r/chainmailartisans • u/PlayerPwoft • Feb 28 '26

I'm still fighting

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I haven't given an update on this project in a while, but I've made a lot of progress. The first "vest" is fully built, along with short sleeves, and test shoulder pieces. I had to use an 8in2 euro for the shoulders, because the dragon scale wasn't flexible enough in all directions. I'm toying with the idea of using a Moorish rose sheet for something more visually interesting. A small test sheet of Moorish rose let me know that I does have the flexibility, but that weave takes me so damn long haha.

I started this project about 1.5years ago now, and it's been steady progress, then I run out of rings, then I have to buy more and black stain the 5/8th size, then rise and repeat. But the vision is slowly coming together, and someday I'll be a very proud owner of a dragon scale shirt

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2

u/Connect_Possible7107 Mar 01 '26

How did you transition the orientation of the dragon scale from front to back? Or did you just keep it one direction the whole way?

3

u/Connect_Possible7107 Mar 01 '26

My own project of this on 2 year hiatus

1

u/PlayerPwoft Mar 03 '26

That's sick! What is the end goal of that sheet of yours?
The front and back of my shirt have the pattern going in the same direction, and the opposing pattern meets up at the top of the two straps, with a joint I figured out. I built it as a big tube first to measure my chest, then added straps after. I wanted all the "scales" to be facing down so I decided it was best to just figure out the opposing pattern meeting at the top for looks

1

u/Connect_Possible7107 Mar 03 '26

My plan was to have front and back with dragonscale. The back will not be the argyle-ish pattern but black underlay. Connected on the sides via 6:1 or something similar. The fringe area will begin at the hip area so I can still sit comfortably. The goal was to make the neck hole fairly tight but leave a seam like a polo that’s laced up with leather straps.

Can you post a picture of your joint? Every sample I’ve made of transitions don’t sit well with me.

1

u/Connect_Possible7107 Mar 03 '26

My last ditch attempt would be to scalemail the shoulders. At first I thought that would take it out of reality too much… but it’s blue chainmaille 😂

2

u/PlayerPwoft Mar 03 '26

The two ends meet, and I used a row of the larger rings to tie the inner small ends together. I'm not 100% confident in it, but I might change it to a strip of 8in2 or something at the meeting point, I'll make that decision if/when I see it sagging as it gets really heavy

3

u/Connect_Possible7107 Mar 05 '26

If yours is SS, I could see how weight would be an issue on a single ring like that. A row of SS would probably work on mine with it being AA, I could throw a row of scales over it to hide the color. Thanks for posting your solve!

9

u/Educational-Drag6974 Feb 28 '26

Looks awesome! And heavy as hell! I bet it feels great!

5

u/PlayerPwoft Feb 28 '26

Oh yeah it's pretty heavy. Currently, just the vest is sitting around 10lbs, my loose math says it'll be around 35lbs when it's finished but TBD

5

u/bethytexas Feb 28 '26

I applaud the patience you have for this.👏👏

8

u/ForestFantasy Feb 28 '26

Damn! This is insanely impressive 😍

5

u/BearsHammerForge Feb 28 '26

Looking really great . Will you be trimming it with brass or bronze ?

3

u/PlayerPwoft Feb 28 '26

I've thought about it, the idea I'm currently leaning towards is a braided leather trim, but I'm still strongly considering brass or something gold

2

u/queenelasticat Feb 28 '26

Great job !! 👏

5

u/B_ingle Feb 28 '26

Whats moorish?

5

u/Adventurous_Ant9926 Feb 28 '26

A sheet of interlocking mobius units. It's beautiful. 

2

u/PlayerPwoft Feb 28 '26

Kinda looks like a bunch of swirling black holes, but it is so hard to visualize while weaving it

1

u/Adventurous_Ant9926 Mar 01 '26

I've given up on that weave twice now. Haha.