My its been a while!  I never actually used wire, I used very small rings of metal, like these: http://theringlord.com/cart/shopdisplaycategories.asp?id=1&cat=Rings

Infact  http://theringlord.com/  has all the things you need to make chainmail.  Just bags of rings and two sets of pliers. Pry each ring apart, link and put back together, move on to the next one.  Usually I did European 4 in 1, 6 in 1 and Persian One and 1/2. You can see examples of the different weaves here: http://theringlord.com/cart/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=75&cat=Weaves 

Curves are tricky, I honestly would have to sit down and do it again to remember.  Ten hands remember, the head doesn't, if that makes sense