Hello....I haven't learned a new weave in a LONG time, so this week I set out to learn full persian and hp 4 in 1.  Full persian took me a good while to get started, but once I did, it was pretty easy.  HP 4 in 1 is a whole different thing....I've been trying for 3 days now to get it started, and I just can't get it....I  can't figure out what I am doing wrong....the instructions I have, I have a few different ones, say that after you get a bit done, hold it up and the weave should hold it's shape, not open and spiral out a bit...well, that's exactly what mine does.  I'm using 18 gauge 1/4 " id, a recommended size.

Any suggestions/tips...or do I need to just keep trying?

Thanks!

 18g 1/4 from TRL? That makes a wonderful HP 4-1. Listen, if you know how to make Euro 4-1, make up a 4 row patch of that. Turn it sideways so there are 4 rings going \\\\ like that. Open a ring and put it through the right \\ and then curve it around and pick up the left \\ and close it. Then........pick up a closed ring with an open ring and pick up the left \ (1) and curve around and pick up the next 2..........dang. Does that make sense?

Merlot5384's explanation is a good one, starting with a stretch of European 4-1 and then adding two rings at a time.

If you've got several tutorials, and there are some very good ones out there, you just might need a different kind of instruction.  Sometimes it's helpful to see the actual MOTION, not just the starting pic and the ending pic where you have to compare them and figure out how they got there.  I highly recommend Spiderchain's DVDs.  I promise you will have the weave mastered in just a few minutes and with no rings being harmed or mangled in the process.  Worth absolutely every penny.

Me again....as I typed the above, I remembered this site that I'd bookmarked, I'd actually come across it in a post on the "old" forum....after searching through tons of favorites folders, I finally found it (and labeled it this time so I can find it again, hee hee!)  I actually rented both Spider dvds, I think they'll be here in a week or so. I've never rented from them before, but I think an old forum member did with good results. 

 http://smartflix.com/

Me AGAIN....aarrgghhh! Ten minutes after sending off for the Spider dvd, I found Phongs tutorial, and I think I've got it...does this look right?

 By george, I think she's got it!    

Woohoo!  Connie, way to go! 

 Yay, I feel all helpful and stuff. :D

 Now be sure to keep this patch around, and just build off it for any other chains you want to make. Building off an existing chain is way easier than starting a new one.

 
-phong
 

Phong.....you tutorial is definitely the one that did it, it's so detailed and explanatory.  What helped me most was the "pass the open ring up through the first 2 bottom rings (leftmost and middle), and down through the third bottom ring (righmost)"....that's the part I wasn't getting.   Thank you soooooo much!  I've gotta cut more rings today, these ones are kind warped from trying this so often, I'll finish this one in copper and then I want to do another in silver.  Again, thanks!

I am a beader and have just "found" chain maille about a month ago. How refreshing! I think I am hooked! I am amazed at what I see here. I did not realize that there is sooooo many patterns! I will definitely go to your websites in the morning, but now I have to go to bed.