In this tutorial Jodey Hathaway teaches you how to make 4 different chainmaille bugs: lightning bug in 2 sizes, house fly in 2 sizes, a butterfly and a dragonfly. The finished projects can be used as sculptures and pendants and other jewelry. The ring sizes are given below for each project. You will need to know how to make Inverted Round, Turkish Round and Helm Weave. The projects are intermediate as they are sculpture and will require placement of rings in tight spaces.

*requires knowledge of Turkish Round and Inverted Round
Each of these kits makes 5 butterflies. The butterflies are ~2 3/4” at the widest point with the wings spread open and ~1 1/2” long.
The rings and scale colors for the kits are noted below. If you don’t see a color combination below that you like it’s very easy to make your own kit by purchasing the following:

Body rings, 18g 5/32” x 36, stabilizing rings, 19g 5/32” x 6 (these can be difficult to get in so we suggest getting a few extra), 2 large scales, 2 small scales.*
*please note that as these are considered sculpture any tiny, normal variation in ring size or scale hole placement can cause the project to be tight or loose. You may need to use a different size ring that is not included in the kits to complete your project.

We offer kits in our bright finish saw cut anodized aluminum rings with a complementary color for the stabilizing rings and small dragonfly etched scales, as well as kits in our matte finish saw cut anodized aluminum rings with a complementary color for the stabilizing rings and small dragonfly etched scales. Polycarbonate scales were tested – they can be used but they do not angle as sharply as the anodized aluminum scales, so the bug looks more like a moth.

PDF Instructions are NOT included

Each of these kits makes between 5-50 small house flies, as noted in the descriptions below. The flies are ~15/16” at the widest point with the wings spread open and ~15/16” long.
The rings and scale colors for the kits are noted below. If you don’t see a color combination below that you like it’s very easy to make your own kit by purchasing the following:

Body rings, 18g 3/16” x 2; Inside eye rings, 18g 3/16” x 2, Large body rings (unanodized rings work best): 18g 9/32” x 5, Outside eye rings, 18g 1/4 ” x 2, Eye connectors and foot rings, 19g 9/64” x 6, Inner eye connectors, 20g 7/64” x 2, 2 small scales.*
*please note that as these are considered sculpture any tiny, normal variation in ring size or scale hole placement can cause the project to be tight or loose. You may need to use a different size ring that is not included in the kits to complete your project.

We offer kits with saw cut bright aluminum rings and 1 color of saw cut anodized aluminum rings for the eyes and 1 color of scales as well as stainless and copper kits with 1 color or type of scales.

PDF Instructions are NOT included

Each of these kits makes between 5-30 large house flies, as noted in the descriptions below. The flies are ~1 7/8” at the widest point with the wings spread open and ~1 5/8” long.
The rings and scale colors for the kits are noted below. If you don’t see a color combination below that you like it’s very easy to make your own kit by purchasing the following:

Body rings, 16g ¼” x 2; Inside eye rings, 16g 1/4” x 2, Large body rings(unanodized rings work best): 16g 3/8” x 5, Outside eye rings, 16g 5/16” x 2, Eye connectors and foot rings, 18g 3/16” x 6, Inner eye connectors, 19g 9/64” x 2, 2 large scales.* NOTE that large plastic scales do not work for this project.
*please note that as these are considered sculpture any tiny, normal variation in ring size or scale hole placement can cause the project to be tight or loose. You may need to use a different size ring that is not included in the kits to complete your project.

We offer kits saw cut bright aluminum rings and 1 color of saw cut anodized aluminum rings for the eyes and 1 color of scales; as well as stainless and copper kits with 1 color or type of scales.

PDF Instructions are NOT included

*requires knowledge of Turkish Round and Inverted Round
Each of these kits makes between 5 Dragonflies(as Noted). The dragonflies are ~1 7/8” at the widest point with the wings spread open and ~2 1/4” long.
The rings and scale colors for the kits are noted below. If you don’t see a color combination below that you like it’s very easy to make your own kit by purchasing the following:

Body rings, 18g 5/32” x 83, stabilizing rings, 19g 5/32” x 8 (these can be difficult to get in so we suggest getting a few extra), 4 small scales.*
*please note that as these are considered sculpture any tiny, normal variation in ring size or scale hole placement can cause the project to be tight or loose. You may need to use a different size ring that is not included in the kits to complete your project.

We offer kits in our bright finish saw cut anodized aluminum rings with a complementary color for the stabilizing rings and small dragonfly etched scales, as well as kits in our matte finish saw cut anodized aluminum rings with a complementary color for the stabilizing rings and small dragonfly etched scales. There is also a stainless kit. Polycarbonate scales were not tested.

PDF Instructions are NOT included

Each of these kits makes between 5-50 large lightning bugs(as Noted). The bugs are ~2” at the widest point with the wings spread open and ~1.75” long.
The rings and scale colors for the kits are noted below. If you don’t see a color combination below that you like it’s very easy to make your own kit by purchasing the following:

AA, AB, SS*: 16g 7/32 x 7, 16g 3/8 x 3, 3 large scales
CU (and sometimes SS): 16g 7/32 x 4, 16g ¼ x 3, 16g 3/8 x 3, 3 large scales

*please note that as these are considered sculpture any tiny, normal variation in ring size or scale hole placement can cause the project to be tight or loose. You may need to use a different size ring that is not included in the kits to complete your project.

The kits include 1 color of rings in 2 sizes and 2 colors of large scales.

PDF Instructions are NOT included

Each of these kits makes between 5-50 large lightning bugs(as Noted). The bugs are ~1 1/16” at the widest point with the wings spread open and ~1 1/16” long.
The rings and scale colors for the kits are noted below. If you don’t see a color combination below that you like it’s very easy to make your own kit by purchasing the following:

AA, AB, SS*:19g 5/32 x 7, 18g 1/4 x 3, 3 small scales
CU (and sometimes SS): 19g 11/64 x 7, 18g ¼ x 3, 3 small scales

*please note that as these are considered sculpture any tiny, normal variation in ring size or scale hole placement can cause the project to be tight or loose. You may need to use a different size ring that is not included in the kits to complete your project.

The kits include 1 color of rings in 2 sizes and 2 colors of large scales.

PDF Instructions are NOT included