Sum Kai (Bamboo Chicken Coop) — an Open-Weave Pai Ruak Cover, Mouth 90 / 115 / 150-170 cm with 30 / 35 / 40 Strips, a 15-25 cm Crown; Sized by Circles Drawn on the Ground

"The maker has a way to make every sum the same size: the length of the strips sets the size of the sum, and two concentric circles are drawn on the ground." (Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, author พิชชา ทองขลิบ (Phitcha Thongkhlip), CC BY 4.0)

Draw two concentric circles on the ground. The inner circle, near the centre, is the crown (the handle), about 15-25 cm across. The outer circle is the mouth: small 90 cm with 30 strips, medium 115 cm with 35 strips, large about 150-170 cm with 40 strips.

Using strips all of the same length, lay them across the inner circle and shift them to overlap as radii until the strip count for that size is reached; this is the crown pattern. Then weave over-under for 3 more rounds.

Turn the woven sheet upright and sit inside it. With thinner skin strips (tok kiao) as long as the bamboo culm, keep weaving over-under down to the foot, then weave 4-5 tight rounds to strengthen it.

Photos of a real sum kai from Wat Wang Taku, Phichit (Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, author พิชชา ทองขลิบ (Phitcha Thongkhlip), CC BY 4.0)

Set it over a hen with newly hatched chicks, or over a fighting cock.

Makers kept every sum the same size by the length of the strips and the circles drawn on the ground. Source: Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, Traditional Objects of Everyday Use database, "สุ่มไก่", author พิชชา ทองขลิบ (Phitcha Thongkhlip), Wat Wang Taku, Bang Mun Nak, Phichit (CC BY 4.0 licence). **Limits** The source gives no strip length, strip width, sum height or tools.