1.22.2013

Crocheted Chainmail

I'm on winter break, which means time for bigger projects!
I'm planning to make a Gandalf-styled hat (I say 'styled' because I want mine to be for myself and in dark blue), and as I was describing how I hope it will turn out to a friend, he asked if I could make chainmail.

To which my immediate response was 'impossible!', but as I said that my fingers were already typing searches on chainmail tutorials. That set off the strongest desire to make an actual chainmail armor!

I did figure out how to put the links together, but I quickly realized that if I am really going to use PVC pipe and piece everything together, I won't be able to finish my Gandalf hat before school starts again.

So crochet it is! In fact in many movies the minor characters' armors are made this way: knitted then painted to look like metal.



I used twine for a stiffer, sturdy texture. I chose a thinner twine with less 'hair' on it. It cost me 40NTD (that's about $1.25) every 80g skein, and it should take around 6 skeins to complete the tunic pattern found on Betty Crotchitt's lovely site.

After half a day's work, I caught up with all the new episodes of my favorite TV series (Bones, Leverage, Criminal Minds...), and is now halfway through finishing the crocheting part. Here's what I have so far:





I plan on spray-painting the whole thing silver, then ageing it a bit. Can't wait to finish and see how it turns out!

8 comments:

  1. What stitch did you use for this i plan to make a skirt for my sis

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  2. It's worked throughout in half double crochet, the pattern is included in a link in the post.
    Hope your sister likes it =)

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  3. You should try using 28 gauge wire! I've used it for crochet jewellery so I bet it would look really amazing as chain mail, what you did is fantastic though!

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  4. I can't get your pattern link to work. Any chance you might share it? I'm particularly interested in how you got the rows of "chain links" to appear from your half double crochet?

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    Replies
    1. Hi Kymathie,

      I don't have the pattern anymore, but the whole thing is basically worked in half double crochet. The stiffness of the twine is what gives it the 'chain link' feel.

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  5. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  6. Hello there, I know this thread is relatively old but is there a chance you have any pictures or updates on how the spray painting worked and how kt looks now?

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