When constructing European 4 in 1, 6 in 1, 8 in 1, etc., some people like to make little sections and then connect them together with joining rings,
while others like to just add on rows or columns one after another one ring at a time. This article discusses one method of speedweaving European 4 in 1.
Using this method I describe, you will need about 1/2 preopened and 1/2 preclosed rings. Have a lot of both closed and opened rings handy as
they run out a lot faster than you would think.
I have found that when making something out of the European 4 in 1 weave, the best way
is to first make a section of 2-1-2-1-2-1-2-1-2-etc. This will be the foundation piece. To make this, you start by adding 4 closed rings onto one open one.
Then you connect one open ring to two of the closed rings on the 4 in 1 you just made and add two closed rings to it. Keep repeating that process
until you have a piece as long as you want to make it.
Next make a really long piece of 2-1-2-1-2-1-2-1-2-1-2-etc. This will be the working piece.
you will connect this piece onto the foundation starting at the beginning of the row above it using open rings. When you come to the end of the row,
all you have to do is open one ring and start on the next row below the one you completed. When your working piece starts to get short, you simply
add more rings onto it making it longer. The advantage this has is that you don't have to keep track of how many rings you have added to the working piece,
for example if you are adding a long chain of over 100 rings in length to a shirt or something. It is also convenient if you are making something
big out of chainmail in the way that you can work on it anywhere and you don't have to lug around your whole project.
Connect four closed rings to one open ring.
Connect one open ring to two closed rings and add two more closed rings.
Close the open ring you just added.
Continue steps 2 and 3 until you have a desired length of chain.
Make another length of chain similar to the one you just made.
Line up two chains side by side with the rings (in the rows next to each other) leaning in the same direction.
Attach one open ring to two closed rings on one chain and two closed rings on the other chain as shown.
Close the open ring you just added.
Attach one open ring to two closed rings on one chain and two closed rings on the other chain next to the ring added in step 7.
Close the open ring you just added.
Continue steps 9 and 10 until you have gotten to the end of the shorter chain.
There will be excess at the end.
Open the one ring that holds the remainder of the longer chain onto the foundation.
Continue steps 6 through 13.
You might find this method awkward at first. But with some practice, it will come naturally and you will get faster.