HOW TO DO CHAİN MAİLLE WEAVES HOW DO I MAKE CHAİN MAİL? 1 HALF PERSİAN 3-1 CHAİN MAİL Here are a few samples of this weave; one done in 5mm rings and one done in 6mm rings. I used 20g rings but I think 18g would work too, at least for the 6mm chain. Try experimenting with other sizes and gauges!
This chain was done in 5mm rings.
This chain was done in 6mm rings with Sterling Silver and Neon Amethyst. HALF PERSİAN 3-1
Step 1. Begin with 2 closed rings. The second ring behind the first.
Step 2. Add a ring, pink, that goes through the intersection of the first 2 rings, as shown and place a closed ring, blue, on it.
Step 3. Now flip the pink ring down and make sure that the blue ring is behind the ring before it.
Step 4. Pass another ring through the intersection of the last 2 rings as shown. Add another ring, like you did before.
Step 5. Flip the pink ring down and make sure the blue ring is behind the ring before it. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until you have the desired length. Once you get the hang of this weave it goes very quickly.
SPİRAL WEAVE CHAİN MAİL -FREE CHAİN MAİLLE PATTERNS Locked Spiral This spiral stitch will hold its shape. I used 20 gauge 6mm and 4mm rings.
These earrings were made using 6mm Gold Plated and 4mm Green Enamel rings. They look much better in person, but you can see how this stitch spirals.
Step 1. Begin the same way, place 2 closed 4mm rings on 1 open 6mm ring, lay as shown.
Step 2. When you add the next open 6mm ring, notice that you go up through the right ring in front of the 6mm ring and go down behind. This will cause the rings to spiral. Make sure you keep the right side in front and the left side behind. Place 2 closed 4mm rings on your 6mm. Repeat until you reach the desired length.
SPIRAL This spiral must be attached at each end to hold the spiral. It is kind of hard for me to show this weave, but it is very simple and I think you will get the idea from the pictures. As you keep adding more rings they will spiral around. This is a good weave to place between bubble stitches. I would suggest using 5mm, 6mm, or 8mm rings. I haven't actually tried using the 4mm, but I think you might have a problem with chipping.
Should look somewhat like this.
Add 1 Ring as shown
When you add the next ring, blue, pass through both the 1st and 2nd rings.
On the next ring you add, pass through both the 2nd and 3rd rings. Then continue adding 1 ring at a time, making sure you pass through the previous 2 rings. You also need to make sure that you add the rings the same way each time.
SNAKE SKİN CHAİN MAİLLE FREE CHAİN MAİLLE PATTERNS
Here is a sample of what this looks like. Warning! Someone else designed this pattern and she said to use 4mm and 6mm rings. A customer has brought to my attention that 4 and 6 don't work. I think the correct sizes are 5mm and 8mm outside diameter. Let me know if you try this pattern and which sizes work. Step 1. Place 2 closed 4mm rings on 1 open 8mm ring. Lay them as shown.
Step 2. Using an open 8mm ring, go through the 2 4mm rings as shown. Then place 2 closed 4mm rings on the open 8mm ring.
That's it! Just repeat until you have the desired length.
BOX CHAİN MAİL FREE CHAİN MAİLLE PATTERNS The Box Chain weave is like a half byzantine. Once you have completed one side of the Byzantine weave, you just keep doing that over and over.
Here is a small sample done in gold with a splash of black. This is a great design for men. I used 20 gauge 6mm rings. Step 1. Pass 2 open rings (green) through 4 closed rings.
Step 2. Fold the last 2 rings back, green, split the center rings, and bring the folded rings together as shown.
Step 3. Add 2 more rings as shown above.
Step 4. Add 2 more rings, green.
Step 5. Fold those rings back, green.
Step 6. Add 2 more rings as shown and repeat steps 4-6.
BYZANTİNE CHAİN MAİLE WEAVE The Byzantine weave is beautiful. Its a little tricky to get started, but once you get the hang of it you can make this chain up rather quickly. Use 18g 6mm rings. You can make this pattern with 20g. 5mm rings too. Try experimenting with other sizes and gauges!
Step 1. Pass 2 open rings (green) through 4 closed rings.
Step 2. Fold the last 2 rings back, split the center rings, and bring the folded rings together as shown.
Step 3. Add the 4 rings shown above.
Step 4. Add 2 more rings, then fold these back like you did previously.
