How to Make a Chainmail Hacky Sack

Ye olde hacky sack tournament is about to begin.

Hacky sack is a fun, relaxing way to kill some time and get some exercise while you're at it. There are lots of different types of hacky sacks available to purchase, but why not impress your friends by making your own? Not out of fabric or yarn, which they've all seen, but out of chainmail? This unique design will really stand out and is a great talking point.

Things You'll Need

• 5/16-inch aluminum rings (approx. 260)
• 1/2-inch rings (2)
• Pliers (2 pairs)
• Fabric

Instructions

Making the Base

1. Spread a 5/16-inch ring open with a two pairs of pliers.

2. Hang four closed rings on the open one, and close the open ring.

3. Spread the five linked rings out on a table like a clover.

4. 

   Four outer rings with a central ring holding them together.

   Open another ring and hang two closed rings from it.

5. Hook the open ring through two closed rings of the edge of the clover, then close the open ring.

6. Spread the rings out on the table. Now instead of one inner ring with four outer rings around it, you are forming a chain of two inner rings with six outer rings.

7. Continue this pattern until it is 24 outer rings long.

8. Go back along the long side and add another row of rings, linking each one to the two below it.

9. Continue this pattern until you have a rectangle measuring 24 rings long by four rings wide. These measurements are based on the outer rings.

Making the Hacky Sack

1. Make 12 triangles of three rings, then two, then one.

2. 

   The long sides of your rectangles should look like a zig zag once the triangles are attached.

   Attach the triangles along the long sides of the rectangle.

3. Link the points or all six triangles on one side to a 1/2-inch ring.

4. Do the same on the other end. This will form a ball shape.

5. Link the short ends of the rectangle together with small links to close the seam.

6. Stuff some fabric into the ball to give it shape. There is enough room in the 1/2-inch rings to do this.

Tips & Warnings

• Aluminum rings work best for this because they are very lightweight. You don't want a heavy hacky sack.

References

• Making Chainmail Part 1
• Making Chainmail Part 2