Basics: What is Chainmaille?
The weave we now know as "European 4-in-1" is the weave that European knights wore into battle, although its roots go back to before Christ. In recent years people began making their own armor in this weave for reenactment, then just for adornment. From there, people started playing with the rings, and new weaves are being invented all the time. Other weaves have historic roots... for example the Japanese weave was also worn into battle, but it was used to cover parts of the body that armor plating was not practical for and was not used to construct an entire piece of armor the way the European family of weaves was.
This is just a basic overview of information about chainmaille. If you're really serious about learning more, or you want to learn to make it yourself, Maille Artisans International League is the place you're looking for. The chainmaille community is wonderfully open and helpful, and willing to share their knowledge, often for free. I am too... if you have questions about making chainmaille, I'm always happy to help out.
This is just a basic overview of information about chainmaille. If you're really serious about learning more, or you want to learn to make it yourself, Maille Artisans International League is the place you're looking for. The chainmaille community is wonderfully open and helpful, and willing to share their knowledge, often for free. I am too... if you have questions about making chainmaille, I'm always happy to help out.
First: The Math.
If you ask about custom weaves, you may hear me talk about the size of the rings, or aspect ratio. This basically means the relationship of the diameter of the wire to the inner diameter of the ring. If you've got a fat little donut ring with thick wire and a little hole, it will result in a much tighter weave than a ring that has thin wire and a much bigger hole. Different weaves require different aspect ratios and some of them have a very small range of ring sizes that you can use, or they will simply be too tight to form a chain, or too loose to hold their shape. I'm quite picky about this dynamic... I prefer a very tight Byzantine weave, for example, and the same is true of European 4 in 1, for most applications. I don't want to send you a piece of jewelry that has rings flopping around looking untidy. This is all you really need to understand about AR for our purposes here. If you're actually making maille or you want to REALLY understand it, go HERE.
Also, a word about wire gauge. I typically use 20, 19, 18 and 16 gauge wire for maille, and occasionally venture to 14 or 22. The higher the number, the thinner the wire. So, 14 gauge wire is coat hanger thick, a paper clip is probably around 18 gauge, and 20 is maybe on the order of a thinner guitar string. (I'm not sure on that exactly, just trying to give you something to visualize). 22 is TINY for chainmaille and I generally only use it for earrings and pendants, or when there's not going to be a lot of stress applied to the item. However, for wire wrapping I use gauges as thin as 30, which is almost hair-thin.
Also, a word about wire gauge. I typically use 20, 19, 18 and 16 gauge wire for maille, and occasionally venture to 14 or 22. The higher the number, the thinner the wire. So, 14 gauge wire is coat hanger thick, a paper clip is probably around 18 gauge, and 20 is maybe on the order of a thinner guitar string. (I'm not sure on that exactly, just trying to give you something to visualize). 22 is TINY for chainmaille and I generally only use it for earrings and pendants, or when there's not going to be a lot of stress applied to the item. However, for wire wrapping I use gauges as thin as 30, which is almost hair-thin.
The Weaves I Use
If you browse M.A.I.L you'll see that there are HUNDREDS of weaves out there and in 4 years I've barely scratched the surface, and I do tend to get stuck in the rut of using my standbys. So, expect to see some new ones added here as I do some exploring, now that I have a bunch of new rings to play with.
Byzantine (Birdcage)
Byz bracelet in new violet square aluminum rings
I bought a kit at Hobby Lobby to make a Byzantine bracelet, and from then on I was hooked (it was crappy gold plated rings though). Byzantine consists of connector links between units of rings folded in on one another, so you'll get little sections that look like this: <=>. Check the picture, you see it?
I often put things between those units - beads, mobius flowers, charms, etc.
I've gotten to where I really don't like Byzantine unless the aspect ratio of the rings is pretty small (around 3.5 or less). Much more than that, it becomes very loose and sloppy, and the folded rings flop around. It should present a very uniform four-sided chain.
How to make Byzantine
I often put things between those units - beads, mobius flowers, charms, etc.
