beginner jewelry making - chain bracelet | 6 weeks on tuesdays, 7-9pm | April 1 - May 6

Lesson 1: Design Concepts + Fabrication Basics

• Review of chain styles and how to plan for design variations

• Concept sketching and prototyping your design in brass or copper

• Experiment with wire shaping tools and techniques

• Introduction to soldering

Lesson 2: Skills to Achieve Your Design

• Plan your project: calculate the number of links needed for a given length of chain, and determine the amount of metal needed to create your design

• Refine techniques for forming links of specific shapes and sizes, learning how to efficiently make the shapes you want for your chain design

• Learn best practices for sawing and prepping links to be soldered

• Practice soldering individual and grouped links

Lesson 3: Build your Design: Chain Assembly

• Finish forming and sawing your links

• Begin to assemble your chain, with time to troubleshoot as you gain an understanding of how fabrication can inform final design

Lesson 4: Chain Assembly, Continued

• Solder grouped links to continue building on your chain assembly

• Open studio – time to work on your project with teacher assistance

Lesson 5: Closures

• Review design options for closures including toggle clasps and hook clasps

• Create your own closure and add it to your chain

Lesson 6: Finishing Your Bracelet

• Learn finishing/cleanup techniques to complete your chain

• Complete your final polish, resulting in a piece of jewelry you are proud to wear!

metalsmithing is an inherently dangerous craft by the nature of the tools we’re using, but there’s nothing to worry about! studio safety information will be shared at the beginning of class to ensure a secure and enjoyable experience.

to fully participate in the workshop, please anticipate bringing a hair tie if you have long hair, closed-toe shoes and well fitting clothing that you don't mind getting dirty are also recommended. On day 2 we will use a K95 mask for dust when polishing, and any safety goggles (or prescription/blue light glasses) to protect your eyes from dust.

optionally, you could bring the following items to enhance your experience: a notebook and pencil if you’re a note-taker, an apron to protect your clothes, your favorite rings for sizing reference, and any simple jewelry design inspirations you'd like to explore together (no promises, some things are beyond the realm of our tools but we’ll try anyway!)

reading glasses with magnification or a magnifying glass are extra helpful if you have trouble seeing small objects.

The studio is located at 4800 Airport Way S.

Be careful not to park in the numbered spots in the lot. You may be towed - and not by us! There is street parking across the street and down the road on s alaska street, right past the fedex, which is where we'd recommend parking.

You'll want to enter through door #1, walk through the doors to the left, then up the stairs to the right! Class will be held in our loft. We have a small space, so it's pretty easy to navigate :)

all metalsmith class sales are final.

with these offerings being so limited, it’s nearly impossible to accommodate make-ups. please only sign up for a class if you are sure to attend all classes in the session.

we recognize that things come up - please reach out directly to metal@oftheearthcollective.com