The origins of the word mail are not fully known. One theory is that it originally derives from the Latin word macula, meaning spot or opacity (as in macula of retina). Another theory relates the word to the old French maillier, meaning to hammer (related to the modern English word malleable). [13] In modern French, maille refers to a loop or stitch. [14] The Arabic words "burnus", برنوس, a burnoose; a hooded cloak, also a chasuble (worn by Coptic priests) and "barnaza", برنز, to bronze, suggest an Arabic influence for the Carolingian armour known as " byrnie" (see below). In the real world, people see pictures of chain mail that look different from pictures of scale mail and pictures of plate mail, and they think that the old categories make sense. Learning that these distinctions are (or may be) illusory is rather like being told that, though you might have grown up thinking that slate-colored juncos were one kind of bird, and Oregon juncos another, and white-winged juncos a third, and gray-headed juncos a fourth, in fact—even though each form looks quite different from the others—they're all just one kind of bird whose correct name is "dark-eyed junco." But it bears noticing that, having established the unifying idea of the dark-eyed junco, modern bird guides proceed to point out the slate-colored variant, the Oregon variant, the white-winged variant, and the gray-headed variant.

Open your jump rings properly. This sounds like a no-brainer, but it’s important to remember. You don’t want your jump rings slipping apart after you’ve spent hours assembling an intricate piece of chain maille jewelry! You should always open your jump rings by twisting the ends apart, moving perpendicular to one another (north-south). Never open a jump ring by pulling the ends apart (east-west). Stone, George Cameron (1999). A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration and Use of Arms and Armor: In All Countries and in All Times. Courier Dover Publications. p.69. Kusari gusoku or chain armour was commonly used during the Edo period 1603 to 1868 as a stand-alone defense. According to George Cameron Stone

Mail continues to be used in the 21st century as a component of stab-resistant body armour, cut-resistant gloves for butchers and woodworkers, shark-resistant wetsuits for defense against shark bites, and a number of other applications. It was We Who taught him the making of coats of mail for your benefit, to guard you from each other's violence: will ye then be grateful? (Yusuf Ali's translation) Mughal Army Shark expert and underwater filmmaker Valerie Taylor was among the first to develop and test shark suits in 1979 while diving with sharks. [55]

The Maille Artisans International League (MAIL) – Hundreds of weaves/tutorials/articles, and gallery pictures Chain Maille Jewelry Workshop has few variations on the weaves.... it's devoted teaching a diverse number of classic weaves, not just 4 or 5 weaves before the author veers of on their own unique weaves. A good chain maille book will will go into the basics: wire guages, metal types, jump ring opening and closing and the math (yikes) of doing chain maille. Karon uses the following terms for inserting a new jump ring through the intersections created by previous jump rings: TE for through the eye and AE for around the eye are used when discussing the placement of rings using clear illustrations. She provides an in-depth discussion of the all important aspect ratio. .

Chain mail Patterns

Chain mail is the name (also known as chainmail, mail or maille) [1] of a type of armour consisting of small metal rings linked together in a pattern to form a mesh. It was in common military use between the 3rd century BC and the 16th century AD in Europe, while continued to be used in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East as late as the 17th century. A coat of this armour is often called a hauberk or sometimes a byrnie. Jewelry artist and author Karen Karon pairs in-depth, step-by-step instructions with color illustrations that show exactly where to place the next jump ring. You'll also get a thorough but flexible approach to techniques that prove weaving can be done in a multitude of ways and demonstrations on "speed weaving," which is ideal for large projects. Designs progressively increase in complexity, so every jewelry maker--beginner or pro--will find inspiration and projects that suite their skill level. Let the Interweave Knits Winter 2024 issue transport you to a winter wonderland of cozy knits! This remarkable edition features 14 extraordinary projects to immerse yourself in the uniqueness of specially crafted yarns. David G Alexander, Decorated and inscribed mail shirts in the Metropolitan Museum, Waffen- und Kostumkunde 27 (1985), 29–36 a b c George Cameron Stone (2 July 1999). A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration, and Use of Arms and Armor: In All Countries and in All Times. Courier Dover Publications. p.424. ISBN 978-0-486-40726-5. Archived from the original on 3 June 2016 . Retrieved 18 February 2011.

Mail remained in use as a decorative and possibly high-status symbol with military overtones long after its practical usefulness had passed. It was frequently used for the epaulettes of military uniforms. It is still used in this form by some regiments of the British Army. Panel from the Bayeux Tapestry showing Norman and Anglo-Saxon soldiers in mail armour. Note the scene of stripping a mail hauberk from the dead at the bottom.Large-linked mail is occasionally used as a fetish clothing material, with the large links intended to reveal – in part – the body beneath them. Mail: Unchained", an article taking an in-depth look at the construction and usage of European chain mail

Chainmail was less expensive than plate armor and this is why it was used commonly by foot soldiers. Mail is widely used in industrial settings as shrapnel guards and splash guards in metal working operations. [ citation needed] G. L. Way's 1796 translation of M. Le Grand, Fabliaux or Tales: Abridged from French Manuscripts of the XIIth and XIIIth Centuries (published in French in 1779) makes a similar distinction in a note to "Aucassin and Nicolette":I love the photographs as they are very inspiring and with some of the projects which incorporate beads or coloured rings they are great on that aspect if you need any inspiration or ideas on how to do this.