How to Use Chain
by Katie Hacker
Sponsored by: Beadalon®
Incorporating chain into jewelry making is not a new concept, but it is particularly trendy right now. Here are some designer tips for using chain.
Silver-plated chain looks like real silver at a fraction of the cost and makes it easy to create designer pieces that fit your budget. Use chain to add a bit of metallic flair to necklaces, bracelets and earrings.
There are many different styles of chain. To choose the one that's best for your design, think about the overall look you're going for. You can use figaro chain for a classic look, curb chain for a funky look, elongated chain for a contemporary look or very thin cable chain for an understated look.
To make an easy pair of earrings, cut two equal lengths of chain about 2" long. Always cut chain with heavy-duty shears. If the chain you're using doesn't have soldered loops, you can use chain nose pliers to open the links instead of cutting them.
Next, connect a piece of chain to an ear wire. You can just open the ear wire loop and slide the chain onto it. String a bead onto an eye pin. Make a basic loop above the bead. Attach the beaded head pin to the last chain link.
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