April's takenokawa is full of holes!

After some printing, the cover, a bamboo sheath, wears out.
It takes some practice, and at least four hands to replace it.   Sarah comes to the rescue!

In Sarah's Murasaki baren, the shin is a twisted purple cord.
Next to it is her old takenokawa and the string that holds it together.

Inside April's hon (true) baren, the shin is made of a coil of twisted strips of bamboo sheath, nested in a wood backing.
(A real true baren would have a back made of layers of washi.)

The takenokawas are moistened in a damp towel, then Sarah softens the ribs of the takenokawa with the back of a scissors.
(this should be done back and front.)

She lines up the naked baren on the takenokawa (bamboo sheath)

After narrowing the root end of the sheath with a scissors, Sarah strips excess from the margins.

Folding up the ends over the shin after making tucks in the margins. This is where you need four hands!
The ends are twisted in opposite directions and tied together.

The finished baren, with the tails sticking out.
The two ends are held together with a short string knotted at both ends.

The flat printing surface of Sarah's and April's renewed barens, next to the worn takenokawas.
Note the two varieties of bamboo sheaths.

Back (handle side) view of the rejuvenated barens. Ready to print!