Project 1 - How to Make a 5-pointed Celtic Star

If you are new to chain mailing and have never done it before, please read through Volume 1 - Introduction to Chainmail on the parts of rings, how to use them, the tools to use, and how to open and close rings. It also contains links to where you can purchase a wide variety of rings and tools.

This is a simple version of a 5-pointed Celtic Star using only two different ring sizes with an optional third ring size. A 6-pointed version can also be made but with more rings and different sizes. A later project will cover the 6-pointed Celtic Star.

Ring sizes and quantities for the 2-ring version of this project are:

• 5/16"-16swg(.064") - 15 total (larger silver and red rings)
• 3/16"-18swg(.048") - 31 total (smaller inner red, green, and blue rings and outer red rings)

Optional 3 ring version:

• 5/16"-16swg(.064") - 15 total (larger silver and red rings)
• 3/16"-18swg(.048) - 26 total (smaller inner blue, green, and red rings)
• 1/8"-20swg(.036") - 5 total (smallest outer red rings)

The rest of this project will show how to make the 2-ring version. Only in the last steps will the 3-ring version be shown as an optional variation.

I've given this project a Christmas color theme but you can use any colors you wish.

Step 1: Inner Base Rings

Close ten 3/16"-18swg blue rings. Put those on one open 3/16"-18swg blue ring and close.

Step 2: Middle Base Rings

Take one red 5/16"-16swg ring, open it, and pass it through two of the outer blue rings from step 1 then close the red ring.

Do the same for the next two distinct blue rings and continue around until you've looped five red rings through two distinct blue rings each.

Step 3: Middle Base Connecting Rings

Take a 3/16"-18swg green ring and pass it through two of the larger red rings then close.

Repeat this process four more times. The key to this step is to close a green ring through a new red ring and one of the previous red rings. 

You should end up with five small green rings closed between two large red rings each.

Step 4: Top Layer of Middle Base

Open five of the 5/16"-16swg silver rings.

Take one and pass it through two distinct blue rings as shown with a green ring centered in the middle while the silver ring sits on top and between two large red rings. Close the silver ring.

Continue this four more times passing a large silver ring through two distinct blue rings centered above a green and on top and between two large red rings.

Step 5: Bottom Layer of Middle Base

Flip the partial star over so the silver rings from the previous step are now on the bottom.

Repeat the entire previous step but on this side of the star.

Step 6: Anchoring the Layers

This step is perhaps the trickiest step. Start by opening two of the green 3/16"-18swg rings.

Take one of the rings and pass it through the "corner" of the intersection of the three large ring layers and close. Do the same for the second ring but make sure it goes through the same silver rings as the first green ring but on the other side.

This intersection of three rings occurs at an "eye-shaped" junction on the outer point where three of the larger rings overlap.

Do this four more times with each set of silver larger rings. The green rings will flop around a bit until the next step but they'll end up pointing towards each other over the "ends" of the two silver rings and NOT the single red ring.

The pictures and associated notes make this much more clear.

Step 7: Adding the End-point Rings

Take a red 3/16"-18swg ring and open it. Pass it through two of the 3/16"-18swg green rings on the outer edge and close. Make sure the two green rings point towards each other and are folded over the "ends" of two silver rings and NOT one red ring.

Do this four more times around the outer edge. Your 5-pointed Celtic Star is now complete!

If you wish to use slightly smaller rings, become familiar with this step but follow the next.

Step 8: OPTIONAL: Adding Smaller End-point Rings

If you're doing this step, make sure you read the previous step but use the smaller rings in this step.

Take a red 1/8"-20swg ring and open it. Pass it through two of the 3/16"-18swg green rings on the outer edge and close. Make sure the two green rings and pointed towards each other and folded over the "ends" of two silver rings and NOT one red ring.

Do this four more times around the outer edge.

Your 5-pointed Celtic Star is now complete with the smaller, outer rings.