Samurai Costume

Step 2 The Sode (Shoulder armor)

The Sode are constructed about the same way the back armor of the DO is. Only this time, the pieces are 2" wide and 9" long. The lacing holes still need to come off the center line of the lame, and the lame should have a steady curve to it.(not to much curve though) There is a top lame where all the other lames attach to, and on that piece i made a fin of sorts to use for connecting to the rest of the armor. To make the fin, take your top lame and sit it upright so you can trace the curvature of the lame lengthwise, then just move it down an inch and trace the curve again. Then you will have a piece to super glue onto the top lame that sits up 90 degrees to it. On the underside of the fin, I used hot glue to re-enforce the super glue.

The lacing for this piece allows for the lames to actually overlap 1/4-1/2".Look at my MSpaint design to show how the lacing goes with the overlap. This is how samurai armor was laced, and the option I didn't do on the Do. It makes it look and lay better though when worn. There is a special lacing at the bottom of the lowest lame called "Hishinui no ita". This lacing is a series of criss cross lacing that is decorative and should be at the bottom of the lowest lame.


The order for construction should be the same as the do. Cut, Form, Drill, Paint.