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Kimono Project 3 and 4: Men's Kimono

 Two of my kimono projects are men's kimono which are constructed and worn differently than a women's kimono. But the projects are so similar that I'm going to talk about them in one post. 

These are "formal" or semi-formal because they will include a haori and hakama. Despite making two they are the same design. I will refer to Kyojuro's Kimono as "Red" and Shinjuro's Kimono as "Rust". 



Juban and Kimono

For these outfits, I'm using the same juban! A black cotton hanjuban. The length of the juban should be around my hips and the sleeves very short! 

You'll note that the sleeves on both kimono are short in length and height when compared to female kimono. Because we're busy fightin' and can't have sleeves in the way! The length of kimono will be above my ankles, but as you may imagine needs to be hiked up to wear hakama. This is often done by tucking the back hem of the kimono into the obi. 

Hakama

Speaking of Hakama this is where these two differ. The colors are slightly different as are the number of pleats. 😓 So although I could use the same hakama for both it would be slightly off character model for Shinjuro. Luckily, this will push me to finish make hakama series of posts which finished with the karusan-bakama/mompe hakama. I have had the pattern pinned to fabric for months! 

I'll be using a pattern/guide from Folkwear for the Red kimono and using a grey Poplin fabric. I also got some spray paint so I can make that flame edge using stencils. I hope it works. 

The pattern draft for this style of hakama can be found in my Hakama Series. 

Haori

The third element is the haori for both character. Shinjuro's is already done. I will use my knitted Flame Hashira Haori for it. 

I will have to sew one for the Red kimono. I got some Red Polyester Silk Dupioni for it and will follow the pattern guide from Alice in Cosplayland. The haori himo I have some black leather string and wooden beads I can paint in gold. I do need to see if I have any hook fasteners left. I swear I do somewhere. The pattern on the haori is abstract as far as I can tell. It's a mix of blue, yellow, and red splotches so I'll see if my fabric base paint can make some of my acrylics mix into the fabric and just use a natural lookin' sponge to blotch them in after the coat is finished. 

Footwear and Props

I have white and black tabi and I have the zori with red straps and zori with white straps. However, I'm STILL in the process of knitting the flame kyahan. I have ONE so far and the other is 30% done as of writing this post. 

As far as props go...I have 3D printed the Rengoku sword and its sheath already. I still need to finish and paint the sheath but got that too! 

I have a couple of Bamboo parasols and one IS white with a floral pattern that I COULD paint. The other is a purple one. But since I pretty much don't use EITHER parasol, I don't think I should buy a new one just for this. So I won't! 

So far I have cut out the Rust kimono pieces. I plan on cutting the Red one today as well as the grey hakama. I should probably cut the black hakama today too just to get it done. 
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