About round patterns

Round chainmail patterns are used for making coifs (chainmail that covers the head, neck, and sometimes shoulders), bags, and other round surfaces. Enough description, let's show how it's done.

A quick word about the instructions and images: The links shown are 3/8", 16 gauge aluminum rings, with the exception of the "queen ring" which is 1/2", 14 gauge stainless. Also, the steps are done assuming a starting inner row of 10 rings. This number can be changed to fit your design (other typical starting rows are 8 and 12). For a closer image, click on the example picture.

And now, the primer.

Step 1: Starting off

Rings needed: 1 queen ring, 10 rings (shown green)
Start by adding 10 closed rings to the queen ring. Close the queen ring and you've completed the first row!

Step 2: Easy second row

Rings needed: 10 rings (shown blue)
Add the 10 rings to the results from Step 1 in the standard format (each ring encloses two rings from Step 1).

Step 3: First expansion

Rings needed: 15 rings (shown red)
First, add 10 rings to the results from Step 2 in the standard format (each ring encloses two rings from Step 2).
Second, insert a ring into a single ring from step 2, and insert the remaining four the same way, skipping two other rings that you inserted in the first part of this step.
These five extra rings are known as expansion rings.

Step 4: Another easy row

Rings needed: 15 rings (shown purple)
Add the 15 rings to the results from Step 3 in the standard format (each ring encloses two rings from Step 3).
No expansion rings in this step.

Step 5: Second expansion

Rings needed: 20 rings (shown pink)
First, add 15 rings to the results from Step 4 in the standard format (each ring encloses two rings from Step 4).
Second, insert a ring into a single ring from step 4, and insert the remaining four the same way, skipping three other rings that you inserted in the first part of this step.

Step 1: Starting off
Rings needed: 1 queen ring, 10 rings (shown green) Start by adding 10 closed rings to the queen ring. Close the queen ring and you've completed the first row!
Step 2: Easy second row
Rings needed: 10 rings (shown blue) Add the 10 rings to the results from Step 1 in the standard format (each ring encloses two rings from Step 1).
Step 3: First expansion
Rings needed: 15 rings (shown red) First, add 10 rings to the results from Step 2 in the standard format (each ring encloses two rings from Step 2). Second, insert a ring into a single ring from step 2, and insert the remaining four the same way, skipping two other rings that you inserted in the first part of this step. These five extra rings are known as expansion rings.
Step 4: Another easy row
Rings needed: 15 rings (shown purple) Add the 15 rings to the results from Step 3 in the standard format (each ring encloses two rings from Step 3). No expansion rings in this step.
Step 5: Second expansion
Rings needed: 20 rings (shown pink) First, add 15 rings to the results from Step 4 in the standard format (each ring encloses two rings from Step 4). Second, insert a ring into a single ring from step 4, and insert the remaining four the same way, skipping three other rings that you inserted in the first part of this step.