Chainmail
Updated November 14, 2001
Introduction
I as many other lajvare/lrp'ers like todo my own gear. So in the spring
2001 I decided that I should learn me self how to make a chainmail after
beeing inspired by my friend Markus "Paesha" Fagerberg(thanks
alot! :). So far I havn't done a single chainmail(yeah I'm really lazy
:), but I'm close to finishing my first and so far so good. But I've done
some bracelets,belts and other small things.
How
to get started:
First off you need to know what you wanna build. The more dens/bigger
the armor is the more rings it require. A normal 4-1 armor(Short sleeves)
requires about 10 000 rings when a 6-1 of the same typ requires twice
as much. These are very rough numbers so be sure to get too many than
too few. And ofcourse you need a tool to open/close the rings.
Where to buy these things? Under the sections links you can find a subsection
called Online-shops. Most of 'em are in swedish but if you know a ringmaker
in another country please mail me
the url to it and I'll put it up.
Weaves
European 4-1:
1. First start with three rings like pic1a.
2. Now connect two more rings in the centre ring pointing the same direction
as the other two (pic1b).
3. Insert another centre ring but now into the ring you did the step before
this(pic1c). Now repeat step 2,3 till you got desired length.
4. When you've done that it's time to add another row by connecting a
ring to two rings at a time on the side(pic1d). Repeat this step
till you got desired width.
5. Viola! You got yourself a European 4-1 weave.
 Pic1a |
 Pic1b |
 Pic1c |
 Pic1d |
 Pic1e |
European
6-1:
This is pretty much like the European 4-1 except the centre ring is
connected to six rings instead of four rings.
1. Start
off like 4-1 but instead of just three rings add two additional rings(Pic2a).
2. Now add two more rings in the same centre ring(Pic2b).
3. Connect a new centre ring. This has togo back two steps i.e. connect
it to four rings(Pic2c). Repeat step 2,3 till you've got desired
lenght.
4. And again add a new row on the side. This time connect the new rings
inte three rings at a time(Pic2d). Repeat this step till you got
desired width.
5. Groovy! You've got a European 6-1. These tends to be more dens and
heavier than a standard 4-1 but also much nicer.
 Pic2a |
 Pic2b |
 Pic2c |
 Pic2d |
 Pic2e |
European
8-1:
This is pretty much like the European 4-1 and 6-1 except the centre
ring is now connected to eight rings instead of four/six rings.
1. Start
off like 4-1 but instead of just three rings add four additional rings(Pic3a).
2. Now add two more rings in the same centre ring(Pic3b).
3. Connect a new centre ring. This has togo back three steps i.e. connect
it to six rings(Pic3c). Repeat step 2,3 till you've got desired
lenght.
4. And again add a new row on the side. This time connect the new rings
inte four rings at a time(Pic3d). Repeat this step till you got
desired width.
5. Awesome! You now possess the European 8-1 technique. These tends to
be more dens and heavier than a standard 4-1/6-1(Some might think the
more dens it is the more beautiful it is but I think 6-1 is the best looking).
 Pic3a |
 Pic3b |
 Pic3c |
 Pic3d |
 Pic3e |
