M.A.I.L. :: View topic - Question on teaching chainmaille to adults

Callie97 · Posted on Tue May 14, 2013 7:41 pm

I am putting together a 4 hour class to offer at a fiber event next year. I'm looking for suggestions or insight into the best weave to start them out with. I am already planning on having them practice opening and closing riings making a 1-1 or 1-2-1 chain. I wasn't sure if Byzantine or Euro 4in1 should be the main weave. Byzantine has lots of variations and is used in lots of jewelry while Euro 4in1 is more authentic. Comments and suggestions are welcome.

Thanks,
Callie97

Times fun when you're having flies. -Kermit the Frog

WpA09 · Posted on Tue May 14, 2013 8:38 pm

Well, EU4-1 is a really great weave for starters. If your subjects want some more challenge they could leap into the world of half persian strands, HP3-1 or HP4-1.

Another great weave for starters could be box weave.

These are my favorites (so far) Very Happy

When in doubt... C4
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Inea · Posted on Wed May 15, 2013 1:42 am

As someone who teaches beginning chainmaille at SCA events I can tell you... DO NOT start with Euro 4 in 1.

If your students have never held pliers in their hands to make jewelry before, Euro4in1 is way too hard.
They don't even know how to close rings properly!

After several classes where I teach several weaves in a 3 hours space, start with 2 in 2, the simple japanese weaves which are variants of it, Shaggy loops, Camalot (cgmaille.com), Helm and lastly, Box (Queen's Link). Even byzantine is usually beyond them. I've personally taught up to 10 people at a time, and you have to apply to the least common denominator in your group of students. They will be the one holding the class back because no matter what you do, they don't get it. You end up making the piece FOR THEM during the class just so they'll go away at the end and you don't have to refund their money.
Think simple.

Good luck! Making new maillers is what we do!

My favorite type of Maille is the kind the Postal Service DOESN'T deliver!

cliffordparker · Posted on Wed May 15, 2013 4:18 am

I have used Byzantine as a "starter class" for years. I use fairly large rings and have never had a student not finish a bracelet chain or ask for a refund.

kerravonsen · Posted on Wed May 15, 2013 5:09 am

Teach them European 4-in-1, not Byzantine.

European 4-in-1 has a larger range of allowable aspect ratios than Byzantine. This is important because:
- Aspect Ratio is a hard concept for newbies to understand. You're not going to have time to teach them that in a 4-hour class. So better to teach them a weave where you don't have to explain about AR.
- Newbies aren't going to be making their own rings, and thus their choice of rings (if they want to make more maille on their own) is more limited. Better to teach them a weave that works for a wide range of ring sizes.
European 4-in-1 is easier to make, In My Humble Opinion.
E4 is more versatile; with Byzantine you have a chain, with E4 you can make a band or a sheet, there's more stuff one can do with it.
European 4-in-1 is the "classic" chainmaille weave.

Craft isn't cheaper than therapy, but it's more fun.

djgm · Posted on Wed May 15, 2013 7:44 am

teach Byz,, it gets people used to the idea of flopping links around and locking them in place and doesnt expand in area so you could finish it in four hours. also teach Euro 4in1 because it is expected. then after that do something interesting.

losthelm · Joined: July 25, 2008 Posts: 604 Submissions: 0

Find a group and run a trial class.
Have a variety of tools to suit different hand sizes.
Aluminum is cheap and fairly easy for most people.
Have a list of suppliers and additional resources.
TRL, cgmaille.com, this forum, zlosk.com, and such.

Ironband · Posted on Wed May 15, 2013 5:48 pm

In a four hour class you should definitely be able to get them to Euro 4-1. I do 1.5 hour seminar at varoius conventions and I am able to get 99% of my students through a patch of 4-1, and that includes a lot of background on history, materials, winding, cutting, etc. You can do it too, but you have to be aware of different kinds of learning styles and be prepared to 'walk around' and help folks. Depending on the number of students you will have, it is really helpful to have another mailler on hand to assist.

If you have a projector available, then you can project pictures or animations of the various steps. Shower curtain rings are also great for showing on a macro scale, and they can be passed around.

Aluminum is good for some folks, but the springiness can be difficult for some folk. I find soft mild steel is a really good medium for teaching.

I still have the first patch of Euro 4-1 I wove when I took a class over 20 years ago. It is falling apart from poor cuts, poor closures, etc. I bring it to every class for two reasons: 1. To remind me that as my students are, once I was and 2. To show the students that as I am, they too can be.

As an aside, I'm about to add some cheap but decent flat nose spring loaded molded grip student pliers to my site for about $2.75-$3.00 per pair, if you need pliers for the students to use.

I wish the cons I teach at would give me 4 hours...

Andre "Ironband" Miron
West Coast Chainmail - saw cut loose links and more!
www.chainmaildude.com

Callie97 · Posted on Wed May 15, 2013 7:27 pm

Thanks for all the great suggestions. I'm use to walking around and helping. I've taught nalbinding, chinese knotting and other such classes at this venue before.
I've read about using the curtain rings and thought that would be a great visual. Are these the plastic one that snap together?
I'll have to take a look at your pliers as I will need to get some more student ones. Hate to have them buy a pair and then not like it. I try to supply just about everything cus no matter how you describe what they will need, someone will still bring the wrong stuff. Very Happy

I generally try to concentrate on them getting the process and not focusing on the finished product. I still think I should teach a finishing class for all the projects my students started and didn't finish during the class!!

Thanks,
Callie97

Times fun when you're having flies. -Kermit the Frog

Gallery Assistant · Posted on Sun May 19, 2013 9:54 pm

I only have experience teaching stduents in 3-6 graders, but I think that adults should definitely be able to do a patch or even a bracelet of European 4 in 1. I have found that the ORAAT method is the best one to use. From there you can have them do Box Chain, Byzantine, Roundmaille.

The shower rings are definitely are a good way to go. I use the snap tight rings, but I am sure that you could use the others as well.

Pliers, I have gone in the past to the "Dollar Store" and bought either lineman or needle nose pliers depending on the materials you are using. This way you are not spending much and it should get them by for the length of the class. I usually use 16g galvy , I don't remember the ID I use, but I can look it up if you would like me to.

Once you stop learning, you stop living, so...
Ask questions.
Try new things.
Share what you know.

MailleCode V2.0 T5.3 R4.4 E0.0 Feur MFe.sBr Wg Cwb G.7-5.1 I3.1-11 N20.5 Pj Dcdjt Xa1w2 S08

losthelm · Joined: July 25, 2008 Posts: 604 Submissions: 0

Another teaching aid that can help are PVC rings made from pipe.
Slitting them with a ring cutter and then useing a band saw works fairly quick with a good rip fence.
As for pliers I often stop at estate sales, and flee markets to pickup additional pairs that will work.
Most only need teeth removed, a little wd40, or plastidip for the handles.

Callie97 · Posted on Mon May 20, 2013 12:22 pm

MusicMan: If you have time the ID for the galvy would be great.
I was thinking about going with Alum or left over rings to have them start with.

What size PVC pipe do you use? How thin do you cut it? I have access to different types of saws so that isn't an issue.

Thanks!

Thanks,
Callie97

Times fun when you're having flies. -Kermit the Frog