Learning (the hard way!)

Well, I've been messing around with chain maille for a while now and I've learned some things. The first is that I have a LOT more to learn! I keep trying different things with patterns I've gotten off the internet and most of them don't look right due to using the wrong size jump rings. I need to study up on inner and outer diameters and their ratios to get a better understanding of what works and what doesn't.

I have also learned that buying really good rings for my first project has spoiled me for the cheap stuff. There really is a difference. The rings I purchased from Unkamen Gifts and The Jump Ring Lady had smooth edges that closed beautifully. The cheaper ones I bought from AC Moore seemed cruder by comparison, like they were cut with something blunt and large.

A third thing I've learned is that it is really helpful to look at several different tutorials for the same weave. Sometimes the teacher just explains things better. Sometimes they have a slightly different method that is easier to understand or execute. For example, I was trying to do a European 4 in 1 weave and kept ending up with a confusing mess. Then I used some instructions that had the beginning ring anchored and used an upholsterer's pin to go through the rings and hold them in the correct position while placing the next ring in the pattern. Talk about making life easier!

Stay tuned - I have a backlog of projects that need completing, photographing, and posting.