I've gotten to where I really don't like Byzantine unless the aspect ratio of the rings is pretty small (around 3.5 or less). Much more than that, it becomes very loose and sloppy, and the folded rings flop around. It should present a very uniform four-sided chain.
How to make Byzantine
European 4 in 1 (E4, Knight's Maille)
E4 stretchin in blue rubber and aluminum
This is the weave most people think of when they think of chainmaille. It's what knights wore into battle. It was very good at stopping a sword... not so great for stopping arrows or protecting very much against blunt trauma. I set out to make a chainmaille shirt once, and got the entire torso done. I had a show coming up that I wanted to use it for and my friend Yvonne at Back to Earth Creations had done a scale mail shoulder section for a piece of armor she was making, so we put them together. It came out pretty dang cool... but, I'm not all that keen on large-scale pieces of maille. Maybe it's an instant gratification thing.
This is called 4 in 1 because each ring (that isn't on the edge) goes through 4 other rings in the rows adjacent to it. They never link with rings in the same row. Euro 4 in 1 lends itself very well to triangular shapes, and less well to square edges. You can play with patterns a bit but inlays (patterns) are not my forte... I have seen some amazing stuff done with large-scale pieces.
As of right now a European 4 in 1 stretchy chainmaille bracelet like this is the only kit I have available, but I am hoping to offer some more DIY kits in the near future. The tutorials take some time.
This is another weave I prefer at smaller/tighter ring sizes. Done in itty bitty 20 gauge rings in a very tight weave, Euro 4 can take on the feel of metal fabric, and I love the feel of it, especially in silver.
How to make E4
This is called 4 in 1 because each ring (that isn't on the edge) goes through 4 other rings in the rows adjacent to it. They never link with rings in the same row. Euro 4 in 1 lends itself very well to triangular shapes, and less well to square edges. You can play with patterns a bit but inlays (patterns) are not my forte... I have seen some amazing stuff done with large-scale pieces.
As of right now a European 4 in 1 stretchy chainmaille bracelet like this is the only kit I have available, but I am hoping to offer some more DIY kits in the near future. The tutorials take some time.
This is another weave I prefer at smaller/tighter ring sizes. Done in itty bitty 20 gauge rings in a very tight weave, Euro 4 can take on the feel of metal fabric, and I love the feel of it, especially in silver.
How to make E4
European 6 in 1 (E6, King's Maille)
E6 stretchies in 18 gauge and 16 gauge
The bracelet on the left is done with the exact same size rings as the blue E4 above. The difference is that each ring in both of the bracelets in this picture goes through 6 rings instead of 4, which results in a much tighter, sleeker weave. I love E6, especially for stretchies.
It's called King's Maille because of the increased density gave better protection... but it was also harder to weave, and therefore more expensive. The term King's Maille is also sometimes applied to maille where each ring is doubled, and sometimes just a very fine weave - you wouldn't think smaller rings would give more protection, but they do. Not every knight could afford that, though.
Because you have an odd number of rings on each side of a connection, sometimes you'll get a shuffled look (where alternating rings stick out further) with E6, especially in bracelets with a clasp. I haven't found it to be a problem in stretchies which are a continuous loop with consistent pressure on each ring throughout.
The European weaves go on up and up, but the thinness of the wire and the AR gets ridiculous. I have never done anything greater than E8, but that project was a cuff bracelet in very fine Stainless Steel and Gold Filled rings... the result was so slinky feeling! It got shipped to a girl from Australia who was hiking in Japan (how cool is that!)
How to make E6
It's called King's Maille because of the increased density gave better protection... but it was also harder to weave, and therefore more expensive. The term King's Maille is also sometimes applied to maille where each ring is doubled, and sometimes just a very fine weave - you wouldn't think smaller rings would give more protection, but they do. Not every knight could afford that, though.
Because you have an odd number of rings on each side of a connection, sometimes you'll get a shuffled look (where alternating rings stick out further) with E6, especially in bracelets with a clasp. I haven't found it to be a problem in stretchies which are a continuous loop with consistent pressure on each ring throughout.
