A faster way of making chainmail

As I was making various chainmail things, shirts head protection and jewelry, I came up with a fast way of making chainmail. It requires some preparation, but the result is great. This instructable is quite short, as the technique isn't really difficult. I am not going to show how to make or cut the rings, I trust you know how to do that. The only thing you need to know is how to make european chainmail.

Step 1: Beginning the weave

To start, you just use the european 4-1 weave. be sure to make an angle like in the picture. my suggestion is to start the top piece of 5 rows high, and go down on the left-hand-side at least 4 rings wide (the rows down depend on you plan). These dimensions can differ, but in my opininion this makes the easiest base to start with.

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( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( 
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( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( (
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If you start like this, you can go on with the technique described in the next steps.

NB: I recommend the rings to be bent open with the opening facing up and moving the left side towards you. This makes it way easier to weave.

Comments

[blaze.ninja42.0]

.i was wondering if you could post a picture of how you started it, like instead of showing how to put another ring on one that's started, i can't seem to get it right, i think that would be of very much help, showing the first three or four rings being put together.

[Tango-Oscar-Mike]

I've edited the i'ble, hope it's now a bit clearer.

[Tango-Oscar-Mike]

That's a great idea, I'll work on it and hope to post it very soon. Thanks for the great input.

[hanelyp]

With only every other row of rings being opened, you could weave with half the rows using punched washers.

[comicfairy]

Great idea, helpful pics... but isn't the time saved in this method (by ringing two pieces at once) wasted by initially opening half of the rings?

[Tango-Oscar-Mike]

From my experience, it's a bit faster. Maybe it even helps you mentally, because every ring you attach looks like you've attached two. This already makes it look a lot faster.

[Machine]

Well that's all well and good, but where does the zip go?

[Tango-Oscar-Mike]

This Instructable is all about a faster way to make the chainmail. Not about how to make a shirt. If you need to know that, You might want to take a look at "Ineverfinishanythi". BTW that 'ible' is also without a zip.

[Machine]

It was just a little joke. Of course there's no zips in chainmail!! I like your method, it seems very fast. I've seen people making chainmail and it can be quite tedious, although there are machines to make it. And, making a small machine to make it can't be too hard.

[WriterChick]

Tom, this is a terrific 'ible. Thanks for sharing this shortcut to a labor-intensive process.

[rimar2000]

Very nice! (but don't go to war with that).