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Piper
 [ Ringlet ]
Joined: May 1, 2012
Posts: 8
Submissions: 0
Location: Europe
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| Opinions needed |
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| Posted on Sat May 19, 2012 6:26 pm || Last edited by Piper on Sun May 20, 2012 12:41 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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I'm very new to chain maille and as my main hobby is piping, maille is something I'd like to do while watching telly and just put my mind at ease to focus on something 'simple'. It also helps me to keep myself from picking up smoking again which has been nagging at me a lot lately.
I'm not experienced enough to come up with something brand new so I'm just working my way through several weaves as they're supposed to be made. The last one I learned is 'Helm's Deep' and I'm very fond of the look of it. I had made something that could be a bracelet but then found I didn't have the right size of clasp for it but suddenly got the idea of making it into a necklace. You know, one of those longer ones that hangs of nicely and has some random items hanging on the end. I've been looking for one I really like for quite a while now but since I can make one myself now, I had a try.
Now I'm not really pleased with the result. The weave itself is fine but the finishing touch seems to be missing. Perhaps I shouldn't have made the chain into one whole but left it open and attached the two ends at some point? Well, here's where I'd like your opinions, please.
I've used the Helm's chain weave on the necklace and the beginning of the weave to connect the scales. The main necklace is made in 16ga 3/8" and 16ga 1/4" AWG rings, the small bit with the 16ga 1/4" AWG rings and 1.2mm x 4.2mm rings.
Piper |
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Rognvald
 [ Big Voice ]
Joined: January 29, 2011
Posts: 238
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| Posted on Sun May 20, 2012 3:43 am |
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Nice work. It might help to hang the scales from, say, the last few rings, spreading them out a bit, but overlapping? You might find some arrangement that is more pleasing to you.
Also, the hanging part of the necklace is a part of the focal point, so it might work to make that the same size as the rest, rather than smaller.
Will look forward to seeing what you come up with! |
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Joined: December 22, 2007
Posts: 3615
Submissions: 99
Location: Hampton, Virginia USA
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| Posted on Sun May 20, 2012 4:04 am |
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I like it, but I think Rognvald's suggestions are good too. 
It looks like the weave you have used is Helm Chain and not Helm's Deep Chain.
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kaeru
 [ Big Voice ]
Joined: November 16, 2009
Posts: 161
Submissions: 3
Location: Finland
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| Posted on Sun May 20, 2012 9:10 am |
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Your necklace is much more eye pleasing than my first one 
It seems you already have an idea about how it could be changed to please you more, I'd say go for it. But be careful, sometimes opening and closing many times (in the design process) distorts the rings.
Only one word can make me angry, and trust me dear, you can't pronounce it. |
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Piper
[ Ringlet ]
Joined: May 1, 2012
Posts: 8
Submissions: 0
Location: Europe
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| Posted on Sun May 20, 2012 12:40 pm |
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You're absolutely right. Please excuse my mistake here.
Piper |
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Piper
[ Ringlet ]
Joined: May 1, 2012
Posts: 8
Submissions: 0
Location: Europe
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| Posted on Sun May 20, 2012 5:13 pm |
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Well, I've made changes to it and added two more shorter chains with three scales on each chain and put them on either side of the longer 'centerpiece' which looks better in my opinion. However, I put the whole construction around my neck again and decided that because of the size of the biggest rings used (16ga 3/16" AWG) I look like a big American rapper with all his gold around my neck. Since that's not really what I was looking for, I'm going to make it into a belt instead and brainstorm again about a suitable necklace, perhaps using smaller rings instead. I've got until September until I have to go to a wedding so hopefully plenty of time to make something.
Piper |
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Joined: December 22, 2007
Posts: 3615
Submissions: 99
Location: Hampton, Virginia USA
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| Posted on Sun May 20, 2012 7:30 pm |
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| Piper wrote: | Well, I've made changes to it and added two more shorter chains with three scales on each chain and put them on either side of the longer 'centerpiece' which looks better in my opinion. However, I put the whole construction around my neck again and decided that because of the size of the biggest rings used (16ga 3/16" AWG) I look like a big American rapper with all his gold around my neck. Since that's not really what I was looking for, I'm going to make it into a belt instead and brainstorm again about a suitable necklace, perhaps using smaller rings instead. I've got until September until I have to go to a wedding so hopefully plenty of time to make something.
Piper |
Okay, that made me laugh out loud. 
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Joined: September 02, 2010
Posts: 380
Submissions: 16
Location: Freiburg (Germany)
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Joined: May 07, 2008
Posts: 3500
Submissions: 147
Location: Germany, Herxheim
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| Posted on Sun May 20, 2012 9:08 pm |
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Well - Mr.T looks more like a guy who wears a dozen golden belts as necklaces - and NOT necklaces as belts...
-ZiLi-
Maille Code V2.0 T6.5 R5.6 Ep Fper Mfe.s Ws$ Cpbsw$ G0.4-3.5 I1.6-16.0 N28.25 Pj Dacdejst Xagtw S08 Hi
Human societies are like chain mail.
A single link will be worth nothing.
A chain is of use, but will break at the weakest link.
A weak weave will have the need to replace weak links.
A strong weave will survive even with weak links included.
-'me |
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Joined: May 08, 2010
Posts: 1104
Submissions: 11
Location: Chesapeake, VA, USA
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Joined: March 3, 2002
Posts: 4372
Submissions: 79
Location: tres piedras, new mexico
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| Posted on Mon May 21, 2012 2:24 am |
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rappers need more maille.
PSA: remember to stretch.
3.o is fixing everything. |
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Joined: May 08, 2010
Posts: 1104
Submissions: 11
Location: Chesapeake, VA, USA
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| Posted on Mon May 21, 2012 5:22 pm |
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| sakredchao wrote: | | rappers need more maille. |
Yeah, over their mouths so that they STFU.  |
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Piper
[ Ringlet ]
Joined: May 1, 2012
Posts: 8
Submissions: 0
Location: Europe
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Joined: June 14, 2009
Posts: 100
Submissions: 6
Location: Austin, Texas
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| Posted on Sun Jun 03, 2012 2:33 pm |
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Helm Chain also looks really nice twisted or braided. Here's a necklace I made forever ago (and sold, don't have it anymore) made from 22awg and 24awg:
Going back and remaking this design to be more intricate has been on my to-do list, there's really a lot you could do with woven strands of Helm Chain. 
-Deborah
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Joined: July 18, 2007
Posts: 59
Submissions: 56
Location: Geelong, Australia
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| Posted on Mon Jun 04, 2012 3:12 am |
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That's a nice looking piece, Femailler. I've seen a few braided/twisted pieces and this doesn't look overly heavy. (I guess 22G and 24G can't make anything look heavy...)
Kelly Clitheroe
Maille_Fantasy
Maille Fantasy
What we do in life echoes in eternity-Maximus Decimus Meridius (Gladiator 2000) |
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