kellymariemcewan

I have learned how to chainmail over the summer

This is a basic weave, historically for making shirts that deflect overhand sword and axe blows. Puncturing weapons such as arrows and pikes can penetrate if they find a lucky spot in between the links. Generally, weapon edges were smeared with poop so even the smallest cut could be fatal. I also picked up some nasty history during the lesson!

Steelmaiden taught me at this year’s Herstmonceux medieval festival. A very skilled and patient person with heaps of metalwork knowledge and experience. They are available for workshops too!

We started out with a very simple bracelet. Steelmaiden kindly supplied me further linkage to blow the sides of it out, so I turned it into more of a gauntlet.

At this point I had gotten the hang of this weave.

Now that I had the knowledge, I brought one side of the chainmail over my hand into a hathphool-inspired triangle, linked to a ring.

Related;

Other jewellery (but crochet).

Wearable art through Depop.