Comment on Scales tutorial by Khelgar
If you look at the pattern you will notice that the weave you are doing is just the standard 4 in 1 chainmail pattern minus a ring every other row. The scale or can tab is the one ring with four others in it. You can add the missing rings if you want to tighten up the pattern in areas if you need it.
So I can add that retainer link back into the design at some of the more troublesome spots without throwing the design off too badly?
Yes, it should just tighten up the weave where you add them. On the scales it keeps them all laying flat which sounds good but doing that to an entire shirt will add a lot of weight, make it stiffer and shrink the size over all. Depending on what you are going for this could be a good or bad thing.
I didn't elaborate on the project. I've been tasked with making a 'scrapmail' belt. With the current weave, reverting to sections of 1/4 English stiffens it improperly, causing the tabs to twist into odd positions. I'm using 18 gauge silver 4mm links for the standard connections, 18 gauge silver 6mm links to connect the top 'front' links. It's working fairly well, I'll link my post of the photographs when I upload them, credit you with the base design.
Probably the difference in shape is what causes the tabs to react differently to the added ring. I will certainly be interested in seeing the final project!
I look forward to seeing it!
I'll post up the current progress soon--I work for a roleplaying company and a local library, so my time to upload things is a little shoddy lately. The added link stabilizes the sheet, and though it means that a project requires more links than normal scale mail, the results are definitely worth it. I'd recommend the project to any bored mail craftsman any day.
After experimenting, the tabs tighten up as you described, but the additional link pushes the weave out of sync. I found though a little tinkering that with the tabs, the best weave-saver is linking the topmost row together, which contains the subsequent rows without any additional links to increase bulk.