Definition of a Rope Chain
- Chainmail is the art of linking rings together into patterns. It has been used to create armor, clothes, jewelery and decorations. Persian chainmail is the name of a weave that creates dense, tight ropes (see resources for tutorial). Rings can be made from any number of materials including silver, gold, aluminum, steel, bronze, brass and titanium. Smaller jump rings produce finer chains while larger rings make thicker ones.
- Spiral chainmail is a weave that resembles a traditional rope but has a twist to it. As the name implies, the pattern makes it spiral around. It isn't as dense as other rope patterns but because of its look it is sometimes called a "Spiral Rope."
- Some beaders make rope chain by threading tiny beads and then weaving them back and forth in a pattern to look like a rope. These aren't traditional chains but they duplicate the look while allowing the crafter to use a variety of colors and textures that might not have been otherwise available.
- Thin, delicate rope chains are available to consumers who want something to hang a delicate pendant on. They are widely available at fine jewelers and online. This type of chain is usually made by machine. However, artisans can make chainmail style ropes using fine rings and high-end materials like 14k gold. They will be expensive though, due to the time and cost that goes into the project.
- A few examples of other kinds of rope chains are the box chain, wheat chain, Byzantine chain and snake chain. Like the rope chain, any pattern that overlaps and wraps around itself will be stronger than other variations.
