Creator guides · 2026-07-12 · Patreon guide
Patreon for chainmaille creators: tiers, wire gauge and aspect ratio, Byzantine Box Chain Full Persian weaves, anodized aluminum titanium and niobium wire, scale maille and hybrid patterns, pattern documentation, iOS rates, and the Apple Tax in 2026
Chainmaille Patreons retain patrons because the weave tutorial shows the hand movements but never delivers the engineering layer: the exact aspect ratio window that separates a Byzantine that closes correctly from one that locks up or falls apart, the wire temper comparison that explains why dead-soft fine silver Byzantine is not the same weave as half-hard sterling silver Byzantine despite identical AR, and the ring count sheet that allows patrons to scale a bracelet pattern to a necklace without guessing.
Three types of chainmaille creators on Patreon
Jump ring jewelers documenting classic and original weaves
Jump ring jewelers deliver the aspect ratio and pattern documentation layer: aspect ratio arithmetic (AR = inner diameter / wire diameter; Byzantine requires AR 3.0–3.5 in sterling silver half-hard; Full Persian requires AR 4.0–4.4; Box Chain requires AR 2.0–2.5; Helm Chain requires AR 4.7–5.3; Japanese 4-in-1 requires AR 4.0–5.0 outer rings with AR 2.5–3.0 connector rings; AR outside the tolerance window produces a weave that either collapses or cannot be closed); wire gauge documentation (AWG 18 = 1.024 mm; AWG 20 = 0.812 mm; AWG 21 = 0.723 mm; AWG 22 = 0.644 mm; ID 4.0 mm ring in AWG 20: AR = 4.0 / 0.812 = 4.93, suitable for Helm Chain; same ID in AWG 18: AR = 4.0 / 1.024 = 3.91, suitable for Full Persian — the calculation prevents ordering wrong-AR rings); ring count sheets (Byzantine bracelet at 18 cm: approximately 240 rings; Full Persian bracelet at 18 cm: approximately 340 rings; Box Chain necklace at 45 cm: approximately 280 rings — accurate ordering quantities from the recipe documentation). Tier structure: Pattern Archive ($9–14/month, two new weave patterns/month with step photos and ring count sheet, Discord by metal and weave type), Material Reference ($22–35/month, AR comparison in dead-soft and half-hard, opening/closing technique notes per metal), Custom Commission ($70–100/month capped 3 patrons, one original piece with full pattern documentation).
Weave pattern designers sharing original and hybrid patterns
Pattern designers share structural engineering documentation for original weave variants: Byzantine family documentation (standard Byzantine: 8 rings per unit, AR 3.0–3.5; Queen’s Braid = Byzantine with modified interlock producing a wider chain; Box Chain Queen = hybrid using two ring sizes simultaneously at AR 2.2 for box rings and AR 3.3 for connector rings); scale maille construction (flat metal scales connected by jump rings through scale top holes; ring size for connection: AR 3.5–4.5 typical for 3 mm scale holes in AWG 20 aluminum; horizontal vs vertical scale orientation produces different drape profiles; back-connector weave must be verified for ring-to-scale interference before committing to a full sheet); hybrid weave documentation (Orbital: Byzantine backbone with rings orbiting connection points, adding 4–8 additional rings per unit; Dragonscale: interlocking of two ring sizes at AR 1.8 for small rings and AR 5.0 for large rings, producing a fish-scale surface from two alternating ring planes — AR sensitivity is high: a 0.2 mm deviation from ideal ID produces visible looseness or prevents closure). iOS rates: YouTube weave tutorial 68–80% iOS; Instagram jewelry photography 73–87%.
Wire material educators covering metal properties and anodizing
Material educators deliver the metal selection and color permanence documentation: wire material properties (sterling silver (92.5% Ag, 7.5% Cu): half-hard temper ideal for most weaves; work-hardens during weaving; tarnishes on skin contact from perspiration sulfides; argentium silver (93.5% Ag, 1.2% Ge): slower tarnish; AR tolerances shift ~0.2 units in some weaves vs sterling; titanium wire: Grade 1 commercially pure; AR 1.0–1.5 higher than sterling equivalent due to spring-back; biocompatible, anodizable, no nickel; niobium wire: similar biocompatibility; anodizes at wider voltage-to-color range: 13V = pale gold, 27V = purple, 36V = blue, 60V = light blue; niobium anodize color more UV-stable than anodized aluminum); anodized aluminum color permanence (Type II sulfuric acid anodize: 0.5–1.0 mil porous oxide layer absorbs organic dye before sealing; UV exposure degrades dye over 6–18 months in direct sunlight; bright reds and violets fade fastest; black most UV-stable; monthly UV exposure comparison documentation is the patron value that product photography cannot show). iOS rates: YouTube material comparison 68–79% iOS; Instagram finished piece 74–86%.
Apple Tax impact on chainmaille creators
Chainmaille creator iOS rates: YouTube weave tutorial content 68–80% iOS; Instagram jewelry photography 73–87% iOS; Pinterest content accessed from iOS 75–88% iOS. At $200/month with 74% iOS: Apple’s 30% fee starting November 1, 2026 costs $44.40/month ($532.80/year). At $350/month with 78% iOS: $81.90/month ($982.80/year). Enable web-only billing in Patreon Creator Settings before October 31, 2026.