Forsh Chainmail Tutorial

European 4 in 1 is the most common weave in western chainmail. This weave can be used in making chainmail shirts, belts, bracelets, necklaces and just about anything you can think of.

Recommended Ring: Stainless Steel 16g 5/16" ID

Note: With most weaves in chainmail there are a variety of ways to put the rings together. This is just how I find it easiest to create this weave. If you find a way that is more suited to you, or the size of the ring you are working with, do what you find is personally the best.

Step 1:

To start this weave, use 5 rings, opening 1 and closing 4.

Step 2:

Put all 4 closed rings on the 1 open ring and close it. This will create what is called a "four-block".

Step 3:

Lay the four-block out flat pointing the top of the center ring in a specific direction.

Step 4:

Create a second four-block (Step 1) and lay it out with the top of the center ring pointing in the same direction.

Step 5:

Open one ring and connect the 2 four-block so the tops of all 3 center rings point in the same direction.

Step 6:

Create another four-block (Step 1) and lay it out with the top of the center ring pointing in the same direction as the rest.

Step 7:

Open one ring and connect the 2 four-block to the new four-block so the tops of all center rings point in the same direction.

Step 8:

Adding to the block: Take 2 closed rings and 1 open ring. Attach the 1 open ring to the 2 upper-right most rings of the block. Add the 2 closed rings and then close the open ring.

Step 9:

Take 1 closed ring and 1 open ring. Attach the open ring to the closed ring and the 3 rings of the current block as in image above.

Connecting 1:

This will go through the process of connecting separate pieces together. The main thing to notice when connecting two pieces is that the outer rows of rings must be pointing in the same direction.

Connecting 2:

Take 1 open ring and insert it to the top-right 2 rings of one piece and connect it to the top-left 2 rings of the other piece.

Connecting 3:

Continue this process of adding one ring at a time until the 2 pieces are connected.