Probably the most basic chainmaille pattern, 4 in 1 is also one of the easiest to master. With a little practice you can become a chainmaille wizard. Just don't break out the pliers and bolt cutters yet. Take a few minutes to read through some simple steps to learn how to avoid some potential problems you may face when making that suit of armor that you've always wanted.
| Step 1 | |
 |
This is the first step to weaving your rings. If you've got all your rings cut, or you got them pre-cut, then you're ready to start weaving. Using your trusty pliers join your first two rings. No matter what you do you can't link them together the wrong way. Isn't that encouraging!? Just make sure you get the rings to but together well. Otherwise you may have trouble with the rings trying to work their way apart by coming unlinked. |
| Step 2 | |
Step two is almost as easy as step one! This is going to be a piece of cake right? Select one of the rings you've already linked. This will be your center ring. The rest of the rings for this piece will link with this center ring. Attach another ring to the center ring. |
 |
| Step 3 | |
 |
Step three is very similar to step two. Link another ring(white) onto your center(grey) ring. Remember, you always want to keep your rings butted tightly together to keep them from unlinking after you're all finished. |
| Step 4 | |
Last and certainly not least, the final ring. Link your fifth ring onto the center ring. This will give you four linked rings attached to the single center ring. Be sure that the white rings are not linked to each other, only to the central grey ring. You now have a completed unit which, by popular vote, is called a "5". |
 |
Well, I hope this gives you a good feeling about making your own chainmaille. However, this is only the beginning. A "5" is only a building block for making chainmaille using the 4-in-1 pattern. You will probably make a couple hundred of them and only get about halfway to where you want to be. Building chainmaille can be long and tedious. But, if done correctly, it is worthwhile and you will be the envy of all your friends.
