Got my rings... Gonna go BYZANTINE!

I haven't made chainmail in years but here's one health hint....get some moleskin and make patches for your fingertips. You can blister up really easily and then you're outta commission til you start forming calluses.

Are you using soft metal like silver, or stainless? Big or small rings?

I helped to make a mail shirt once, in stainless and copper. NEVER again!

-- KarenK Desert Dreamer Designs

go for it Tink--I just love the look of that byzantine chain. I like it so much I hauled out our wire work books and got more from the library. Think I may have to do more wire work next year, I never did get enough practice to get good, and never went beyond the non-expensive wires. But I've bookmarked the Urban Maille site! Sarajane

Sarajane's Polymer Clay Gallery

we knitted some out of rug yarn with broomstick needles for a production of Camelot--lloks good, at least from the audience! Won't do for the SCA crowd though! Sarajane

Sarajane's Polymer Clay Gallery

The jumprings from Urban Maille are absolutely gorgeous! I can't get over how nice they are. Beautifully formed and cut, then tumbled to polish them up and make them silky smooth.

I hope I can make this bracelet without messing it up. LOL!

Don't open the rings farther than you have to.

Use two sets of pliers to close the rings, holding them horizontally to the table with the opening of the ring at the top.

Open a bunch of rings first, line then up in sets (enough in each to do a repeat) with the "higher" end of each ring facing up and on the right (if you are right handed). That way you can just reach down and grab each ring in order instead of fussing to untangle them, etc. Having them in groups also helps you keep track of where you are. There should be no need to set your pliers down. Hold the chain in your left with one pair of pliers, pick up a ring with your right hand pliers (use your left hand to adjust it in the jaws of the pliers if necessary) slip it through the rings in the chain. Holding both sides of the ring now (with the pliers held horizontally) close the ring, going just a bit farther and then back into position, jiggling it so to speak to "seat it".

Hope this helps!

Oh YESSSSSSSSSSS! I can almost close my eyes and see you doing that! Thank you so much!

Thanks Mary Ann! It does help, especially the tip about opening up a lot of them and setting them in groups ready to go. Sarajane

Sarajane's Polymer Clay Gallery

You'll do a great job. I think Aislyn at Urban Maille is a wonder - she really takes care of quality and pays attention to all the details. I can highly second Tink's recommendation on this one!

Susan in Canada

What she said!! Sounds exactly like what I did when I made my bracelet. It's especially helpful to set up a full set of rings in advance. Only other thing I can think of is to not hold the rings with a death grip on the pliers. Silver is soft and you'll get indents if you hold the rings *too* tight!

One more thing - Aislyn's rings are just the right size to have all the pieces fit together - there's little wiggle room to spare. I'd still advise making one section of Byzantine with copper or brass rings for practice first!

That said, I've worn my bracelet almost every day since I made it. I love the weight on my wrist and it looks great too!!

Mj

Whoo! It's great fun! I've been making byzantine "stations" (is that the word? - little sections that I'm gonna join with wired glass beads) since whoever it was (sorry, can't remember... Jerri?) posted the links to Urban Maille and their bracelet. I found as usual that it's quite easy once I could visualise what goes where.

You basically make a "double chain" - the initial 2 links (A), then 2 links through them (B), then two links through them (C). Open the two on the working end (C) like a book and fold them right back, then open the next two back (B) slightly and hook 2 links (D) between them (B) and through the ones you folded back (C). (D) is now the "initial" link, add 2 sets of 2 links and repeat the folding back procedure.

Hope my description helps... Once you get the hang of it it's quite easy, but looks impressive!

-- Free sweets:

I'm happy to report that my bracelet was finished well before I had to leave for class tonight. YAY! I absolutely love it! Now I want to do one with smaller rings, but I'm not sure what gauge and ID would be appropriate. I like the balance of the 16 gauge/4.5mm ID rings I used.

Aislyn told me that 16 gauge, 3.5mm ID rings also work, but the weave isn't quite as snug as the 16 gauge wire. I've made some 16/3.5 rings and done up one section and she's right. It's still very pretty, but not as striking as the larger wire. I'm waiting on a wire delivery so I can make more rings to try, but I really, really, REALLY like the look of Urban Maille's products and may give up making my own in favor of buying more of theirs!

Mj

Hmmmm....

immediate vicinity.<

Nothing worse than a stray pull in the wrong direction!

-- KarenK Desert Dreamer Designs

Ok, so where are the online instructions? I have to make one!

Charlie.

you mean thats not how you're supposed to hold the tights up? Sarajane

Sarajane's Polymer Clay Gallery

I used 18 gauge soft silver to make the rings for my bracelets (the one on my website used this gauge so you can get an idea of how "dense" the weave is). The ID is 3.6mm.

ROFL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!