Diamond Frame Chain Link Tutorial
Diamond Frame Chain Link Tutorial
Embedded Files
This simple yet versatile component looks like a pair of jump rings fused in one corner of a diamond shaped frame. What look like jump rings are actually the ends of the diamond frame curled into eyes. Create frames of various sizes and use actual jump rings to chain them together in interesting patterns.
Estimate wire needed for a component with desired side length s with l = 4s + 2e where e is the extra wire needed for each eye. Estimate e by cutting 20 mm of wire, forming the eye, and subtracting the new length of the wire to the inside diameter of the eye from 20 mm.
Mark the center point of the wire and s distance from the center on both sides. Bend 90 degrees at the center mark. Form an offset eye on both ends. Finally Bend in 90 degrees at the 2 remaining marks so that the eyes overlap and a diamond shaped frame emerges.
Chain the frames together with jump rings. As the chain gets longer, frames may not hang well as they bump into other components (left). A way to compensate for this is to chain the frame corners as well as the eyes with the jump rings (middle). The assembly can be unwieldy. I prefer to keep things simple and limit the chain length to the number of eyes that can fit within a frame (right).
6 free frames
6 chained frames
3 free frames
Three is my favorite number of frames for earrings. Play around with different size combinations of three frames like the examples below.
s = 7.5 mm, 10 mm, 15 mm
s = 7.5 mm, 7.5 mm, 20 mm
s = 10 mm, 10 mm, 15 mm
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse