Sword Shuttles Used to Weave Echigo Jōfu

After the weaver straps herself into the loom, she tries to remain there for as long as possible to avoid irregularities in the woven surface, so she keeps everything she might need close at hand. She uses a separate sword-shaped shuttle for each type of weft thread in a pattern. A small chamber in the center of each shuttle holds a small bamboo quill upon which the weft is wound. Other implements she uses are a small sponge on a stick for dampening the threads, pins, and scissors.