Step 5. Add 2 more rings, then repeat steps 3-5
CELTİC KNOT & DAİSY CHAİN MAİLE I had to do some modifications to make this weave work with my rings. I am very happy with the results. You can also find the copper and black bracelet in a kit. I used 20 gauge rings.
Start with 2 6mm rings and connect them with one 4mm ring.
Place a 6mm ring over the 4mm ring, as shown.
Now add two 4mm rings passing through the top 6mm ring and each of the outside 6mm rings as shown.
Add two 4mm rings to the bottom half as you did for the top.
This next ring is optional, but I think it helps keep the weave uniform. Add one 4mm ring to each set of 4mm rings on the top and bottom.
Repeat to continue. Use the outside ring in the previous knot as the first outside ring in the next knot.
Celtic Daisy
I also figured out that you can make a Celtic daisy. Make a chain of 6 Celtic knots, leaving off the bottom black 4mm rings. Attach the ends together. Then run a black 6mm ring through all of the bottom copper 4mm rings to form a circle, and you have made a daisy. It's a little challenging to get all of the copper rings on the 6mm black ring. So, I added 8 of the copper rings, closed the 6mm black ring and attached the remaining copper rings.
JAPANESE CORDUROY CHAİN MAİLLE The sample below shows both sides of this chain maille. The rings that work the best are my 20 gauge 5mm with 7mm.
Step by Step
Step 1. Begin by adding 2 5mm rings to a 7mm ring. When I started this weave I found it easier to add each ring one at a time. But as I got going, I closed some of the 5mm rings and added them to the 7mm rings and the center 5mm rings. If you find that your rings aren't laying correctly, before you add the next ring(s), you can flip the 7mm rings and/or the center 5mm rings, to get them to lay properly.
Step 2. Now add a 5mm ring to the 2 5mm rings. In the sample above these are all done in black, but for the instructions this one is in silver so you can see the ring path better.
Step 3. Now you're going to add 2 more 5mm rings. Make sure you take note of how these rings lay, otherwise the weave won't work right. They form a little "cup" when completed.
Step 4. Take a 7mm ring and pass through the 2 5mm rings as shown. That's it. One corduroy unit is complete. Continue from step 1 by adding the next 2 5mm rings until you have the desired length.
Here is what a few units put together will look like.
STAGGERED CORDUROY WEAVE
Begin with a length of corduroy weave.
Step 1. Add a 5mm ring to the top and bottom 5mm rings that are connected to the 7mm rings, like the ones shown in red. You can do this all the way across the length of your work or 2 at a time. Make sure these rings are inside of the 7mm rings.
Step 2. Now you are going to connect the 5mm rings added in step 1 with a 7mm ring as shown. Continue steps 1 and 2 across the length of your work.
Expanding this weave. To add a second row, use the bottom 5mm rings of your first row, add the center 5mm ring. Then add 2 more 5mm rings. I did this step completely across my work, then came back and added the 7mm rings. These will overlap slightly. This works both horizontally and vertically.
Here is a sample showing both sides.
Alternating Corduroy Weave This is pretty self explanatory, just alternate the 5mm rings as you go along; one set up, then next set down and so on.
BUBBLE STİTCH CHAİN MAİLLE
Here is a small sample of this worked up.Use 20 gauge rings. Step 1. Start with 2 closed 4mm rings
Step 2. Add 1 6mm ring.
Step 3. Add another 6mm ring, but pass through both 4mm rings and make sure it stays in front of your first ring.
Step 4. Add another 6mm ring to the other 4mm ring. Make sure this one stays in back of the center (purple) ring.
Step 5. Now add a 4mm ring, passing through both the center 6mm ring and the ring behind it.
Step 6. Add the other 4mm ring, passing through the center 6mm and the one behind it.
Repeat from step 2 until you have the desired length. Another cool thing to do, that would look nice as a bracelet or necklace, is after each complete bubble, make a spiral chain and join the bubbles together.
This is what the next link looks like.
HELM CHAİN MAİL This weave is also known as the parallel weave. I would suggest using 20 gauge 6mm and 8mm rings to begin with. This weave can also be done with 5mm and 7mm rings. Try experimenting with other sizes and gauges!
This sample is done with 6mm, red and 8mm, green/purple rings. Not the prettiest in color combos, but some rings I had laying around. Step 1. Start by placing 4 8mm rings onto 2 6mm rings.
Step 2. Add an 8mm ring, pink, in between the 8mm rings of step 1 and around the 6mm rings.
Step 3. Now you will add 2 more 6mm rings, blue, and 2 more 8mm rings, silver. Then add your 8mm in between and around the 6mm rings. That's all there is to this one. The hardest part is adding the center, pink, 8mm ring.
