Jen's Pind Linkage

This is one of my favorite chainmaille weaves to make and also known to as JPL3. The 3 stands for the number of rings that are looped through each other within the repeated pattern. The Jen's Pind Linkage weave can be made in 3, 5, 7, 9, and I even saw one done in 11. The hardest part is being sure that the repeating rings lay upon each other in a stepping formation. It took me a little while to learn it, but once I did I found it to assemble quite easily. I started with some 18 gauge jump rings at first and then moved on to some larger 14 gauge rings when I made this copper bracelet pictured to the left. I probably should have started with the large gauge rings first. Oh well, live and learn. I must say that I have gotten quite good at making small chains in this weave.

I found this video that helped me get started with weave and helps explain how important it is to keep your stepping ring pattern going the same way. If you don't, you'll have rings out of order that don't create any pattern at all. Good luck!

Billy

www.billystwistedtiedyes.com

Tie Dyes & Chainmaille?

I'm asked this question quite a bit and I figured this would be a great place to elaborate on just a few of my never ending passions in this journey we call life. I've always been a very creative person since I can remember with a high degree of fascination in all things metal and their moving parts. Color composition and optical balance are also very interesting and I feel that these factors influence me on a daily basis. I have a great inquisitiveness of how things work and fit together, but not just with inanimate objects. I always find my self engulfed in the way all creatures interact, communicate, and coexist with each other. By always trying to keep an open mind with a positive attitude, I found that I am able to see things from a different perspective and achieve a true feeling of balance which I use to create my art in unaltered artistic freedom.

I've always been interested in tie dyes, but it wasn't until a year ago that I became involved in creating my own tie dye t shirts. My wife Chelle and I just couldn't seem to find the right colors or patterns that we liked, so after a lot of research and trial & error, we finally were able to make some really cool tie dyes ourselves that everyone really loved! Not to mention the fact that the ones that we did find were priced so high. We always try to keep our prices low and offer a high quality tie dye that will last for many years. We love wearing our tie dyes just as much as you do and when we have a favorite, we want it to last! Check out our store, Billys Twisted Tie Dyes.

I just started my new venture in chainmaille last year when I had some time between tie dyes. I didn't really realize all that could be done with some jump rings and a creative spark. That's all it took and now I'm finding myself with endless chainmaille possibilities both in making pre-cut jump rings for my fellow artists and in creating finished chainmaille fashions! I just love the way chainmaille weaves flow and can form some very interesting patterns. It really does compliment my tie dye designs and I can't wait to see what I come up with this year! I'll keep you posted. Check out my Etsy store, Maillice In Wireland.

Billy

www.billystwistedtiedyes.com