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GSG Chain Maille Bracelet - Virtual Workshop
Chain maille is an ancient art form originally used to create garments that were worn for protection. Our chain maille courses teach students how to transform some of these classic patterns of connected jump-rings into striking pieces of jewelry.
In this two-day live online workshop, learn how to create a beautiful bracelet using the GSG chain maille technique. Students will first learn the basics and fundamentals of the chain maille language, after which they will move on to utilize the GSG technique on their very own bracelet. This course is suited for beginners, but makers with chain maille experience may also enjoy this course. Due to the possibility of scratching, gashing, or bending your jump-rings while first learning chain maille techniques, it is recommended that beginner students work with the suggested jump-ring materials before moving on to precious metals such as silver or gold.
Class will be held live via Zoom during the designated time frame. A link to the Zoom room will be sent via email.
Please read the Materials & Tools tab!
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. Her jewelry can be purchased at Loveday in West Concord, MA.
See Karen’s work on her website (karenkaron.com) or visit her on Facebook and Instagram.
Materials & Tools
Students will need to have the following materials in preparation for this online workshop. If you do not already own these, we have provided a recommended item and/or a vendor from which you can purchase these items. Click the vendor name to the right of each item to be redirected to the page where you can find or choose the item. The quantities you need for each item are listed first. Do be aware that some items may come in larger quantities than needed for this class. If you have to purchase any of these items, please order them as soon as possible due to longer than usual turn-around times. We recommend not opening the packaging until the day of the workshop.
The two color options featured in the class image are called Champagne and Black Ice - they have the closest resemblance to oxidized silver and yellow gold, but you are free to choose your own two colors.
- 1 x 100 pack 18g 7/32" anodized rings (Metal Designz - item # aa18732-100)
- This is your first of two colors choices.
- 1 x 100 pack 18g 7/32" anodized rings (Metal Designz - item # aa18732-100)
- This is your second of two colors choices.
- 2 x smooth jaw pliers of any brand (Metal Designz - item # PL726)
- Instructor suggests Xuron Wide Nose (Metal Designz - item # xuron-483)
- 1 x 100 pack 20g 7/64" aluminum rings (Metal Designz - item # ba20764-100)
- Only 8 of these rings are needed. If you have a substitute of the same dimensions, you can use that instead.
- 1 x 2-stand stainless steel slide clasp (Metal Designz - item # B3732FN)
You will also want to have the following useful items available:
- pen
- optivisors/magnification (if needed)
- 2 twist ties (or 2 pieces of 2" wire that are a thin gauge)
- bead mat (optional but helpful)
- 2" of masking tape