Coif construction

To begin making a coif you start with a larger center ring, which some people refer to as the mother ring. None of the dowels I had were big enough, so I ended up using a highlighter marker to wrap the wire around and make a coil which was an appropriate size.

I added 12 normal rings onto the mother ring.

Take note that all of the rings are flowing in the same direction.  From here I added an additional 12 rings.  Putting one new ring through two rings on the project.  If you notice in the picture where two rings overlap, you slip the new open ring through the overlapped space, then close the ring.

At this point you need to start to add some expansion rings.  You need add rings to the project so that you can build the circle bigger.  This is a picture of the expansion process which best shows where the new rings are placed.  I found this picture on the internet, and it uses red rings to show where the expansion rings are placed.

This is my project after an expansion set is placed. 

Another picture with a fourth row added.

Notice that each layer of rings is flowing a different direction.  This is true for straight chain maille also.  One row will flow to the left, the next to the right and so on.

This is all I as able to get done for now.  I ran out of rings and must cut some more before I can continue.
I plan to continue this same process, adding a new row, adding expansion rings, and continuing along.  I will post some additional pictures after I have progressed a bit further.