A Ragged Boro Zokin: Patched

mid twentieth century
10 3/4" x 13 1/2", 27.25 cm x 34.25 cm 

A zokin is a traditional Japanese dust cloth or cleaning rag; it is usually made from old pieces of cloth and it is usually layered and stitched for durability.   

Along with diapers, zokin are among the traditional household textiles that represent the end of the line where the repurposing or recycling of cloth is concerned.

This example shows a wonderfully sashiko stitched zokin which is a few layers thick and is stitched together from a hand loomed cotton cloth. The meandering sashiko stitching and patching and repair are wonderful.

Just wonderful.