Japanese 12-in-2 Chain Maille Bracelet

During my trip to Gladwin a few weeks ago, I found myself making a chain maille bracelet because I forgot to bring the materials for my current project. I haven't made any chain maille since my freshman year of high school, but it's like riding a bicycle; once you learn, you never forget. So today I'm sharing a tutorial showing how to make this bracelet. While taking these pictures, I've realized that I need a camera, BAD. Please excuse the horrible lighting and focus, I'm using a cell phone camera!

Japanese 12-in-2 Chain Maille

Time and Materials

For a 7 1/4 in bracelet:
Project Time: 1-2 hours
Tools & Materials:

Jump ring opener (optional)
Needle nose pliers
211 4mm jump rings
113 5mm jump rings
Lobster Claw

I use the jump ring opener to save time, energy, and nails.

Just hold one side with pliers, slip in in a notch, and twist open.

Making the basic form

Step 1- Open a large ring, thread 12 small rings on it, then close. Open a second large ring, and thread it through the same 12 small rings on the first large ring. Close the second large ring.

The second large ring should lay on top on the first large ring.

Step 2 - Thread a third large ring through 2 small rings from step 1.

Step 3 - Thread 4 small rings on to the large ring from step 2 and close the large ring. Thread a forth large ring through the same path as the 3rd large ring.

Step 4 - Thread a 5th large ring through the next 2 small rings from step 1, and 2 of the small rings added in step 3. Add 2 more small rings, close. Thread a 6th large ring through the same path as the 5th.

Step 5 - Thread a 7th large ring through the next 2 small rings from step 1, add 4 small rings and close. Thread an 8th large ring through the same path as the 7th.

Step 6 - Thread a 9th large ring through the next 2 rings from step 1, the 2 closest rings from step 5 (leaving 2 rings empty), and add 2 more rings. Thread a 10th ring through the same path as the 9th. Repeat step 4. Thread the last 2 large rings through the last 2 rings from step 1, the 2 rings left over from step 3, and the rings added to the 11th and 12 large ring. Add 2 more small rings before closing and threading the last large ring through.

Adding more "flowers"

Step 7 - Thread another large ring through the 2 empty small rings left over in step 6. Add 6 small rings, close, and thread another large ring. Thread 2 more large rings through the 2 middle empty rings, adding 10 more before closing. Now you can finish the second flower.

*Make sure to leave 2 empty small rings on the petal directly across from the previous connecting petal.*

Continue adding flowers until you get the length that you want. I make 8 flowers to get a 7 1/4 in. bracelet. Add a large ring to the last 2 empty small rings on one end of the bracelet, and a lobster claw the other.