Rebeca, myself, and everyone at B3 are working hard in preparation for the release of her first book, Chained (and all the goodies that go along with it!) I had the great pleasure to be the photographer for the book and as such, had a great view of the countless tips and tricks Rebeca has up her sleeve when it comes to chainmailling. The good news for you is that when she wrote her book, she made sure to include as many tips and tricks as she could possibly cram in there. Inspired by this, I asked our fans on Facebook to share some of the best tips and tricks they have learned from others or discovered on their own. The answers ranged from the practical to the poetic and I have deemed them totally worth sharing. Enjoy.
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Aimee Berger: Wait until the kids (mine are 6 and 3 1/2) go to bed.
Teri Williams: Take it easy on the coffee before starting.
Dion Brodeur: Never put the piece down, unless you have to visit the loo. If you’re just starting out, never give up. Just take a break, if you get frustrated, go outside get some fresh air, count to 10 then dive back in.
Danielle Chase: I always have in mind what I’m going to play with and I only play with it for a couple of hours. That way I don’t get tired of playing with chain maille. I’m always looking for the next challenge.
Tania Moody Kitchin: Dip your tools before starting.
JoAnn Brallier Johnson: Take breaks, drink water, flex your hands, follow directions (I’m a beginner)…
Christa Krasneck: READ THE DIRECTIONS THOROUGHLY; several times, if necessary. But the newest trick I learned with Dragonscale (besides rule #1) was use the piece of wire included in the kit to nudge the rings into place. Worked like a charm!
Danielle Chase: Here’s a suggestion to learn how to do a pattern. Go buy you some shower rings from the dollar store and use the rings as jump rings and teach yourself the pattern before you use rings. I find this very helpful in learning new patterns and helping some one to learn how to do chain maille.
Diana Ferguson: Invest in ergonomic pliers; e.g. Lindstrom RX. Don’t give up, ever. In addition to sight, your sense of touch can tell you a lot about whether you’ve achieved a clean, invisible closure on a ring. Don’t forget to PLAY!
Frann Ramales: Remember to BREATHE…. If you can’t ‘get’ a weave right away, set it aside and come back to it when you don’t have so many distractions or stress. Maille with stress and/or distractions leads to holes in the wall from thrown pliers. LOVE your pliers and love yourself… just BREATHE 
Dylon Whyte: Hmmm, well, I guess to me, the most important thing never being afraid to experiment. There are no mistakes, just new opportunities for learning. What I really like to do is pin my experiments to… the wall, so I can regard them over time. All my best ideas have come from the process of experimentation, examination and (when ready) refinement or (if appropriate and more often) evolution into something completely different.
Leayn Tabili: Make and use a starter chain for HP4-in-1.
Curtis Rondeau: 1) I must also echo the never give up part. 2) Get good with your closures before you get quick. Proper closures are key to a quality product. 3) Don’t be afraid to try to copy what you see but give credit where it’s due. And lastly 4) Mistakes are nothing more than an experiment gone in a different direction.
Paul Madchatr: Best trick I have found so far is to be friends with B3 they always rescue me thanks always Reb and Kat
(*Blush* Thanks Paul!)
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Thanks to everyone who contributed a tip or trick and who made us smile. What are your favorite tips and tricks?
Always be ready with a project to start once your current one (or seven) is complete. Also keep a list of your ideas on hand as you never know when inspiration may come to you.