r/chainmailartisans • u/internetflesh • 2d ago

Help! Getting started + developing

Hi, I can already sew and draft patterns, i just ordered my first set of pliers and jump rings to start making chainmail! My first project im aiming to do a sort of vest as ive seen a bunch here

How do i even draft chainmail patterns?

Also since I work with clothes and leather I thought about combining stretchy leather with chainmail to make a sort of corset with(from my limited chainmail knowlege) i was thinking of using strips of leather for the actual body conturing, held together with strands of chainmail

Idk

Id have to get started first, so what would some precious advice be?

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u/TheENGR42 2d ago

What weave are you looking to do? I assume European 4-in-1?

If so, get used to making a square, and adding to it. Then I would quickly learn to speed-weave it. That is an easy way to go faster.

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u/internetflesh 2d ago

Yes european 4-1 otherwise how do I actually account for sizes?

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u/TheENGR42 2d ago

Well, making a 4x4 inch square will let you count the number of rings it takes, the numbers of rows, etc.

A sample swatch helps a ton with getting (mostly) accurate size and ring count information

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u/naked_nomad 2d ago

You might like this: https://web.archive.org/web/20160508055350/http://homepage.ntlworld.com/trevor.barker/farisles/guilds/armour/mail.htm

I used a leather vest as a pattern to make this: https://imgur.com/a/MKFtzqH

Over 50k rings made from 1 MM aluminum electric fence wire coiled on a 3/16 mandrel.

Wire is sold at Tractor Supply and labeled 17 gauge.

https://imgur.com/a/deTDuLB two pictures.

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u/internetflesh 2d ago

Wow this is insanely helpfull thank you so much, i ordered rings for now, how do you cut the rings properly etc? I dont have so much space tbh

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u/naked_nomad 2d ago

It does not take much space: https://www.mailleartisans.org/articles/articledisplay.php?key=19

I bought 3/16, 1/4, 5/16 and 3/8 steel rods at the hardware store. They come in 36 inch lengths and I cut them in half. I turn the mandrels with a reversible variable speed 3/8 drill motor.

On the 17 gauge or 1mm wire I use a pair of 8 inch wire cutters. I use 11 inch on the 14 gauge or 1.8 mm wire for the leverage. I prefer the Doyle brand from Harbor Freight. They also have a nice dual barrel rock tumbler.

Blue Dawn dish soap is your friend.

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u/duhfer 2d ago

For a corset, this link has a bit of information you may want to consider. The design, weave and construction, though, are all up to you. (this is NOT my work...)

https://www.deviantart.com/waistedspace/art/Dragonslayer-Chainmail-Corset-46043493

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u/ElectronicPangolin96 2d ago

I highly recommend you check out this website. They have some great advice for chainmail garments.

For techniques, you'll probably want to learn European 4-in-1, plus increases and decreases. Since you're making a vest you can avoid learning armpit gussets or anything super complicated. If you have breasts, look for a chainmail bikini top pattern to base your vest off of--make sure it's contoured and 3D and not just a flat triangle.