The European weaves go on up and up, but the thinness of the wire and the AR gets ridiculous. I have never done anything greater than E8, but that project was a cuff bracelet in very fine Stainless Steel and Gold Filled rings... the result was so slinky feeling! It got shipped to a girl from Australia who was hiking in Japan (how cool is that!)
How to make E6
Roundmaille
Roundmaille stretchy in blue rubber and white aluminum
When you make a 6-row European 4 in 1 and then fold it into a tube and link it to itself, you get Roundmaille. There's also a 4-row version that is called Box Chain, but I don't care for it much and rarely make it.
Roundmaille, on the other hand, has a fantastic serpentine quality about it. The biggest challenge with it is putting a clasp on it, because you end up with 3 rings to link to in a tube. The easiest way around that, of course, is no clasp... I do love my stretchies. But, if you like the weave and you want a clasp, I can rig one out of wire.
How to make Roundmaille
Roundmaille, on the other hand, has a fantastic serpentine quality about it. The biggest challenge with it is putting a clasp on it, because you end up with 3 rings to link to in a tube. The easiest way around that, of course, is no clasp... I do love my stretchies. But, if you like the weave and you want a clasp, I can rig one out of wire.
How to make Roundmaille
Full Persian
FP in silver and matte "white" aluminum
All the weaves above this are in the "European" family of weaves. Persian is something different entirely. It forms a rope-like chain that is very round and three-dimensional, whereas the Half Persian weaves lie flat. Looked at from one side you'll see the rings lying like this >>>>>>> and if you turn it a quarter turn the rings are lying like this <<<<<<<. I don't know why but I think this is just a great weave for guy's jewelry.
It's also the weave I make my Persian Crosses out of. Because the aspect ratio of the rings is tight, the cross holds its shape rather than the arms drooping or flopping. But if you look at the body of it you'll see the weave construction.
How to make Full Persian
It's also the weave I make my Persian Crosses out of. Because the aspect ratio of the rings is tight, the cross holds its shape rather than the arms drooping or flopping. But if you look at the body of it you'll see the weave construction.
How to make Full Persian
FP Cross in peacock blue niobium and sterling
Half Persian 4 in 1 (HP4)
HP4 in multicolor niobium and steel
If you've read my listings much you probably already know that this is my favorite weave. I love the way it drapes, I love the way it moves when you play with it or squeeze it (it curls), I love its symmetry, I love the fact that it lies flat on your wrist, and I love that it looks so great in two colors. This is because the rings form an X in cross-section, and you've got a layer of rings going one way and a layer going the other, stacked on top of each other.
I'll give you a link to the HP4 tutorial, but I'll be honest... the Half Persian weaves were difficult for me to learn and my son Brandon, who has an eye for patterns, is the one that figured it out to start with, I had a heck of a time with the tutorials. Once you SEE someone doing it, it's a lot easier. I taught it to my sister-in-law, who picked it up in something like 10 minutes. Maybe you'll do better with the photos.
Making HP4
I'll give you a link to the HP4 tutorial, but I'll be honest... the Half Persian weaves were difficult for me to learn and my son Brandon, who has an eye for patterns, is the one that figured it out to start with, I had a heck of a time with the tutorials. Once you SEE someone doing it, it's a lot easier. I taught it to my sister-in-law, who picked it up in something like 10 minutes. Maybe you'll do better with the photos.
Making HP4
Half Persian 3 in 1 (HP3)
The rose cameo has Half Persian around it.
Basically like HP4, except that each ring goes through 3 rings instead of 4 on the opposite side. This means that it's asymmetrical, trapezoidal in cross-section; the edges of the rings on one side are far apart, but when you flip it over the edges are right next to one another. I'm not sure if that makes sense. Since I really don't get along with asymmetry very well 1) this weave confounds me to this day... especially joining it on itself. I can do it but it takes me way longer than it should. Also, 2) I don't like it for chains.
That said, it has one thing going for it in my book... it's AWESOME for framing a round or oval stone (as in the picture on the right). And then you can do other things with that frame. I've been experimenting with this a lot lately.
