Dramatic Necklace from Jewelry Links and Chain Scraps (Tutorial)

by Rena Klingenberg. © 2003-Present Rena Klingenberg. All Rights Reserved

Dramatic Necklace from Jewelry Links and Chain Scraps - tutorial by Rena Klingenberg

This chain necklace is easy to make from a handful of large jewelry links and small pieces of leftover chain.

Dramatic Necklace from Jewelry Links and Chain Scraps - tutorial by Rena Klingenberg

It makes a bold statement, yet it’s so lightweight you can hardly feel that you’re wearing it.

I made this necklace choker length, but longer lengths – even as long as waist-length – would also be stunning.

Dramatic Necklace from Jewelry Links and Chain Scraps - tutorial by Rena Klingenberg

You may even want to make this project into a super-necklace.

Supplies:

  • Large jewelry links or soldered rings.
    I recommend using an odd number of large links, so that when you wear the necklace one of the links will be in the center of the front.
    For a choker-length necklace, I used 9 round links that are 3 cm diameter.
    They are a dark antiqued brass color:

    Large links for Dramatic Necklace from Jewelry Links and Chain Scraps - tutorial by Rena Klingenberg

  • Scraps of leftover chain (or you can cut pieces from longer chain).
    I made each chain scrap 2.2 cm long.
    I used this shiny brass chain with links that open like jump rings:

    Leftover chain for Dramatic Necklace from Jewelry Links and Chain Scraps - tutorial by Rena Klingenberg

  • Optional: Jump rings, if your chain links are soldered and don’t open like jump rings.
  • Necklace clasp.
    I used this shiny brass lobster clasp that matched my chain scraps:

    Clasp for Dramatic Necklace from Jewelry Links and Chain Scraps - tutorial by Rena Klingenberg

  • Chain nose pliers.
  • Flat nose pliers.

How to Make a
Necklace from Links and Chain Scraps:

Cut your pieces of chain that will go in between your large jewelry links.

Each piece of chain should have an odd number of chain-links.

That will enable all of your large jewelry links to lie flat nicely when the finished necklace is worn.

(My chain pieces all have five chain-links.)

Now open the end link on one of your chain scraps, and attach one of your large jewelry links to it (or use a jump ring if your chain-links don’t open).

Add another large jewelry link to the opposite end of the chain scrap:

Dramatic Necklace from Jewelry Links and Chain Scraps - tutorial by Rena Klingenberg

Now add another chain scrap to the second large jewelry link – and then attach a third large jewelry link to the other end of that chain scrap:

Making Dramatic Necklace from Jewelry Links and Chain Scraps - tutorial by Rena Klingenberg

Keep building like this until your necklace reaches your desired length.

Then attach your clasp to one end of your necklace.

Attach a jump ring to the other end of your necklace for fastening your your clasp onto:

Attaching clasp to Dramatic Necklace from Jewelry Links and Chain Scraps - tutorial by Rena Klingenberg

The finished necklace is wonderfully light and has a slinky, almost liquid motion:

Dramatic Necklace from Jewelry Links and Chain Scraps - tutorial by Rena Klingenberg

You can even pile it up into a very small space:

Dramatic Necklace from Jewelry Links and Chain Scraps - tutorial by Rena Klingenberg

Who would think such a sophisticated look was created from scraps?
Dramatic Necklace from Jewelry Links and Chain Scraps - tutorial by Rena Klingenberg

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