BUTTERFLY CHAİN MAİLLE
This sample was made with 5mm 20 gauge rings. The center unit looks the best. You can see that I missed a couple of rings on the end units.
This sample was made with the 6mm rings, and I do like the way this one turned out better. I also tried 8mm, and it was too floppy. Step 1. Add 8 closed rings to 1 open ring. Arrange as shown above.
Step 2. Pass 1 open ring through the top 2 rings and 1 open ring through the bottom 2 rings as shown.
Step 3. Now pass 1 open ring in front of the last 2 rings you added, through the 2 center rings. Add another ring in back, passing through the 2 center rings. Repeat steps 2 and 3 on the other side.
Step 4. You should have 1 unit finished and it should look like the illustration above. Create another unit and connect, shown in the next step.
Step 5. To connect each unit, pass 1 open ring through the bottom center, the top, and top center rings. Pass 1 open ring through the bottom center, the bottom, and top center rings. That's all there is to this one. Pretty simple!!!
DAİSY 4-1 CHAİN MAİLE This is a very simple stitch and looks great connected with 2 6mm rings. In the sample picture 6mm fuchsia and 6mm green rings were used in 20 gauge. Try experimenting with other sizes and gauges!
To begin place 4 closed 6mm rings on 1 open 6mm ring.
Add 1 6mm ring like shown (green)
Add another 6mm ring link shown (green)
That's all there is to it. You can connect each daisy with 2 6mm rings on your end rings; the ones shown in green
TETRA CHAİN MAİLLE
These orbs were made using my 18 gauge 9mm tarnish resistant rings.
I made these using 7mm 20 gauge rings and dropped a 6mm cat's eye bead inside.
Step 1. Begin with 3 rings. Lay the second ring on the first as shown. Add the orbital ring. It was a little hard to get this at first for me. But, once I got the hang of it, these are really quick and easy to make.
Step 2. Now, add 2 more sets of orbital rings, so that you have 3 going around your base ring. This is a top view of what your piece should look like so far.
Step 3. Now, add the next 3 rings. These are each attached to the orbital ring and should be inside of the ring already there. This is also a good place before adding the 3rd ring to place a bead or even a marble inside your orb.
Step 4. Now, you are going to attach 3 more orbital rings. Lay a ring where 2 of the rings meet that you added in step 3. Then attach your orbital ring by going through the 2 rings of step 3. This orbital ring will be in between 2 of the orbital rings you made at the beginning.
This shows the placement of the next orbital ring.
This shows the placement of the last orbital ring. It got cut off, but you can still see how and where it should be attached. You are finished!!
OLİVİA BYZANTİNE CHAİN MAİLE This is a variation of the Byzantine weave. I have found there are many ways to do this weave with different sizes of rings both 20 and 18 gauge. The tutorial shows how to work up this weave using all the same size of rings. I also have a couple variations at the bottom.
This is a sample of what this weave looks like. I used 18 gauge brass 6mm rings with a 7mm center ring. First you need several Byzantine links, which you can find the tutorial for them HERE. This is what 1 Byzantine link should look like.
To connect the links add 4 rings to your link as shown above. You can double these up if you want.
Now add your second link to the first as shown and continue until you have the desired length of your project.
This variation shows larger rings for the center rings, as in the sample above.
Some Variations
In this variation I used 2 rings for the connection rings. Then I added another ring in between those and only passed through the bottom 2 rings of the link. This connection is like a half Byzantine.
In this sample I used 7mm 18g rings to make up the links with two 8mm rings in the center. Then I used 6mm 18g rings to make the half Byzantine connection. I also didn't like that it was rather loose and didn't hold its shape well. So, I connected the 8mm center rings with a 6mm ring and it worked perfectly.
This sample was made using all 5mm 20 gauge rings. To add stability, I connected the center rings.
This sample was made using 5mm and 6mm 20 gauge rings. The connection is done with the half Byzantine and I added a size 6/0 seed bead. As you can see, there is a lot of versatility with this weave. So, play around and have fun mixing sizes, colors. Try adding some beads too.
JAPANESE DAİSY This is the first weave I have done in the Japanese family. All of the Japanese weaves are similar to this. Use larger rings and connect them with the smaller rings. This pattern is shown using 20g 4mm and 6mm rings. It will also work with 20g 5mm rings and 18g 6mm rings.