How to make HP3
That said, it has one thing going for it in my book... it's AWESOME for framing a round or oval stone (as in the picture on the right). And then you can do other things with that frame. I've been experimenting with this a lot lately.
How to make HP3
Dragonback
Dragonback in green and silver aluminum.
Basically, Dragonback is three rows of European 4 in 1 on a side, but they connect to each other via Half Persian. This creates areally cool serpentine feel and a kind of three-dimensionality to the piece. Also, I like to make them one color on one side and a different color on the other, which means it's reversible.
I've been meaning to do one of these in sterling and niobium... I think it would be stunning.
How to make Dragonback
I've been meaning to do one of these in sterling and niobium... I think it would be stunning.
How to make Dragonback
Dragonscale
Done ages ago in aluminum
This is, in my opinion, the king of all weaves. It has the most AMAZING feel to it... scaly, slinky, in a word, sexy (I really do think so). Here's the problem: It's a total pain in the arse. It takes so much work to make one of these babies that I'd have to charge a bunch to make it worth my time. I did this bracelet at right in aluminum, and it's oriented sideways, whereas usually Dscale is oriented long-ways. So I started a brass one that was 20 gauge (smaller than e one pictured) and about 2 inches wide. MAN was it thick and heavy! I got about 3 inches into it, thought about the person who bought it having to de-tarnish it all the time, and decided it wasn't worth it. I still polish it and take it out to pet it every now and then, though. Finally, I decided I'd try it in stretchy with the small rings in neoprene. This came out fantastic, except I can't figure out how to join it, so then I thought I'd try putting a stone, or a watch face, or something in the middle. Well, that puts lots of stress on those ity bitty neoprene rings and I didn't think it would survive the pressure. Sad day.
So, for my next trick, I've decided I'm going to do a MUCH thinner version, long ways, in silver filled rings and peacock blue niobium inner rings. I'm fairly certain that this is going to be ravishing. But expensive. Stay tuned, I'll post it here and probably everywhere when it's done! Assuming it doesn't turn into another failed Dragonscale experiment. If it doesn't, the result is SO worth it. <3 <3 <3
Whoops, I forgot to talk about the weave itself. You've got these stacked "scales" of large rings joined by inner rings that hold the whole thing together. What makes it really cool is that you mostly see the large rings, with glimpses of the smaller rings in between. That's why it looks so awesome in silver with a colored ring underneath/inside.
This is definitely a pliers-throwing experience. You'll look at it and say, "It doesn't look that hard." Yeah. Just remember, you were warned. How to make Dragonscale
So, for my next trick, I've decided I'm going to do a MUCH thinner version, long ways, in silver filled rings and peacock blue niobium inner rings. I'm fairly certain that this is going to be ravishing. But expensive. Stay tuned, I'll post it here and probably everywhere when it's done! Assuming it doesn't turn into another failed Dragonscale experiment. If it doesn't, the result is SO worth it. <3 <3 <3
Whoops, I forgot to talk about the weave itself. You've got these stacked "scales" of large rings joined by inner rings that hold the whole thing together. What makes it really cool is that you mostly see the large rings, with glimpses of the smaller rings in between. That's why it looks so awesome in silver with a colored ring underneath/inside.
This is definitely a pliers-throwing experience. You'll look at it and say, "It doesn't look that hard." Yeah. Just remember, you were warned. How to make Dragonscale
Jens Pind Linkage (JPL)
JPL in square aluminum
JPL is a spiral weave that has to be made with an aspect ratio of around 3, or it becomes "Spiral Weave", which will unwind unless anchored at both ends. Because JPL is so tight, though, it holds its shape. Its rings line up in three "strands" for a braided look that you can take advantage of by making it in three colors. Something, surprisingly, I don't do very often. I love the way it looks in square wire.
This weave is not difficult to do, but it is easy to mess up... getting it right is a matter of being able to see the way the rings lie and finding the right hole to put your next link in.
This is one of my favorite weaves for necklace chains.
How to do JPL.
