A hair comb-like hand reed is used to pack in the weft tightly, Nishijin-ori

A hair comb-like hand reed is used to pack in the weft tightly.
When weaving “fingernail tapestry” (tsumetsuzure), the design sketch is set under tightly strung warps and after the weft threads are placed in the open shed, the weaver uses her fingernails to pack them in. In order to facilitate this work, the weaver files four or five grooves into the tips of her middle and ring fingers. At times the detailed fine work advances only a few centimeters a day.