Here is a pair of red, white, and blue earrings. When creating this daisy, please note that 2 6mm rings are used together, this gives the daisy stability. I found it easier to make each part of the stitch using 1 6mm ring, then pass the second one through the appropriate rings. The lines made in black represent the 4mm rings.
Start with a 6mm ring and add 12 4mm rings. Then pass another 6mm ring through all 12 4mm rings.
Pass a 6mm ring through the top 2 4mm rings, add 4 more 4mm rings. Pass another 6mm ring through all 6 of the 4mm rings.
Keep adding the 6mm rings as you did before passing through 2 4mm rings from your base circle and 2 4mm rings that were added on the ring before. Then add 2 more 4mm rings. You should always have a total of 6 4mm rings on each of the 2 6mm rings you add, which create the petals.
When you add the last 2 6mm rings, you won't need to add any 4mm rings as all 6 of them will already be there. These daisies are rigid enough to hang from ear wires or you can put them together for bracelets and necklaces.
CODA CHAİN MAİLLE For this weave I used 5mm and 7mm rings, and they seemed to work perfectly. I think you could also use the 6mm and 8mm rings. I worked with 20 gauge rings. Try experimenting with other sizes and gauges!
Step 1. Start with a large ring and add 2 smaller rings. Then add 2 more small rings, 1 small ring, 2 small rings, 2 more small rings and a large ring.
Step 2. This is the tricky part. You are going to add 1 large ring by passing through both sets of small rings attached to the large rings. It isn't as hard as it sounds, and once you get the first one, the rest will be easier. As I have been playing with this weave, I have had problems with the small rings popping back through the large ring added in this step. I am making an expanded version, so I have been adding the 2 small connection rings to each of the large rings, which has been helping keep everything in place. If you're only making a single chain, you could add some small beads to each side of the large ring and this would also keep the rings in place.
This is what a chain of this weave will look like.
To expand this weave vertically, make 2 chains the same length. Lay them side by side and use 2 small rings to attach each of the large rings across.
Here is a sample of the vertical expansion. I used 4mm rings for the connection rings. When I used the 5mm rings, it was pretty floppy. I also added some size 8/0 seed beads to the 7mm ring that weaves through the 5mm rings. By adding this bead, it keeps the 5mm rings from popping back up through the 7mm rings, therefore the rings keep their shape.
This is a helm/coda weave combo. I worked it the same way as the coda weave, but instead of weaving the 7mm ring through the 2 rings connected to each of the large rings, I just went around the center ring as in the helm weave. I also connected these 2 chains with 4mm rings and instead of lining up the rings to match each other, I alternated them.
DRAGON SCALE CHAİN MAİLLE WEAVE
For this weave, I used 20 gauge 5mm and 7mm rings. They seemed to work perfectly. I think you could also use the 6mm and 8mm rings, but I haven't tried those yet. This is also a very dense weave and it does take quite a few rings. I use the pre-closed small ring method. It goes faster if you close a bunch of small rings and open a bunch of large rings, so they are all ready to go. This pattern with also work with 20g. 5mm and 18g, 8mm or try it with 20g 6mm and 18g.8mm
Step 1. Make a chain like the one shown above in the desired width.
Step 2. Now make another chain, starting with a small ring that is one large ring shorter than your first chain. End with a small ring. The bottom chain is the first chain and the top chain is this step.
Step 3. Lay the second chain on top of the first, so that the large rings lay over the small rings.
Step 4. To add the next row. Pass a large ring through the 2nd small ring and around the first small ring, add 1 small ring.
Step 5. Pass a large ring through the fourth small ring and back through the second small ring and the small ring you just added. Add a small ring.
To finish the row, add rings like you did in step 5. When you add your last large ring, you will only pass through the 2 small rings to the left of it, and don't add any small rings.
Step 6. For the next row, pass a large ring through the first and third small ring, add 2 small rings.
To finish the row, pass a large ring through the third small ring and the small ring you just added. Add a small ring and pass through the fifth small ring. Continue to the end of the row. Just keep repeating steps 5 and 6 until you have the desired length. If you get confused, check out www.mailleartisans.org. There are a couple of tutorials there that might help you.
JAPANESE CHANDELİER EARRİNGS
The base of these earrings is the Japanese 12-2 Daisy Weave. Then you add 2 more rings opposite each other to form a diamond, then 2-2 chains for the dangles. The sample earrings are done using 4mm and 6mm rings in 20 gauge. You could also add a fire polished bead on a head or eye pin at the end of each dangle.
Using 2 6mm rings in the center, add 12 4mm rings.
