Chainmail/Chainmaille Workshop
Chainmail can be used for almost anything. I’ve seen it used for armor, jewelry, clothing, chess sets, chandeliers, and much, much more.
Many people go through this website for ordering:
Good materials matter. I’ve had a lovely piece that had to be replaced because I didn’t buy the right rings. Most of the time you will want galvanized or stainless steel if you want to make sure your chain won’t oxidize as much. They are rust resistant, but they are also more expensive. Alternatively, you can use aluminum rings, but they aren’t as strong. However, if you buy larger rings you bend them so easily you could even use your hands! And it is much lighter to move in if you’re making armor.
When ordering, remember your aspect ratio (or AR). This is from ring lord to make it a bit less confusing. If you’re ever unsure, they have sample pages with ring size recommendations. Guage size is here, too. I like 16 and 14g.
Judges will look for some of the following:
--No tool marks
· An easy trick to fix this is to wrap your tools. You can use grip tape, electrical tape, thread, etc.
--Uniform weaves
· You can work in sections to help with this, and then weave those together in batches.
--Good closures
·
The best closures simply don’t exist! One of the most impressive things about chain is making people wonder how you did it! A simple trick for this is to use a few rubber/silicon/stretchy rings to make your piece easy to get on and off. Particularly for simple bracelets.
· However, if you are making anything with closures, consider how they will lay against the skin and/or their use. You can buy closures that are, like your rings, rust-resistant like stainless steel. Try to find something that will match your project. If you’re using bronze colored rings, get a bronze-colored closure.
--Difficulty of weave and/or a combo of weaves (some can fool you)
· Something like a byzantine weave may look very complicated, but it is considered a beginner’s weave. As you enter competition at higher level parks and/or kingdom, keep that in mind. More difficulty generally = better scores.
--Design
· Making good color choices or mixing ring sizes can really make a project pop.
A big favorite among Amtgard and SCA members is the following simple tutorial website:
https://www.mailleartisans.org/
The following weaves were mostly found on there. But, remember, you can always tinker around and find your own! Even I’ve managed to make a unique weave when I was thinking about how to make something flat on one side.
Simple beginner’s weaves: European 4 in 1:
Common jewelry starters. A common armor chain.
Half Persian 3 in 1: Helm Weave:
Some other common light armor uses:
https://chainmail101.com/step-by-step-guide-to-make-a-chainmail-shirt/step3
Japanese 4 in 1
If you want something a little lighter, Japanese 4 in 1 can be used. This weave is also incredibly easy to learn, but unless you use small aspect ratios, the weave tends to be loose.
European 6 in 1European 6 in 1 looks very similar to European 4 in 1, but it is much denser. If you want a shirt that will go into combat, this is for you.
Box Chain 4 in 1 (Box)
Weave Description
Box Chain 4 in 1, or simply Box Chain, is European 4 in 1 that is four rows wide with the fourth row connecting back onto the first. A hollow tube of mail is the result. Upgrading to a six row version results in Roundmaille.
Byzantine:
Weave Description
The Byzantine chain weave is made up of single units of Box Chain 4 in 1 separated by connector rings which reverse the direction of each subsequent Box cell. The most common configuration of the weave has these connector rings doubled, although this can be modified. This weave is very simple and recommended for beginner maillers. It is quite a versatile chain and a considerable number of modifications, variants, and sheet and dimensional expansions are possible.