The Japanese 6 in 1 pattern is sometimes referred to as Hexagon maile. Of the chainmail
patterns I've worked with, I find this the most beautiful and difficult. A triangle is
relatively simple. That's what I'll show here. Remember when making an item, try to plan
it using triangular or hexagonal sections instead of squares.
Link Considerations
The link considerations for this pattern are the same as with the Japanese 4 in 1
pattern. I'd recommend not using larger than 1/4" ID if the maile is going to be
sitting against a surface. You might consider forming the links which will not be sitting
flat as ovals. Again, this pattern works best as a hanging drape.
Starting the Pattern
Make a length of chain aproximately as long as you'd like one side of the triangle to
be. Attach two links to every other link in the chain. These links all have to fall on the
same side of the chain. For this reason, you may wish to hang it on a frame so that you
can see that the links are falling correctly. This makes the entire pattern much easier to
follow, and I'll assume for the purpose of this explaination that you do that. The
beginning and end links on the chain need only one link instead of the two.
Take the first hanging link, and the next one down the row. Place another link through
them in such a way that that link sits flat (like the ones along the top which have links
through them). Close that link. There should be a second link next to the hanging link
which was just connected. Take that and the first hanging link in the next set. Connect
these with a new link the same way as you did the last one. Continue like this down the
line until you run out of hanging links.
Finishing the First Row
Now we turn the bottom of the pattern into a chain like the top. To do this, just
connect the bottom links to each other with new ones. The previous links should all rest
flat, while the new ones lie horizontal to your pattern.
Continuing On
The bottom of your pattern should now go straight across in a chain. As was did at the
start, The next row is begun by putting a link on the first link in the chain then two
more on every second link in the row. Remember that the last link, like the first, only
needs one link attached to it. Continue as we did for the first row. These steps are
repeated until you have a triangle.
Variations
Doubling either the flat links, the horizontal links, or both is a good way to make
this pattern more solid. The above-mentioned oval links also aid in making this pattern
sit flat and seems to have been a common practice when using this for armour.
My partner was, at one point, making a shirt in 1/8" ID, nickle-plated,
spring-tempered stainless steel. The pattern he used was the above, but with the flat
links doubled. To give you an idea of time, he figured he had about 80 hours into it when
it was stolen. It was getting to the point where he might think about wearing it as a
half-shirt. The fabric flowed like cloth, and he figured it would be proof against some
bullets. It was certainly fork proof (as tested at Denny's :-).
