A Plaid Cotton Zokin: Pieced Traditional Dustrag

mid twentieth century
9 1/4" x 13 1/4", 23.5 cm x 33.5 cm

A zokin is a traditional cleaning cloth or dust rag that is hand stitched using cast off or re-purposed cloth that has been folded or layered for strength and durability.

Since zokin were used often in the home and were used hard, zokin were commonly made in stacks using whatever material was available. It is said that zokin, along with diapers, were the end of the line where the re-purposing of cloth is concerned.

This is a particularly nice one for the attractive combination of recycled cottons used to make it along with the intricate sashiko stitching that quilts it.