A Pieced Cotton and Wool Kotatsugake: Elaborate, Random Design

This fully reversible textile is mostly hand sashiko stitched from a combination of cotton and wool cloth.  The proper front shows an almost-solid field of figured cotton while the back shows a patchwork of old pieces of wool cloth, randomly arranged by color, size and shape.

The edging and the vertical cotton seams on the cloth are machine stitched--the rain of diagonally-oriented white sashiko stitching is of course done entirely by hand and along with the wool patchwork this is one of the most attractive features of this kotatsugake.

The large, cloth is made from two layers and was used  as a cover for a kotatsu, a traditional, heated table that would be covered in blankets under which members of a family would gather to share warmth.  Electric kotatsugake, or kotatsu covers, are still used to this day in many Japanese homes.

This kotatsugake shows two distinct sides, as mentioned above and seems not to have been used hard: there is some wear a bit of loss to the edging as well as there is a loose seam to the top of the cloth.

This is a heavy, blanket-weight cloth and can easily be used to dress a bed or couch.

Recommended.