Preforming the rim in Yang Tao village

To preform the rim, the first step, seen here made by Yo Khoanh on the right, is to place a wet rag astride on the edge of the pot’s opening. The potter holds the rag with her right fingers flat on the outside of the pot and her thumb inside while her left hand has the same position but with the fingers on the inside and the thumb on the edge of the pot. Keeping her hands in this position, she slides them along the edge while she walks backward around the support. When she is satisfied with the regularity of the edge, she changes the grip on the rag, seen here made by Mai Kim on the left, and places the tips of her right fingers pressing one end of the rag on the outside with her right thumb on the inside and her left fingers holding up the other end of the rag with the thumb placed on the same level than her right thumb. She continues to walk backward around the support. The pressure from her fingers on the outside and her thumbs on the inside shapes the rim outward.