Hand-Plyed Ramie Thread, Echigo Jōfu

Making ramie threads sometimes as fine as a human hair by twisting fibers end to end.
A skilled thread maker can produce joints that are smooth and even, without causing bumps. Nevertheless, it is the subtle irregularities caused by these plied joints in both the warp and weft that gives Echigo jōfu an entirely different feel from textiles made with machine-spun thread.