This weave is not difficult to do, but it is easy to mess up... getting it right is a matter of being able to see the way the rings lie and finding the right hole to put your next link in.
This is one of my favorite weaves for necklace chains.
How to do JPL.
Spiral Weave
Spiral Earrings in Enameled Copper.
The problem with Spiral weave is that it doesn't hold its shape, so it's not very useful for chains. There are some workarounds, though... one I've used in the past is this earring design where you make 2 spiral weaves, twist them so they lie together, and then anchor at top and bottom with another link, then deck with beads or something. This requires approximately six hands.
You can also make it at such a small aspect ratio that it becomes Jens Pind Linkage, and you can do Spiral in rings made of half round wire (the shape of the wire in cross-section is half a circle). For some reason it will hold its shape then. You can anchor the spirals with intermittent larger rings. Or, you can double the rings (see the next weave).
It is relatively easy to make and for some reason not as complicated as JPL.
Making Spiral Weave
You can also make it at such a small aspect ratio that it becomes Jens Pind Linkage, and you can do Spiral in rings made of half round wire (the shape of the wire in cross-section is half a circle). For some reason it will hold its shape then. You can anchor the spirals with intermittent larger rings. Or, you can double the rings (see the next weave).
It is relatively easy to make and for some reason not as complicated as JPL.
Making Spiral Weave
Double Spiral (Spiral 8 in 2, Rope)
Double Spiral in rainbow aluminum
This is simply spiral, but instead of single rings, you double them... it holds its shape nicely then and has a really nice ropy look to it. I like it in color gradients but I've also done one where I used larger rings in the center so it had a graduated size... something a little different.
Double Spiral Instructions
Double Spiral Instructions
Byzee Beez 2 Butterflies
Steel Beez with blocky Sodalite
I think the name is lame, I guess based on the fact that it's a Byzantine variant, but what can you do. Not my brainchild. At any rate, I do like the weave, very much. It's basically Byzantine units turned on end and linked together for a cuff-like effect, quite heavy in steel and pretty substantial. I also make a stretchy version.
Byzantine has endless variants; this is only one of them. I've only tried a few, including Trizantine (instead of 2 flipped rings, 3... more of a pain than I was willing to do more than once), Olivia (sort of inverted), Byzantine Cross Chain, Celtic Byzantine, and on and on. I have yet to try many of these.
You can make Byzblahblahblah
Byzantine has endless variants; this is only one of them. I've only tried a few, including Trizantine (instead of 2 flipped rings, 3... more of a pain than I was willing to do more than once), Olivia (sort of inverted), Byzantine Cross Chain, Celtic Byzantine, and on and on. I have yet to try many of these.
You can make Byzblahblahblah
B2G
Stretchy B2G aluminum & rubber
Inverted Byzantine units that are joined in a square and can be joined to each other. This is a cool effect that I honestly haven't done enough of. I do like this stretchy version of it and the X's it forms with O's.
Constructing B2G
Constructing B2G
Scherzo
Steel and aluminum with groovy mood beads
These are almost trizantine units between much larger rings, where little fans of smaller rings are folded in on themselves and linked. My favorite thing to do with this weave is trick out the large rings with beads, especially these crazy cool mood beads.
Scherzo tutorial
Scherzo tutorial
Elfweave (stabilized)
Done in red aluminum
Elf weave is not much like any other weave. It has a really cool barbed-wire look to it, but in its regular form it doesn't hold its shape very well, so I do this modified version with extra rings on both sides that make it very vertebral-looking. It's also constructed very differently from other weaves; you make a long chain of single rings, fold it in upon itself, and then lock it in place with a ring joining the links, on alternating sides. You see what I'm saying?
Elfweave is also set apart by the existence of Bob. See tutorial for what I am talking about.
And here is the Blue Buddha Boutique tutorial for the stabilized version.
Elfweave is also set apart by the existence of Bob. See tutorial for what I am talking about.
And here is the Blue Buddha Boutique tutorial for the stabilized version.
Elf Sheet
Tiny, maddening steel rings...
