Some types of scales

An array of individual scales made from different materials.

You can make scalemail out of almost anything. Fabric, leather, duct tape, guitar pics, cardboard… really the possibilities are endless. Now that I own a Cricut and a file for cutting the shape, my head is spinning with ideas. Today I am sharing a few pre-fab scales that I use and enjoy, and some different ways you can customize your pieces. Stay tuned for shop recs at the end.

Scales made from metal such as colorful anodized aluminum or even precious metals, are easy to find and work with. This pauldron was made with large, bright aluminum scales. They add a nice weight to the finished item and make a lovely sound.

The scale material I use most often is plastic, or engineered polycarbonate.These come in clear, black and a few colors. I love using the clear scales as a canvas for any color palette you can dream up. Have a look at some of my past projects on the gallery page. I use the little 2oz acrylic paints - like FolkArt or DecoArt, that can be found at big box and small art supply stores alike. They come in a huge range of colors and finishes, and are pretty affordable. When I’m make a piece to sell, I hit them with a coat of clear gloss varnish, but even without that you get a durable result. The texture that brush marks leave on a hand painted scale is the best. Hand painting also gives you a lot of freedom to make gradients and color shifts if you mix your paint as you work.

Hand painted plastic scales in shades of blue with a pop of gold.

Whenever I make a piece using black scales with a color shifting glaze, it sells immediately. Just two coats of folkArt Dragonfly Glaze gives such a cool effect.

This is the violet-blue-green shift.

Spray painting plastic scales also works really well and is certainly faster. I haven’t experimented with this enough to achieve the same depth of color as painting with a brush, but I’m sure it’s possible. I’ve used plain ole gloss rustoleum and fancy artists spray paints and both work great.

A fly ageric mushroom themed pauldron made with plastic scales and acrylic spray paint.

Most recently I have been obsessed with cutting my own scales with my Cricut. Jelly Vinyl (sparkle or glitter pretty much required) is a great material for this. It’s available in a huge range of colors, sparkle levels and even in prints. The scales are super lightweight and durable.

Here are some suppliers I have had a good experience with.

Metal scales - Weave Got Maille . These folks are also based in MN.

Plastic or metal - The Ring Lord . Based in Canada. They are the only supplier of engineered plastic scales that I know of.

Jelly Scales / Cutting file so sky’s the limit - Noble Trinket on Etsy. She sells both finished scales and digital files AND she is in MN too!

The knitting pattern is in it’s final stages! I hope to be sharing it very soon. Next time, we’ll talk painting process tips and tricks.

How To Knit With Scales

Or, at least, this it how I do it. Things are really moving along with the Pauldrons knitting pattern. I have set myself the made-up goal to have it available by the first weekend in July. Writing this pattern has not been easy! But we are almost there.

So here is my first ever tutorial. Many thanks to the other knitters who have knit with scales and published patterns before me. Hopefully this will help to keep the proverbial dice rolling, and anyone who wants to add scales to cool stuff they are making. I should also say up front that I am all knitting, all the time - I don’t have really any crochet skills. I know that using crochet for scalemail is absolutely a thing and I’m sure there are expert craftspeople to be found.

Insert the right hand needle into the next stitch as if to knit.

Place the scale onto the needle tip from the back. Be sure the scale is point down, and that the curved side is facing away from your work.

Wrap or pick the working yarn, and pull it through both the hole of the scale and the stitch.

Slide the stitch off the left hand needle and pull snug to secure.

You did it!

and here is a low tech, live action version for you….

Continental / Left Hand Tension

English / Right Hand Tension

Next time we’ll talk about some of the types of scales that are available, where you can get them and tips for making truly one of a kind pieces.

Start

Hello?

I am not sure what my plan is here! Except to take the first step to move my tiny business off Etsy (temu resellers and AI slop, anyone?). Somehow hoping to go back in time to have a bare bones website, silly blog and do in person markets. Wish me luck?

Here’s what is coming soon:

Finished Pieces! I’ve been on a knitting break due to a bum elbow, but I will soon be making again. The plan going forward is the only sell my work on this platform, but leave my Etsy shop open for a bit until folks know to find me here. I love doing custom orders, so please get in touch if you have ideas!

Knitting Patterns! First up will be a pdf download pattern for knitting your own Pauldrons. The pattern includes full written and charted instructions for 6 sizes.

Tutorials! Pattern support, plus lots on info on choosing and working with scales to help you make amazing scalemail.