| Overview: The Byzantine Segment
This chainmail pattern is composed of Byzantine segments that are linked together by a pair of jump rings top and bottom. (The red oval on the photo outlines the bottom segment.)
The earrings in this kit are each composed of 2 segments. The upper segment is made from a thinner silver wire, and the inside diameter of the rings is smaller.
The lower segment is heavier. It is made from a a bit thicker wire, and the inside diameter of the rings is a bit larger.
Swarovski™ crystals or semi-precious stones (6 mm) are threaded on Bali headpins & closed with a simple loop.
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Each complete segment uses 14 jump rings, but the 2 end rings are shared if there are adjacent segments.
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Step 1
Start by using the larger 4mm jump rings to make the lower segment.
Close 4 rings (red) and open 2 rings (yellow). Hold one open ring with the pliers, gather up the 4 closed rings, and then close that ring. Add the 6th ring along the same path.
Attach a twist tie to an end-pair of rings. Your 2-in-2 chain should look like this photo.
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Step 2
Hold the twist tie and the first pair of rings with your thumb & first finger.
Flip the end rings, one to each side, as in this photo.
Now fold those 2 rings down and hold them between your fingers, as in the photo below, so the middle rings (yellow) are exposed.
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Step 3
Separate those two middle rings (yellow dots). Peek between them and see the top edges of those 2 end rings you flipped to the sides (red dots). See this photo.
Use a crochet hook, a hat pin, an awl, a piece of wire, or something similar to help lift up those 2 center rings (marked with red dots) a bit. This marks the path for inserting the next 2 rings!
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Step 4
Pick up an open ring with your pliers and insert it through this path. This ring is marked with a green line in the photo.
Close the ring.
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Step 5
Add a second ring through this same space and close it too.
This photo shows the results.
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Step 6
Insert another pair of rings into the last pair (with green dots).
Insert another pair of rings into that pair.
You now have 3 linked pairs just like you started with in step 1.
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Repeat steps 2-5 to create the second fold and add the 2 end rings to complete the byzantine segment.
The diagrams below show front and side views of one byzantine segment.
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Step 12 adds 2 more pairs for the first fold of the second segment. Use the smaller 3.5mm jump rings for these 2 pairs, and for the rest of the second segment.
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Add the bead
Place a crystal or stone bead on each headpin. Use roundnose pliers to make a simple basic loop on each. Scroll further down if you need instructions.
Now open that loop correctly (with 2 pairs of pliers) and attach it to the 2 end rings of the larger byzantine segment.
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| Variations
Here is a stunning necklace that is meant to be worn with your new earrings.
Separate byzantine segments are linked at the top edge. A wrapped crystal or bead is linked in place between pairs of segments. The part of the necklace behind the neck is a continuous series of byzantine segments.
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----------------------------How To Wrap a Bead With a Simple Loop--------------------
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Step 1
Slip a small 3.5 mm closed ring onto the roundnose pliers & make a mark just above it with a permanent fine-tip marker.
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Step 2
Thread a bead on a head pin. Use your fingers to bend the wire to a 90 degree angle above the bead.
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Step 3
Grab the wire in the roundnose pliers close inside the bend, with the wire on the mark, and the tail of the wire pointing towards you.
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Step 4
Bend the wire up over the top jaw.
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Step 5
Continue bending the wire around until it points towards the floor.
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Step 6
Without removing the loop, rotate the pliers 180 deg. towards you, Pull the tail wire up towards you to close the loop.
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Step 7
Hold the tail wire in your non-dominant hand & with the flush cutters carefully clip that wire just on the other side of the wire that comes out of the bead. Make sure to turn the cutters to flush-cut the side of the wire that butts up against the loop.
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Step 8
Use the chainnose pliers to make any slight adjustments to center the loop.
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Copyright 2006 Marilyn Gardiner.
All Rights Reserved.
Used with permission by the Beading Times.
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