Chainmaille - How do i start?

Joanne1981 · Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 6:34 pm Post subject:

Thanks George and Lisa. I will give it another go. I have the most HORRENDOUS sense of spacial direction (If I was in school now I'm sure I'd be classed as dyslexic!) and it hurts my head!!! Haha! But I will have ANOTHER go!!! Rainbow

Ta J x

Belle · Beginning Beader Joined: 21 Jan 2007 Posts: 81

Lisa x wrote:

The rubber O ring kits from Beadsisters are fab and funky, don't get rid of them you'll regret it.

Which Beadsisters kits have you got? I bought the rainbow bracelet one and the pink & purple byzantine to try as my first attempt at Chainmaille. At first I thought it was a bit daunting, then I read the instructions carefully a couple of times and then followed them slowly bit by bit. They are easy to follow, well the Rainbow bracelet kit one is.. that is the only one I have tried so far! I completed it succesfully.. and it's really pretty! I'm pleased as I thought I wouldn't be able to do it. After you've repeated the process a couple of times, it tends to sink in and you find you dont need the instructions so much! I found it surprinsly easy as I thought it would be really complicated! I found that if you count out how many jump rings and rubber o rings you need for each section before you start, so you dont get confused. Also opening jump rings at the start helped.

I'm gonna attenpt the byzantine kit soon.. hope I get grips with that too. Hope this helps, Belle Smile

Joanne1981 · Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 9:05 am Post subject:

Thanks Belle, I will have another go. I have the rubber O ring braclet/cuff kit, the kings mail and the anklet with the beady drops. I LOVE this one!!! Hey ho.....will push my crazy lack of spacial awareness away and swear more tomorrow night I think!!!! Haha!!!

Kats · Newbie Joined: 24 Nov 2007 Posts: 4

How are you getting on Joanne?

I started off with a kit (Beadsisters again) and I am hooked (no pun intended).

I find that I just get completely absorbed with whatever I'm making - and I'm learning new weaves all the time (though I have to admit that my roundmaille bangle was thrown across the room in frustration more than once!)

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Joanne1981 · Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 4:23 pm Post subject:

Hi,

Thanks for asking. I haven't really got any further with it. I am thinking of trying to maybe doing some shappy weave bits as I know I can do that and then thinking about moving on again. Is the 4 in 1 the most basic or is there another I could maybe try...it just makes me swear!!

mizgeorge · Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 7:21 pm Post subject:

Jo, most people start with Byzantine, which is probably the easiest, followed b helm, box and Euro 4-1.

The nice thing about Byzantine is that it's easy to keep track of in your hand, which can make mastering the ring placements a bit easier to start with.

george Daisy

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Joanne1981 · Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 9:37 am Post subject:

Thanks George, I will give it a go. Will google it and find a pattern. I have a couple of stressful weeks at work (I love my job...I love my job...I lvoe my job....she lies) and then I can get some chain maille done again. So, will get back to you about it, I am determined to master it!!

daisybelle · Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 10:37 am Post subject:

Yesterday I did the Byzantine kit and the round maille bangle kit from Beadsisters - I am now hooked! Very Happy

Byzantine was real easy, the other one took a bit of undoing before I got the knack of it.
And oh boy by the end of the day my fingers were sore!

Here's a link to a Byzantine tutorial

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Joanne1981 · Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 10:50 am Post subject:

Oooh thanks for this. WIll have a go.

Belle · Beginning Beader Joined: 21 Jan 2007 Posts: 81

I've now completed my pink & violet byzantine kit.. thanks to Lisa for the tips! Smile

I gave it to my mum for mother's day.. and she loves it! She hasnt stopped wearing it since.. and she's already had an admirer.. lol.. her friend noticed it matched her crocs wellies coincidentally and sait it was pretty Smile

mum told her I made it and her friend said I was talented Very Happy

Lisa x · Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 8:52 am Post subject:

Well done Belle, glad to be of help.

taskerrose · Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 11:44 am Post subject:

I started by buying the kits from beadsister and also a kit from maille queen. I found the kits easy to do. My son loved the byzantine design so much he bought me some more coloured rings from beadsisters so I could make it up for him in some funky colours. He has never shown much interest in what I have made before and I was trying to find what would appeal to lads in their 20's now I know. Keep trying its worth it in the end. Also you have the satifaction of knowing that you are playing a small part in keeping an old skill alive ( the weaves are derived from patterns used long ago to make maille for knights of old) something which today is sadly lacking. Fingers crossed.

Crafty Cat · Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 1:36 pm Post subject:

Well I for one would totally recommended going on one of Lynnes workshops not only do you have a fab teacher you also get yummy biccies and palma violets Wink

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Praha · Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 3:23 am Post subject:

I would recommend DVD 1 and 2 by spider of Spider chainmaille.

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Each DVD has about seven different weaves and makes bracelets. However once you know the weaves you can make anything.

They are extremely well made DVDs and easy to follow.
She will also send you the jump rings for each bracelet. Her rings are very good too.

Also good if you want to go into teaching as she explains everything so well. So you would pick up some tips just by watching them.

Julz
PS, shipping to Europe was cheap too.

Joanne1981 · Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 7:49 am Post subject:

Thanks for that! I am officially hooked to chain maille now! I have ordered 3 more kits and 2 more books from Beadsisters and they should come today....yey hey!!