Chains & Charms Bracelet (Tutorial)
by Rena Klingenberg. © 2003-Present Rena Klingenberg. All Rights Reserved
This boho charm bracelet combines several strands of chain with a mix of rustic charms.
If you sell this style of bracelets, you could pre-make the multi-chain part of this project, and then let customers choose the charms for you to add to the chains.
Supplies:
- Several strands of chain, each the same length as your wrist measurement. (I used four strands of base-metal chain.)
- A collection of charms, coins, mini-pendants, or whatever you’d like to hang on the chains. (I used four manufactured charms plus a locket, an antique donut-shaped coin from India, a flower textured mini-tag, and a hand stamped mini-tag.)
- Jump rings for your charms.
- Two large jump rings for the ends of the bracelet.
- One clasp.
- Pliers for opening and closing jump rings – flat nose or chain nose.
How to Make a
Chains and Charms Bracelet:
Cut your chains so that each is the same length as your wrist measurement:
Choose a handful of charms, tags, mini-pendants, keys, coins, or whatever you wish:
Set out your two large jump rings for your bracelet ends.
(If you’re new to using jump rings, see my quick tip for opening and closing jump rings.)
Lay out your chains, side by side, with links at each end lined up neatly:
Thread one end of your chains onto one of your large jump rings:
Then thread the other end of your chains onto your other large jump ring. Your bracelet should now look something like this:
Now set out your smaller jump rings for your charms:
Note: As you attach your charms to the chains, thread each jump ring through links in two adjacent strands of chain, instead of through just one strand.
That way the chains will be anchored side-by-side, instead of separating, flopping, and tangling when the bracelet is worn.
Choose the charm you want to have in the center of your bracelet. Attach it at the midpoint of your bracelet, with the jump ring threaded through the two center strands of chain:
Add the charms you want to have on each side of your center charm.
Thread the jump ring of one charm through the top two strands of chain.
Thread the jump ring of the other charm through the bottom two strands of chain:
Continue adding charms, working outward toward the ends of your bracelet, until you’ve added all the charms you wish:
Now attach your clasp to one end of your bracelet:
And now your bracelet is finished:
The clasp in action when the bracelet is fastened:
I like having the charms and clasp contrasting with the chains.
Although I used four strands of chain in the charm bracelet here, you can use more than that – and you might even want to mix different kinds of chain instead of using all one kind.
You could even splice small lengths of leftover chain together to create your strands.
Or if you’re a chain maille enthusiast, you could make your own chains from scratch! 🙂
Although the photos above are all bracelets, you could also use longer chains to create a chains and charms necklace!
