Joining Hands
The making of the ramie cloth is China. The cloths are made many hands joining together. Depending on the producing area, there are small differences in the method.
Ramie farm
Stripping the fiber off the stem
Divide the fibers for ply-joining
Soak in water
Split into thin strips using hands
Join together by twisting the fibers. Making sure they are of equal thinness
The ply-joined thread are put in an “Oboke” (wooden tub to keep finished ramie thread)
Wind up the thread, with the beginning inside
Starching・Warping / Method is different depending on the producing area
[Sichuan] After the thread goes through the chemical glue in a bamboo tube, it U-turns at the end and comes back.
The glue dries off while then, so it can go straight to warping
[Hunan] The warped thread is placed on
to a stand,
then rice starch is applied with a brush.
After the starch is dry, it is taken up and set to the loom
Making string heddles
Weaving
The finished cloth