Louhi
Overview
I recently found a new Gridlock variant by Loke on M.A.I.L. called Louhi. This member of the European weave family, weaves a 2-in-1 Chain through the sides of a 2-wide strip of Gridlock. I followed this tutorial by MaxumX and suggest you follow it should you want to make this weave yourself.
Materials
For the sample piece showcased in this post, I made the rings myself. I used 16 SWG Bright Aluminum wire from The Ring Lord coiled around a 5mm mandrel (for an approximate ID of 5mm) for an AR of 3.1.
Notes
The Louhi weave is not difficult to understand but can be challenging to create due to the use of low AR rings and the tightness of the weave. Visually, I find it quite appealing, though my sample is too tight. I did try using larger rings (AR 3.7); however, they were far too large, so I stuck with the smaller (AR 3.1) rings. The M.A.I.L. page recommends 1.6 mm wire on a 5 mm mandrel to create a weave which is not too tight, which I followed. I suspect the difference in weave tightness between my sample and the image on the M.A.I.L. page is due to variations in material springback. We both used Mandrel AR to estimate true AR; however, my aluminum rings had lower springback, resulting in a lower true AR when compared to the steel rings used in the example. As a band weave, Louhi is suitable for chokers, bracelets, or strapping. Due to the challenging construction and its high sensitivity to AR, I only recommend it if you are a moderately experienced mailler who appreciates its look, has a specific plan for its use, and is willing to experiment to find the best AR for your project.
Pictures
Flat
Flat: Angled
Flat: Profile
Vertical
Vertical: Profile
In Process
