One of the easiest ways to turn a simple chain into an elegant necklace is by introducing a gradual size change – thicker in the center, thinner at the ends. Stick with the Spider Approved™ ring sizes, and use every wire gauge. The change from one size to the next will be subtle enough that your overall necklace will give the illusion of magically and evenly changing size. Gorgeous effect!
Round weaves are the best choice for this type of necklace, and some of them are especially well suited. Full Persian, Birdcage, and Double Spiral are my personal favorites.
It’s up to you how long the necklace should be, and how rapid the size shift should be. Just do what seems prettiest to you. Here’s how I go about planning a size-graduated necklace:
1) Decide what overall length you want. It’s helpful to have a length of simple chain to use for mockups, especially if you’re designing a necklace to go with a specific neckline.
2) Start from the middle. Build your section of biggest rings until it looks “long enough.” Stand in front of a mirror wearing your mockup chain and hold the center section up to test how it looks.
3) Switch to the next (smaller) ring size, and build that second size until it looks “right” in the mirror. It might save you some squinting if you use a twist-tie to mark where you changed sizes so that you can make the sides symmetrical.
4) Repeat step 3 with the next size, and the next, and…
5) I usually transition to the smallest size at the point where the necklace wraps around to the back of my neck. It’s not a hard rule at all – just a helpful guideline.
6) Add clasp and admire your creation.
Here’s a map of the necklace in the example pictures. I wanted the size change to be a bit more dramatic near the center of the necklace, so those sections are a bit shorter. I used a selection of Birdcage sizes from the sample grid of good ring sizes. You can find more information about this specific necklace (including a kit) on the project maps page.
And remember – the simple end-to-end size graduation is timeless and classic, but that’s not your only option! For instance…
I hope you’re now inspired to make your own necklace. Please show me how it turns out!
Picked back up old hobby of chain mail jewelry, and am happy to discover your project maps. Purchased your DVDs years ago, and thankfully, it is just like riding a bike; easy to get back into the swing of things if you learned it before. The maps are new to me since my hiatus, and they are great guides for projects, thanks!