I had started an elf weave in teeny tiny steel rings. Then I had this pretty rose cameo (you can see it in the Half Persian 3 entry above) that I'd wrapped in Half Persian. And I thought, Hey! I can turn that steel elf weave into Elf Sheet, and make a choker!
I guess I'm a glutton for punishment. This choker took me three months to finish. BUT, as you can see, Elf Weave with extra rows added on to make it a sheet has a REALLY cool look. Somebody liked it enough to buy it, at any rate. :)
I would really like to do an elf sheet bracelet in argentium silver one of these days. Because, like I said, I'm a glutton for punishment.
Elf Sheet Instructions
I guess I'm a glutton for punishment. This choker took me three months to finish. BUT, as you can see, Elf Weave with extra rows added on to make it a sheet has a REALLY cool look. Somebody liked it enough to buy it, at any rate. :)
I would really like to do an elf sheet bracelet in argentium silver one of these days. Because, like I said, I'm a glutton for punishment.
Elf Sheet Instructions
Helm Weave (Parallel)
Black rubber, black aluminum, & GITD orange.
Here's the story of this necklace. My supplier got these insanely cool glow-in-the-dark rings. So I made some stuff out of them. But they were silicon, and they'd rip with pressure put on them, so I stopped using them for most weaves. But with Helm weave, the pressure is on the outside layer of large rings, and the inside small rings, and there is a sandwiched layer of large rings that bears no pressure, so VOILA! Glow in the dark choker (shown here under black light). The really sad part is, they don't make these rings anymore, so the rapidly dwindling stock I have now is the last of the glow rings :(
I think I've described the weave pretty well, right? It looks pretty nifty in other metals too.
How to make Helm Weave ... interestingly, this is now how I put it together. But it works.
I think I've described the weave pretty well, right? It looks pretty nifty in other metals too.
How to make Helm Weave ... interestingly, this is now how I put it together. But it works.
Shaggy Loops
Silver enameled wire with multicolored crystals
Honestly, you gotta see Shaggy Loops in person to appreciate it. It looks like a mess because it IS... it's basically a 1-1-1 chain with extra loose loops added in (the easiest weave EVER), so I scorned it for a long time... but then I tried it out and discovered how much fun it is. The loose rings move and jingle softly, depending on the metal used, and I love putting little loose crystals or beads in among the loose rings for some moving sparkle. I use it extensively for earrings, bracelets, and more recently, necklaces. Too cute and super easy to do... if you're going to start out with maille start here.
Making Shaggy Loops
Making Shaggy Loops
Japanese
Neoprene and blue aluminum
I have a strange love-hate relationship with Japanese. It's about as simple as chainmaille can be... large rings (sometimes doubled) joined by much smaller rings. There are several variations named by whether it's offset (like this one) or parallel. I actually do love the way it looks, but the problem is I find it SO BORING to put it together. I mind it less when done in stretchy like this because I don't have to close the rubber rings, they're already closed. Go figure. I really ought to work with it more, though, it really is pretty. I like this color combo, it's wintery. If you want technical details this is Japanese 12-in-1.
This is also the weave I use to build my Cube keychains, except I build it up in 3 dimensions, so it's woven all the way through.
If you like it, this is another good place to start making new stuff.
Japanese 6-1 instructions (same as this but I doubled the small rings)
This is also the weave I use to build my Cube keychains, except I build it up in 3 dimensions, so it's woven all the way through.
If you like it, this is another good place to start making new stuff.
Japanese 6-1 instructions (same as this but I doubled the small rings)
Butterfly
Steel and anodized aluminum
This is another weave that falls into the category of too much trouble to mess with on a regular basis, but then I get it done and think... you know, that really is nice. Two size rings, with the bigger ones in a mobius flower, and the small ones forming a fan of links. Another one I should do in precious metals, probably my go-to sterling and niobium. Ya think?
How to make Butterfly ... if I used a larger AR big ring I might fit 3 in the mobius, but at the sizes I worked with, I can never do more than 2.
