Wooden Reeds - Rami Reddy Palem
The craftsmen who practice weaving reeds In Ramireddy palem which has been passed on by generations and the younger generations are not interested in practicing this particular craft as it involves lot of hard work and dedication to complete a particular reed. There are complications as a family has to invest a lot of money in raw materials prior to weaving. A single reed is sold for 700rupees to 800rupees approximate and the raw materials used in a reed comes up-to 300 rupees, so only 400 to 500 rupees will be labor for 3 people, 150rupees for each only if the reed is completed in a day. Most of the looms are now equipped with iron or stainless steel because they are long lasting and reliable where as bamboo reeds while weaving are vulnerable to opening up at two edges of the reed. A single reed consists of 40 bits and on orders a reed can be customized up to 45 bits making the saree a little bulkier than the usual sarees done on 40bits. Silk saree reeds are little different with the first and the last bit contains 30 sticks instead of 60 for borders.
1 reed = 40 Bits
On orders 45 bits can be added
1 bit, which is 1.25 inch, consists of 60 sticks.
