Circular Logic

I began learning the art of mail about a year ago, and I'm still learning. I currently have a palette of about 20 different patterns or 'weaves'. Part of the fun and the challenge is to try new combinations, diffrerent ideas, and push the envelope of what you can do.

Some Basic Mail Info

• The most common is the European family. This is the one that most people learn. The 4 in 1 is most common, but the 6 in 1 and 8 in 1 patterns are fairly simple extrapolations of it. The King's braid pattern is a length of 4 in 1 (3 wide), that's been folded and 'sewn' up the open side. There are other patterns that you can do by deliberately doing something 'wrong' and following the new pattern.


• The Oriental family is very simple. It's comprised of rings that act as Centers and Links joining them. A 4-1 is a simple Box pattern, with the Centers arranged as squares. A more traditionaly eastern pattern is the 6 to 1, where the Centers are arranged in a hexagonal pattern.


• The other major family is the Persian family. This paattern is quite rare due to its difficulty. It's hard to describe how it's put together, which makes it particularly difficult to teach. A full Persian is sort of a variation on a King's braid, but the Half Persian group isn't really like anything else. The rings end up more on edge than in a European weave, giving the mail a taller look. See the samples to get a better idea.


• The last family is just Chains. This is a catch all category for all types of simple chains or ropes that can't be widened into sheets. Straight cable links and the twisty french ropes fall into this group. It's kind of a crossover group, because King's Braid could be classed either as a European, or a chain.

Please, send me suggestions, tips, any bugs you find and such.

You are visitor number

Mail Feedback, Comments, Etc...