Link It! was released in October, 2008. A Lark Jewelry Book, Link It! features twenty-two projects using anodized aluminum jump rings and rubber o-rings.

This new technique I designed manipulates the circular shape of the rubber o-ring that is then woven and cold connected to create bracelets, necklaces, and earrings.

All the projects are built from one of three basic elements. The basic element is combined into units, and the units are connected with jump rings.

Chainmail artisans have used common sizes of o-rings for a very long time, but Link It! will illustrate techniques that incorporate unusual sizes (rubber o-rings are listed by their OD first) such as 15mm, 9mm, 7mm, and 4.8(5)mm along with the more common 12mm and 10mm o-rings.

The colorful, flexible designs are appealing to all ages, men and women alike. Pre-order your book now!

Three major suppliers have made understanding the sizes you need for each project easy to understand. Check them out and begin making your own stretchable jewelry.
You’ll find aluminum jump rings and rubber o-rings at:

bluebuddhaboutique.com
metaldesignz.com
theringlord.com

You’ll find all the rubber o-ring sizes at:
firemountaingems.com

The rubber rings in the book are listed by the outer diameter (OD) in mm. When purchasing on firemountaingems.com, they are listed by the first listed measurement. Type rubber rings in the product search to find the rings.

bluebuddhaboutique.com and metaldesignz.com will soon carry all the sizes of rubber rings needed for every project in Link It!

If you buy rubber rings from a chain mail site use the following guidelines:
5/16inch, 16g = 12mm
1/4inch, 16g = 10mm
7/64inch, 20g = 4.8(5)mm

Firemountaingems.com now list the 4.8mm as 5mm. They are the same.

Rubber O-Rings
Number of Projects using the following sizes.

15mm – 14 projects
12mm – 12 projects
10mm – 2 projects
9mm – 3 projects
7mm – 21 projects
4.8-5mm – 4 projects

Anodized Aluminum Jump Rings
Number of projects using the following sizes.

5/32inch, 18g – 2 projects
1/4inch, 16g – 7 projects
1/4 inch, 14g – 1 project
3/16inch, 16g – 14 projects
3/16inch, 18g – 6 projects
3/8inch, 16g – 1 project
3/8inch, 14g – 3 projects

Teaching at Blue Buddha Boutique in Chicago this past October was an extreme pleasure! Rebeca Mojica maintains a fabulous shop with an amazing selection of rings, tools, kits, jewelry, and classes.

Students constructed unpublished bracelets and caught on really fast. I had such a great time. Thanks Rebeca!

Susan C Thomas

Check out Rebeca’s boutique!

Blue Buddha Boutique