The stalks are harvested, usually between October and December, with special care taken not to bruise or bend them. Bruises will leave dark marks on the inner pith, which will produce a defective sheet. The flower head is cut off, to disentangle the stem from the neighboring plants. The stalks are gathered in the water. They are bundled for transport to the work area.
All work is done on a houseboat and nearby covered working areas.
The green outer rind is peeled off, leaving only the white pith inside. The peeled stalks are carried to the slicing area. They are sliced into strips of equal thickness. The strips are soaked, beaten with a mallet and rolled until their fibers are exposed. The strips are sized and cut, and ragged edges are removed.