This is somethin i had in mind lately. So i asked around in my circle of friends who wants to have sum and one of the juggler-girls said, yes, she'd love to have sum for upcoming shows.
I use technics from www.mailleartisans.org to design my stuff. So (almost) all parts/units, including tutorials on howto make them, can be found there.
As material i basicalley used aluminium scales, aluminium rings and brass rings:
Specs:
Scales: 35mm length, 22mm width,1,3mm thickness
RIngs: 1,6mm gauge, Inner diameter: 11,52mm; 8,8mm; 7,6mm; 6,4mm.
Source: I get the stuff from a german seller, but i suppose, he gets the scales from TRL (www.theringlord.com) and resells them; my scales are being connected with the 8,8-rings, but i guess, there'll be similar provided by TRL.
I use technics from www.mailleartisans.org to design my stuff. So (almost) all parts/units, including tutorials on howto make them, can be found there.
As material i basicalley used aluminium scales, aluminium rings and brass rings:
Specs:
Scales: 35mm length, 22mm width,1,3mm thickness
RIngs: 1,6mm gauge, Inner diameter: 11,52mm; 8,8mm; 7,6mm; 6,4mm.
Source: I get the stuff from a german seller, but i suppose, he gets the scales from TRL (www.theringlord.com) and resells them; my scales are being connected with the 8,8-rings, but i guess, there'll be similar provided by TRL.
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The Cups:
I made the cups by using a double-pyramid-system, say, i connected scales in rows from top to bottom: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,6,5,4, then we removed the two inner-scales in the no.7-row.
I connected the cups with a "starfish-base unit" (11,52 center-ring; 6,4mm brass/alu) in the center: two ends are connected with the outer rings of the no.6-row, then we added two rings at each lower ends of the star with the rings of the lower no.5-row.
For the neckholder we decided to use flower-chains (6,4; 8,8), alternating brass and aluminium rings for the flowers. Reason for flower chain is that she said that best would be to keep the chains flat as possible, so that it doesn't hurt when she leans on sth with her body.
The lower scale-chain consists of a simple chain (i call it "klokette": toilet-chain), simply connecting brass rings with alternating a scale or an aluminium ring; rings used here are the 8,8-rings again. The ends are connected sumwhere in the outer region of the lowest scale/ring-row.
The last photo shows my second scale-bra made with mainly black materials; if there are any questions about it, just ask.
I made the cups by using a double-pyramid-system, say, i connected scales in rows from top to bottom: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,6,5,4, then we removed the two inner-scales in the no.7-row.
I connected the cups with a "starfish-base unit" (11,52 center-ring; 6,4mm brass/alu) in the center: two ends are connected with the outer rings of the no.6-row, then we added two rings at each lower ends of the star with the rings of the lower no.5-row.
For the neckholder we decided to use flower-chains (6,4; 8,8), alternating brass and aluminium rings for the flowers. Reason for flower chain is that she said that best would be to keep the chains flat as possible, so that it doesn't hurt when she leans on sth with her body.
The lower scale-chain consists of a simple chain (i call it "klokette": toilet-chain), simply connecting brass rings with alternating a scale or an aluminium ring; rings used here are the 8,8-rings again. The ends are connected sumwhere in the outer region of the lowest scale/ring-row.
The last photo shows my second scale-bra made with mainly black materials; if there are any questions about it, just ask.
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The rest of the bra and its chains look the same way on the inside.
How scale-mail looks like from the inside can be watched on theringlord.com under scales; the bra cups are plain weave, no interconnections to increase or decrease row-sizes. Just triangles and an additional row on the base; used ~100 scales per cup, base is 11 scales.
I never used fabric for my chainmail. I thought bout using it when i make sum slips out of it, and, as you, i thought that it could hurt, if use it for cups, but there are only two things. i can tell: First (by experience): if you can close a ring perfectly, don't worry bout the crack from the boltie that cut the rings.
Second. Trial and error. I never experienced error, so be optimistic and don't worry bout lesser painful techniques, if you don't really know, if you ever need them.
Construct by making units - that's the best way to "take measure" anyways. I'm using a doll from taylorship, that can change measures and it really works fine.
hm, that vid seems to be new, but it's crap imho. Take the two biggest rows, connect them and push them together like the vids first step and then just ad row by row. Yet if you dunno howto, take a piece of 4in1 and exchange half of the "rows" by scales: When building scalemail it's just connect a scale with to rings to two other scales - that makes only 2in1, but it gets 4in1 with the next row/layer.
I dunno, if the idea of a band is such a good idea as the holes of the scales are evidentially above the end of each scale - it's as if there was a invisible line between the holes and your band - you'd have to lay the scales upon the band to connect the band and the scales.
Scale weave/4in1 is kinda lose, so if you need interconnections, maybe better bend the weave and go further into trial and error to find out whats best for weaving around tits.
Thanks for the links too I have attempted maille and scale work in the distant past but gave up due to a lack of info, but I've just spent the better part of the day gathering info. . most of which recommends starting out small ie coif's hacky sacks ( bra's too I guess ) etc. before moving on to hauberks etc.
I can foresee a major set of projects coming up, which will start small and go large scale.
Thanks once again for the great instructable, it's really made my day!
Holder-chains made from flowerchain are mostly made from 12 flowers each (3 Rings/flower=36 rings plus interconnecting rings = 36+13= 49; add a piece of gum-band in the very neck to avoid rubbing/hurts from chains) + Maybe round 50-100 additional rings for the "jewelry"-chain. You can certainly add sum more chains, if you want.
Wait, i'll add sum recent photos from my last tank-tops...