We still get many requests for patterns of our own original designs. First, we must point out that such patterns do not even exist. It would be pointless for us to write down step by step instructions to making pieces which, as the original designers, only we have permission to make (No, we're not interested in selling the production rights). We also don't spend unnecessary hours producing full sheets of chainmaille which can be cut down in accordance with some sort of fabric clothing patterns. Every inch of our chainmaille represents our own personal time and labor. We wind and cut the rings from spools of straight wire then use pliers to bend each ring into traditional, as well as our own, chainmaille weaves. That would be silly. We can, however, give some pointers on making your own without stealing from others or expecting handouts. Besides, there are too many possibilities to limit maille making to standardized designs.

Putting chainmaille together into something other than sheets is the hardest part for most people until they realize that design is a combination of art and engineering. If you haven't learned to make basic pieces of chainmaille yet, you should refer to the many tutorials now available on the internet. The chainmail section of our link pages provides some starting places for this. The next step is the process of creating a new piece. This process, designing, should have it's own personal flavor. It is artistic and not an exact sequence of motions. Yes, some people are lazy enough to just copy someone else's art, sometimes down to the exact link count and even colors! This is why you can go to any number of sites and see duplicate items up for sale, made by people who are just out for a quick buck. We can't emphasis enough that such copying is not designing. Denying credit and income to the original artists is immoral and not even legal.

If you have no ideas at the moment, browse around for inspiration. Why get that from sites displaying items made the same way you plan to use? There are many, many sources of inspiration around. Many makers of chainmaille seem to forget that one doesn't have to stick with traditionally metal items when looking for ideas of what to make out of metal. Anything is possible, just give it a try. Think of items you would like to see in metal or listen to the requests of friends. Fabric and leather creations are obvious sources of inspiration.

Now that you've got your idea, step is just to play with it. Maybe make some plain pieces of maille and see how they hang in different positions where you imagine your creation. Don't be surprised if you suddenly realize an entirely different application for the pieces. Try linking them together, maybe finding different ways of connecting them as you go along. Hold it up, try it on, just picture what might look good or what you might do with that piece. Don't be afraid of deviating from your original idea. We rarely end up with anything close to what we originally envisioned, but we're often pleased with the results. We wish you many pleasant surprises as well.