The first time I spotted a body chain was in a picture of Beyonce walking hand in hand with Jay-Z, and my first thought was what is that?! And where can I get one?! Fast forward months later. While browsing around a jewellery supply store, I thought I could attempt to make my own body chain, and that same night I stumbled across LaurDIY’s tutorial. I now have a DIY body chain to call my own and I plan to rock it every chance I can this summer.

The Supplies

• Gold linked chain
  I purchased 5 meters which was more than enough.
• Jump rings
• Charms that have holes on both ends
  You can purchase gold linked chain, jump rings, and charms from a jewellery making store or online.
• String
• Scissors
• Wire cutter
• Pliers
• Tape

The Steps

First you are going to use the string and tape to make an outline of your body chain.

Measure the string around your neck (make sure it’s big enough to fit over your head!), and cut. With the string around your neck tape it to your chest so that it stays in place.

Starting from the end of your neck piece, cut a piece of string so it ends above your belly button. Tape it to your stomach (this is your stomach piece).

Starting from the end of the stomach piece measure a piece of string so that it hangs in a wide U shape on your waist, cut another piece of string that’s the same length (these will be the short U pieces). On your right side, tape one end of your short U piece to your stomach piece and then the other end to your mid back.

Starting again from the end of your stomach piece measure out and cut a longer piece of string so that it sits slightly lower than your short U shaped pieces. Cut another piece of string the same length (these will be the long U pieces). On your right side, tape one end of your long U piece to your stomach piece and then the other end to your lower back. Repeat on your left side.

*You may need some assistance with this part. Starting from the string around your neck, measure the string down the middle of your back and cut the string right before your butt. Tape the string to the back of your neck.

You should have 7 pieces of string total. You now have the outline for the gold chain pieces. You can adjust the lengths to have the chain sit wherever you like.

Remove the strings from your body. Line up each piece of string with the gold linked chain, using the wire cutters cut the same lengths for each of your 7 pieces of string.

Take the pliers and open up a jump ring, be careful not to open it too wide.

Take the gold chain neck piece put each end through the jump ring, also add one end of your charm to the same jump ring. Close the jump ring with your pliers.

Open up a jump ring and add it to the other end of the charm. Also add the stomach piece to the jump ring. Close the jump ring.

Open up a jump ring and add it to the end of the stomach piece.

It’s best if you do this on a flat surface. On the right side of the jump ring that’s connected to the end of the stomach piece, add one of the long U shape pieces first, and then the short U piece. Repeat these steps for the left side of the jump ring, remember to put the long U piece on first. Close the jump ring.

Line up the neck piece so that both sides are together.

Find the middle point and add a jump ring. Add your back piece to the jump ring. Close the jump ring.

Take a jump ring and add it to the end of the back piece also add one end of the charm to the same jump ring. Close the jump ring.

Open up a jump ring and put it through the lower-middle part of the back piece. Also add the short U piece that’s on the right side to the right side of the jump ring. Add the left short U piece to the left side of the same jump ring. Close the jump ring.

Add a jump ring to the end of the charm on the back piece. Add the right side of the long U piece to the right side of the jump ring, and the left side of the long U piece to the left side of the same jump ring. Close the jump ring.

Give yourself a pat on the back you just made yourself a body chain!

The body chain can be kind of confusing to put on. Use the charm for the neck piece as a marker of where it’s supposed to go over your head. Before you put it over your head make sure the short U and long U pieces are not tangled and lined up. Put your arms through one side and then put the neck piece over your head. It may take a few tries, but you’ll get it.

-EssDotElle