Phil Parkes Maille reviews

13 Sep 23'

Elizabeth Champion reviewed: Wooden Maille Construction Kit

"This kit has been vital to my understanding of maille. If you are even considering starting maille, get this kit. It helps one understand the patterns required to begin making maille, which is one of the key components to this craft. Therefore, it is a good way to gauge one's interest in continuing the craft before spending large sums on tools. I would recommend this to everyone; it is a piece of kit I find myself returning to again and again to try out new patterns before committing to making them in maille, and are of an easily manipulatable size for those that might struggle with anything small and fiddly. Not only this, but Phil himself is a fountain of knowledge and is very helpful when it comes to any further questions or concerns about this kit."

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

" Thank you for the lovely review. It's great to hear that the kit continues to be useful even as you get more experienced in your maille making."

5 Jun 23'

Katie Wainwright reviewed: School Maille Making Workshops

"Phil came in to facilitate a series of chainmaille workshops with a group of our Year 5 and 6 pupils. We were impressed by the interactive nature of the sessions and the way he linked the practical tasks with the Welsh Humanities AoLE. Pupil engagement was outstanding, including some pupils with ALN or behavioural difficulties. As a result of pupil feedback at the close of the course, we've asked Phil to return next academic year to work with our next cohort of pupils. We'd highly recommend the sessions to other schools looking to enhance their provision of Science and Tech D&T and Humanities Welsh history 'what matters' statements."

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

" Thank you so much Katie, I loved teaching the kids and it was great to see them really engaging with the making, and doing a great job at it. I'm looking forward to coming along next year!"

22 May 23'

Sorcha reviewed: A Day of Traditional Maille Making

"Extremely thorough instruction in all aspects of beginner maillemaking. Phil is an excellent teacher and very very patient. Even if you come to this course with absolutely zero prior knowledge and limited aptitude for other weaving-based crafts (like me), you will come away with a strong sense of the basics. For Reenactors or history geeks, it's worth the price for the opening lecture on different styles of European maille alone. Would recommend to anyone. "

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

" Thanks Sorcha, glad you enjoyed it and to hear that the 'theory' bit was useful too."

10 May 23'

Richard Melhuish reviewed: Group Maille Making Workshop

"Phil is very knowledgeable and a great communicator, the history of maille making was fascinating. I can heartily recommendation this course. "

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

" Thanks Richard, it was a pleasure running this course with the group."

5 May 23'

Kim H reviewed: A Day of Traditional Maille Making

"This course was so much fun! I wasn't sure what to expect, but Phil was a fountain of knowledge and experience that he was more than happy to share. He guided us through the process of making maille, from the very first steps of pulling the wire and making the rings to the later steps of weaving a panel of maille. He also taught us about some of the history of maille and how it was made in different periods, and we got to see some historical examples. Phil was really friendly and happy to answer all of our questions, even showing us how to repair our own maille armour for the future. The hours flew by. Highly recommended whether you're a reenactor, LARPer, cosplayer, historian, archaeologist, or somebody just interested in giving a new craft a try. "

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

" Thanks Kim. Hopefully the maille repair will come in handy and glad to hear you enjoyed the day."

5 May 23'

Martin reviewed: Group Maille Making Workshop

"Brilliant "

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

" Thanks Martin, glad you enjoyed it. "

24 Apr 23'

Leonie reviewed: A Day of Traditional Maille Making

"Going in with little to no knowledge of maille I came away with a great foundational understanding of the different types of maille, and how to make maille from the very beginning of the process to the end. Phil is an excellent tutor with a vast knowledge and patience to help any beginner on their journey with maille making! A really enjoyable and insightful course with Phil, I would definitely recommend this course!"

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

" Thanks Leonie, good to hear you enjoyed it and thanks for the recommendation!"

24 Apr 23'

Adam reviewed: A Day of Traditional Maille Making

"Had a wonderful and very informative day under the wise and patient tutelage of Phil. I feel I have a solid beginner's grounding in the way mail is constructed, including the different types. Well worth attending!"

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

" Thanks and glad to hear you enjoyed and learned. Hopefully useful in your future battles!"

24 Apr 23'

Courtney Lyons reviewed: A Day of Traditional Maille Making

"A really fantastic course- from knowing nothing about Maille making I left with confidence and passion to continue exploring this craft. Phil is an excellent tutor guiding you through the whole process explaining the history, materials and tools used, so from beginning to end it was a great learning and a brilliant experience!"

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

" Great to hear and thanks for the positive review. I recommend the wooden ring kits for exploring different tailoring techniques in particular."

21 Apr 23'

Roisin Cull reviewed: A Day of Traditional Maille Making

"Really great course, even if you know nothing about Maille, we were shown the different types and the process from start to finish whilst encouraging us to have a go at each step Phil really knows his stuff and is very patient especially when we had the chance to make our own mini chain maille."

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

" Thanks for the review, glad you enjoyed the course."

21 Apr 23'

Alex Brown reviewed: A Day of Traditional Maille Making

"Fascinating course. Phil was great! Going over the process from a bit of wire to making the rings, coiling them, then learning weaves with fun lil teaching aids. What made the entire experience that bit better was how Phil was knowledgeable and comes from a historical background so told us all sorts of fun facts and tid bits. I'm now at a stage of appreciation of the skills required, but also could make my own maille suit for reenactment or larp. Very chuffed. "

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

" Glad to hear you enjoyed the day and hopefully you'll be able to fix those holes in your shirt successfully now."

21 Apr 23'

Emma Thomas reviewed: Wooden Maille Construction Kit

"Super useful in helping me figure out how the maille was meant go together!"

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

" Thanks Emma, great to hear that you found them a useful learning aid."