How to make Butterfly ... if I used a larger AR big ring I might fit 3 in the mobius, but at the sizes I worked with, I can never do more than 2.
Camelot
Stainless steel + multicolored niobium
Brought to you the same brilliant mind (Deb Mahoney of Aussie Maille) as Scherzo. Camelot is Helm with a lot of little rings added on. Intricate, fiddly, just the kind of crazy thing I like.
And unsurprisingly, I particularly like it in either stainless steel or sterling with colorful niobium small rings.
Assembling Camelot.... it's only a model!
And unsurprisingly, I particularly like it in either stainless steel or sterling with colorful niobium small rings.
Assembling Camelot.... it's only a model!
Mobius flowers
Niobium in various sizes. Shiny!
I use mobius flowers for all kinds of things... they look great in earrings, as the little doohickeys on the ends of the lacing for my dice bags, linked together for bracelets, pendants, etc. etc....
It's pretty basic. Close a ring, link a second ring in it, and basically start a spiral but always go through the same hole without building it into a chain. And they look cool. I love them with C&T Designs' rainbow rings. It looks like a portal to another dimension :)
It's pretty basic. Close a ring, link a second ring in it, and basically start a spiral but always go through the same hole without building it into a chain. And they look cool. I love them with C&T Designs' rainbow rings. It looks like a portal to another dimension :)
Sweet Pea
Rainbow aluminum
This is a relatively new addition to my repertoire, but I have really come to love it. Because the units are so distinct from one another, it looks really great in sections of color, be it rainbow, or alternating two colors, metallic colors... I've found a lot of uses.
The construction here is sort of Full-Persian-like, but it's kind of half a unit of FP with 1 ring on each end, linked to the next unit. That probably makes no sense.
So I'll send you to the tutorial.
The construction here is sort of Full-Persian-like, but it's kind of half a unit of FP with 1 ring on each end, linked to the next unit. That probably makes no sense.
So I'll send you to the tutorial.
Forars Kaede (X-Weave/Spring Chain)
Square copper
Sort of Jens Pind-like but the rings on a side dove-tail. Supposedly makes an X in cross-section but I don't see it. This is another weave that has to be done at a specific AR or it simply will not work.
Building X-Men... I mean weave.
Building X-Men... I mean weave.
Aura
Steel and niobium. Again. And semiprecious stones.
Sara of Corvus Chainmaille (she is brilliant, and responsible for tons of the weaves out there, and several tutorials for ones that other people invented) named this one after her daughter. It's kind of difficult to describe its construction. They are units made of inverted large rings with smaller rings locking them in. Great for earrings and also for units like this necklace, joined together.
You have to have the right size rings on this one, too, or it won't hold. I really like the look though, it reminds me of a biohazard symbol (so does Not Tao)
Making Aura
You have to have the right size rings on this one, too, or it won't hold. I really like the look though, it reminds me of a biohazard symbol (so does Not Tao)
Making Aura
Not Tao
Silicon glow in the dark and aluminum
A pretty simple concept, Not Tao is just a 1-1 chain of 6 rings of one size, fixed in place with a larger ring in the configuration shown. It takes a little bit to get the knack of it, though. I primarily use it for earrings, as shown.
Not Tao Instructions
Not Tao Instructions
Barrels
Barrels earrings in sterling and multicolored niobium.
his is kind of a nifty little weave where 2 rings in a stacked pattern are held in place with a ring going the other way and two "barrel" rings (done here in a different color) passing through them. It's nifty. It's not super strong, depending on the material used, so I use it mostly in earrings. I may experiment with some Barrels bracelets or necklaces though... I think a necklace would be kind of nifty.
Roll out the Barrels
Roll out the Barrels
Enablers... I mean suppliers
Once you start this, you can get hooked pretty easily. You were warned. I'm not telling you not to do it!
Here are my favorite places to get rings. I have looked at a few others but have no experience with them.
C&T Designs
The Ring Lord
Blue Buddha Boutique
Here are my favorite places to get rings. I have looked at a few others but have no experience with them.
C&T Designs
The Ring Lord
Blue Buddha Boutique