Hyogo Chain / Loop-in-Loop Chain
This unique style of chain is named “Hyogo chain” and was originally used for jewelry, connecting parts of horse armor, and to hang swords. It is believed that the Hyogo chain came first from ancient Egyptians, Sumerians and Etruscans, then to the Greeks and from Greece over the Silk Road to China after which it came through Korea t0 far eastern Japan around the 4th century.
How to make the chain parts
How to weave the chain
Single Loop-in-Loop Chain
Take a bent link and insert the loop of the first link. Use a tool like an awl or punch to open both ends of the inserted bent link. Take another bent link and insert it into the opened ends of the last link. Repeat until desired length is reached.
Single Cross Loop-in-Loop Chain
Take a bent link and insert the loop of the first link across the bent link. Use a tool like an awl or punch to open both ends of the inserted link. Repeat by alternating the crossing link until desired length is reached.
Pinched Single Loop-in-Loop Chain
Insert a tool like an awl or punch to both sides of the loop of the link and make the shape round. Remove the tool from one side and use pliers to pinch both the rounded ends. Do same thing the other end too.
Open the parts and insert one into the other and close both. Take the joined parts and reopen the pinched side of one link closest to the other link to insert the opened part and close it. Repeat until desired length is reached.