Pass a 2 6mm ring through 2 of the 4mm rings and add 4 more 4mm rings.
Pass 2 more 6mm rings through 2 of the 4mm rings on the base and on the ring before.
Continue adding rings until you have a piece like the one shown above.
Add the 6mm rings to opposite ends as shown to form a diamond shape.
Turn the diamond and start adding 2-2 chains to the 5 lower 6mm rings. You can make these as long as you like in whatever color combination that appeals to you.
PARALLEL WEAVE CHAİN MAİLLE
The top sample shows how this weave looks done with the tutorial. The bottom one shows the same weave with extra rings and beads added. Both samples were done with 5mm and 7mm 20g rings. The beads are size 8/0 seed beads. You can try 18g. 6mm with 18g. 8mm rings too.
Step 1. Begin by making a 2 in 1 chain. You could also do 2 in 2, maybe 3 in 3, depending on ring size and gauge. It's up to you. If you plan on adding beads, you should probably do 2 in 1, and use 20 gauge rings.
Step 2. Make a separate overlay by adding 4 small rings to 1 large ring. This piece will lay over the small rings you have in your beginning chain.
Take the over lay rings, and place them over 2 of the small rings, then turn your chain over and add another large ring to the overlay rings to attach them to the chain. Continue down the length of your chain.
Your chain should now look something like this. That's all there is to the basic part of this weave. Have fun embellishing and using different sizes of rings and colors. Let your imagination run wild. The possibilities are numerous.
Here is how the beads are added in the sample above.
3 İN 1 LOOP JUMP RİNG EARRİNGS This is a really fun stitch. It is perfect if you like the long and sleek earrings, as you can make your piece any length. It works well with both 4mm and 6mm rings, 20 gauge. Beads can also be added to the 6mm rings for a kind of cluster look.
This pair of earrings was made with the silver and the purple enamel 4mm rings
This pair of earrings was made with 6mm purple rings and I added some 4mm drop beads.
Step 1. Begin by adding 2 closed rings to 1 open ring.
Step 2. Now place an open ring between the 2 closed rings.
Step 3. Now place 2 closed rings on the open ring you just added. Go back and repeat steps 2 and 3 until you have desired length. To end, place 3 closed rings in your last open ring.
EUROPEAN 4-1 CHAİN MAİLE This pattern can be made with 5mm 20g rings. If you experiment a bit, you'll find that other sizes would work too. 18g. 6mm rings should work.
1. Place 4 closed rings onto 1 open ring and lay them out as shown. 2.
2. Take 1 open ring (green), and go through the 2 rings (red) of step 1. Place 2 closed rings on the open ring, then close the open ring. Continue adding rings as you did in step 2 until the desired length is reached.
To add rings vertically, place 1 open ring (green) as shown, and add 2 closed rings. To continue that row, add 1 open through the 3 rings as shown, then place 1 closed ring and continue across. Notice that you are adding 2 rows at a time.
Sample of earrings made with this stitch To make a pair of earrings shown above, you will need 68 6mm rings and a pair of ear wires. E-mail for prices and styles of earwires. You will need 6 rings on the top, 7 in the middle, and 6 on the bottom. To add that 7th ring in the middle, just do the first part of step 2, but don't add the closed rings. Attach the top 6 rings to another 6mm ring, you can also add your ear wire at this point. Now you will need to work a vertical decrease.
You will only add 1 closed ring to the first open ring. Continue across, adding 1 closed ring to each open ring. When you add your last open ring, DO NOT add a closed ring. So, if you are doing the first row, which is the bottom 6 rings, you will add 5 open rings across, and should have 4 closed rings added to those. For the next row, you will add 3 open rings, with 2 closed rings. Then add your last single ring, and you're done.
Here are some more patterns for earrings. SAMPLES OF JEWELRY MADE WİTH THİS STİTCH
These were made with silver plated 4mm rings and use a European 4-1 decrease. I don't suggest using the enameled copper rings, unless you use a larger size.
These were made with 6mm rings and use a European 4-1 decrease.
These were made with 6mm rings and I added some 5/0 triangle beads
This bracelet was made with 4mm rings and a simple toggle clasp. To complete a 7" bracelet you would need 300-350 4mm rings. This could also be made with the larger 6mm rings for a more lacey look. Beads could be added. The plated 4mm rings worked great for this bracelet, but when I tried using the enameled copper 4mm rings, they didn't. The color kept chipping off as I tried to get the rings closed. So, I would suggest using larger rings.