European Patterns - European 1 into 4 Mail

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European 1 into 4 Mail

Basic Pattern

European 1 into 4 is the standard mail pattern that has been used since about the 2nd Century B.C.E. This section explains the basics on how to construct European 1 into 4. This section also contains information that is important for understanding the rest of the patterns on this site.

The most important secret from this site that will help you to understand the patterns as you add links isn't really a secret at all; it is the pattern names themselves.

For example, "European 1 into 4" means that every link in the pattern goes through 4 other links.

If the link you're adding goes through 2 links on the existing pattern, then it must also go through 2 new links - 1 link through a total of 4.

If the link you're adding goes through 3 links on the existing pattern, then it must also go through 1 new link - again, 1 link through 4.

The ratio of links for this pattern is 1 Closed Link to 1 Opened Link.

Starting the First Pattern

Step 1	Place an open link through four closed links. Close the open link.

Step 2 Layout	Lay the first five links out as in the illustration.

Step 3 Adding to the Column Edge	Place an open link through 2 closed links. Place the open link through the 2 column edge links coloured copper in the illustration. Close the open link. Repeat this step to make the pattern wider.

Step 4 Adding to the Row Edge Start	Place an open link through 2 closed links. Place the open link through the 2 row edge links coloured copper in the illustration. Close the open link. Repeat this step each time you start adding a row.

Step 5 Adding to the Row Edge	Place an open link through a closed link. Place the open link through the 3 links coloured copper in the illustration. Close the open link. Repeat this step to continue a new row, making the pattern longer.

Expanding

Before going on to expand the pattern, learn more patterns or build actual projects, there are a few elements of the European Pattern that you must understand.

These elements are :

Alternating horizontal rows...

...where the links overlap...

and alternating vertical columns...

...where the links lay beside each other.

A Final Note

The alternately overlapping Rows of European Mail allow pattern to expand and contract. This is why the Rows were made to go around the body in historical Mail Shirts.

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