Stainless steel chain mail jewelry, handmade in the PNWby Eleanor Sailor
Supplies & Info
If you are a beginner to chain mail I encourage you to start with aluminum! It is much softer, more forgiving, less dangerous, and cheaper than stainless steel! I made the chain in the necklace pictured with aluminum wire formed into jump rings.*If you don't want to make your own jump rings, WeaveGotMaille sells aluminum rings & beginner aluminum chain mail kits!Tools for use with aluminum wire can be bought from a local craft store, you don't need anything heavy duty.Supplies list to make your own rings:
- two flat nose pliers (can also use needlenose, round nose, whatever cheap jewelry pliers you have as long as they don't have ridges)
- cutting pliers
- 12g aluminum wire
- different sized cylindrical objects like chopsticks, pencils, pens, dowelsWrap the aluminum wire tightly around the chopstick into coils. Slide the coils off carefully, so as not to bend or misshape them, and cut the coils in a line to form jump rings.TheArtOfMakingThings.com has some great tutorials to get you started once you have your rings!
Pliers I currently use: Tronex Oblique Nose Pliers Chainmaille Stubby w/Ergonomic HandlesI experiment with all different sizes and aspect ratios. Tutorials on TheArtOfMakingThings.com will specify what aspect ratios you need for different weaves.I source my stainless steel rings from TheRingLord.com and WeaveGotMaille. TheRingLord is slightly cheaper, based in Canada, has more options, but is often out of stock in certain things, and the rings occasionally have a bit of metal powdery residue on them, especially in smaller sizes.WeaveGotMaille ships faster (to me in the Pacific Northwest of the US), has a more rewarding points system, and shinier rings.I get my charms from AthenianFashions.com, an LA-based jewelry supplier.
My Process
I make jewelry using stainless steel jump rings and chain mail techniques. I mainly make earrings and necklaces, although I occasionally make bracelets, bolo ties, and keychains as well.Typically I start by freehanding an abstract design, and then editing it or adding to it in order to make it symmetrical. This results in a creation process that has moments of freedom and intuition, as well as moments of methodical focus. I enjoy this way of working in almost every medium I do.In addition to stainless steel, I sometimes use pearls, stones, and crystal beads from my local jewelry supply shop.In the future I would like to incorporate silver casting into my work, as well as soldered pendants.
Since June 2024
I started making chain mail by wrapping aluminum wire around chopsticks and cutting the coils into jump rings to then weave into patterns. The piece on the left was made using this method about a month after I first started.The piece on the right is one of my most recent pieces (April 2025), made with all stainless steel.
Moving Parts
My favorite piece I've created is a functional bolo tie. It was challenging to make because it has to slide up and down smoothly but not fall down on its own. Since creating the prototype I have made several more iterations from the same basic design.I also have been developing a line of necklaces that consist of a continuous chain looping through a ring attached to the end to close in the front.I enjoy making things with moving parts in stainless steel; it's gratifying making such a sturdy material move smoothly.
Figures
I also enjoy making figurative work, such as this keychain and this pair of earrings meant to replicate an angel and a devil sitting on your shoulders.
About Me
Hi! I'm Eleanor. I live in Humboldt County currently, but am relocating to Seattle in May!I graduate from Cal Poly Humboldt in May 2025 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting & drawing. I make things in many other media as well, including printmaking, crochet, photography, digital painting, and 2D animation.My hobbies outside of visual art include jazz piano, arranging music, tattooing, rock climbing, cooking, web design, and (recently) baking sourdough bread.Below is a random assortment of things I've made in the past couple years — mostly school assignments, but some personal projects as well.
