Vertebrae maille weave
December 31, 2006
More maille today! This sample is the Vertebrae weave, featured in the Summer 2006 edition of Step By Step Wire Jewelry. It’s really just a twist on the Cleopatra (or catepillar) weave from yesterday – instead of adding beads to the center ring, I’ve added a smaller ring. My version used 7.5 and 4.5 rings in 18g copper wire.
I really love this weave (okay, be honest Lynn…you haven’t found one you DON’T love yet!) because it’s so incredibly silky on the skin. I’ve also been searching for a weave that’s masculine enough to make a bracelet for my husband…he’s a firm believer in the power of copper to relieve joint aches and would like a copper bracelet. Everything I’ve made so far has been too “girly”…but he likes the Vertebrae and said he’d wear it. Even with the 18g wire, it’s dense, but I may still make it in a heavier gauge for him.
I’m posting the unfinished sample to show you the “bread tie” tip I talked about yesterday. It really does make it easier to do the weave – not only does the tie remind you where you started, but it’s handy to hold onto, especially in the beginning of the weave. If you have any other great chainmaille tips, please let me know!
Besides the fun of saw cutting my own jump rings, I’m making a variety of weaves to show at a chainmaille class I’ll be teaching later this winter. When I took a class last spring, the instructor had samples of several different weaves, and it was very interesting when he passed them around! I’m hoping to pass on my love for maille in more students through his method.
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