A chain maille flower is a good place to start because it allows you to get the hang of linking the rings together. You can use the flower as a pendant or link several flowers together to form an interlocking chain.

You can make your own jump rings or start with pre-made jump rings. You'll need 7 large rings and 24 small rings.  

To make your own jump rings: To coil the twisted wire, straighten one wire end and place it through the hole on the jump ring making tool. Turn the tool to form a coil. Remove the coil from the jump ring making tool and use wire cutters to cut the rings apart.

When cutting jump rings, remember that a flush cutter makes a flat cut on one end of the wire and a pointed cut on the other end. Turn the flush cutter both ways so the flat-cut jump ring ends will fit snugly together.

When you open a jump ring, always turn one arm to the side. Never open the ends directly apart or the ring won’t close properly. To make a chain, connect the rings together. For a more solid-feeling chain, connects sets of two rings.

For the flower: Make the center section by threading 12 small rings onto a large ring. Close it. To make the first petal, thread four small rings onto a large ring and connect it to the two small rings that are on the center ring. For the next petal, thread two small rings onto a large ring and connect it to two small rings on the first petal and two small rings on the center section. Continue working your way around the flower, connecting petals on the sides and to the center section.

For more information about chain maille, learn from Beadalon Design Team Member, Lauren Andersen aka. The Chain Maille Lady.

Links:
Artistic Wire http://www.beadalon.com/artisticwire.asp
Tools http://www.beadalon.com/tools.asp.