractive bracelet. Alternate uses and design options for Persephone units will be discussed in class.
Students should know the Byzantine weave or have experience with other similar weaves and a general understanding of chain maille concepts such as properly connecting jump rings.
You can see more of Karen's work on her website www.karenkaron.com
Meet the instructor
Jewelry designer and author, Karen Karon, has been weaving maille for well over a decade. She teaches chain maille and scale maille classes and workshops at Metalwerx School for Jewelry and Metal Arts, at local venues, and also provides private chain maille/scale maille instruction. In addition, Karen is a certified PMC (Precious Metal Clay) artisan. Karen has written articles for Art Jewelry, Bead Style, Bead&Button and Step by Step Wire Jewelry magazines and is the author of Chain Maille Jewelry Workshop and Advanced Chain Maille Jewelry Workshop, both published by Interweave.
See Karen’s work on her website (karenkaron.com) or visit her on Facebook and Instagram.
Materials & Tools
There is a $278 materials fee for this workshop payable upon registration. Kit includes all of the sterling silver jump rings needed for the class, sterling silver finding(s), and full color Karen Karon handouts with step by step instructions.
Please note, the metal market is currently in flux. This will affect the price of silver and the materials kit price listed for this class is subject to change. We will inform you of this in advance of the class.
Students Should Bring:
- 2 x smooth jaw pliers are needed - Metalwerx has tools for sharing
- The instructor recommends "Xuron Model 483 Short Flat-Nose Pliers" (Item#111268 on Rio Grande)
- 1 x optivisors - Metalwerx has for communal use - OPTIONAL
- 1 x polyester foam bead mat - OPTIONAL