CHAIN MAIL BRAIES (PANTS)

Ankle Length Version
(33" inseam / 41" outseam)

Materials

Size 15 knitting needles or size needed to achieve gauge.
4 lbs. (1840 ft.) #36 Twisted Nylon Cord, dyed black

Abbreviations

k: knit
p: purl
psso: pass slipped stitch over
sl: slip
rep: repeat
st(s): stitch(es)
tog: together
inc: increase
dec: decrease
bo: bind off

Gauge (taken in stockinette stitch): 2-1/2 stitches = 1 inch; 3 rows = 1 inch

General Information: Pattern is reverse stockinette stitch (purl one row, knit one row, with purl as right side of garment). Join new cord at the ends, not in the middle, of the row. Measurements should be taken while garment is laying flat. Pieces will grow slightly in length and width when heat pressed and foiled. Seam pieces at crotch and inseam.

Beginning at waist, loosely cast on 42 sts.
Row 1: Knit (wrong side of garment).
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: Knit.
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5: Knit.

Torso Shaping:
Row 6: Purl, inc. 1 st at beginning and end of row (44 sts).
Row 7: Knit.
Row 8: Purl.
Row 9: Knit.
Row 10: Purl.
Row 11: Knit.
Row 12: Purl, inc. 1 st at beginning and end of row (46 sts).
Row 13: Knit.
Row 14: Purl.
Row 15: Knit.
Row 16: Purl.
Row 17: Knit.
Row 18: Purl, inc. 1 st at beginning and end of row (48 sts).
Row 19: Knit.
Row 20: Purl.
Row 21: Knit.
Row 22: Purl.
Row 23: Knit.
Row 24: Purl, inc. 1 st at beginning and end of row (50 sts).
Row 25: Knit.
Row 26: Purl.
Row 27: Knit.
Row 28: Purl.
Row 29: Knit.
Row 30: Purl, inc. 1 st at beginning and end of row (52 sts).
Row 31: Knit.
Row 32: Purl.
Row 33: Knit.
Row 34: Purl.
Row 35: Knit.
Row 36: Purl, inc. 1 st at beginning and end of row (54 sts).
Row 37: Knit.
Row 38: Purl.
Row 39: Knit.
Row 40: Purl.
Row 41: Knit.
Row 42: Purl, inc. 1 st at beginning and end of row (56 sts).
Row 43: Knit.
Row 44: Purl.
Row 45: Knit.
Row 46: Purl.
Row 47: Knit.
Row 48: Purl.

Piece should measure approximately 16 1/2". These pants are relatively long waisted so as not to interfere with breastplate armor. Lengthen here, without further increases, according to the actor's girth measurement by working more rows.

Leg Shaping:
Row 49: K2 tog, k52, k2tog (54 sts).
Row 50: Purl.
Row 51: Knit.
Row 52: Purl.
Row 53: Knit.
Row 54: Purl.
Row 55: K2tog, k50, k2tog (52 sts).
Row 56: Purl.
Row 57: Knit.
Row 58: Purl.
Row 59: Knit.
Row 60: Purl.
Row 61: K2tog, k48, k2tog (50 sts).
Row 62: Purl.
Row 63: Knit.
Row 64: Purl.
Row 65: Knit.
Row 66: Purl.
Row 67: K2tog, k46, k2tog (48 sts).
Row 68: Purl.
Row 69: Knit.
Row 70: Purl.
Row 71: Knit.
Row 72: Purl.
Row 73: K2tog, k44, k2tog (46 sts).
Row 74: Purl.
Row 75: Knit.
Row 76: Purl.
Row 77: Knit.
Row 78: Purl.
Row 79: K2tog, k42, k2tog (44 sts).
Row 80: Purl.
Row 81: Knit.
Row 82: Purl.
Row 83: Knit.
Row 84: Purl.
Row 85: K2tog, k40, k2tog (42 sts).
Row 86: Purl.
Row 87: Knit.
Row 88: Purl.
Row 89: Knit.
Row 90: Purl.
Row 91: K2tog, k38, k2tog (40sts).
Row 92: Purl.
Row 93: Knit.
Row 94: Purl.
Row 95: Knit.
Row 96: Purl.
Row 97: K2tog, k36, k2tog (38 sts).
Row 98: Purl.
Row 99: Knit.
Row 100: Purl.
Row 101: Knit.
Row 102: Purl.
Row 103: K2tog, k34, k2tog (36 sts).
Row 104: Purl.
Row 105: Knit.
Row 106: Purl.
Row 107: Knit.
Row 108: Purl.
Row 109: K2tog, k32, k2tog (34 sts).
Row 110: Purl.
Row 111: Knit.
Row 112: Purl.
Row 113: Knit.
Row 114: Purl.
Row 115: Knit.
Row 116: Purl.

Piece should measure approximately 26". Knit pants approximately 3" less than inseam. The ankle shaping portion will add about 2 1/4" more. Lengthen here, without further decreases, according to the actor's inseam measurement by working more rows.

Ankle Shaping:
Row 117: K2tog, k14, k2tog, k14, k2tog (31 sts).
Row 118: Purl.
Row 119: Knit.
Row 120: P2tog, p12, p2tog, p13, p2tog (28 sts).
Row 121: Knit.
Row 122: Purl.
Row 123: K2tog, k11, k2tog, k11, k2tog (25 sts).
Row 124: Loosely bind off remaining sts.

Repeat for other leg.

Finishing: Knot ends of cord, otherwise they will ravel. Stitch the ends of the cord into the piece after weaving them in place to prevent raveling. After work has been foiled and set, stitch the leg seams by butting the edges of the seams together and overcasting, or zigzagging together by machine. Finish waistline with elastic or suspenders.