Pattern to make jingawa ?

[Michimasa]

Anyone have a pattern to make jingawa, either from metal or leather. I know it is a cone, but I would like details to make a fully wearable piece. It is not for fighting, but to protect me from the sun ... and to add a bit to the look :-)

Michimasa

[Takeda Sanjuichiro]

mik said:

Anyone have a pattern to make jingawa, either from metal or leather. I know it is a cone, but I would like details to make a fully wearable piece. It is not for fighting...

The basic ones are very simple, to make a very nice one quickly one could even use a good grade of cardboard. I would go with a fairly ridgid material like steel or cardboard before leather, unless it is rawhide or heavily treated it will be too "floppy".

Using some simple geometry design your cone to the proportions you find pleasing. Regardless of the material, to have a nice looking jingasa finish the edge/brim with a bit of a "rolled edge", and using paper and a thin hardening glue "tape" over the seam so when painted it will not show a ridge.

At four points (aligning with NE,NW,SE,SW, North being the center of your forhead) punch holes for knotted loops to pass through, a nice even knot will make a ball on the outside, the raw ends inward. These will be the attachment points for the cords that hold it on your head. One can either make the customary "head ring" that is tied to the webbing you create to keep it centered, or simply use a washcloth sized towel folded into quarters as the padding.

Follow the usual methods of tying japanese headgear to your head

If you want to get fancy add the drape of cloth to the back, maybe even with your mon in the center.