A Sashiko Stitched Zokin: Beautiful Katazome Cotton

early twentieth century
9" x 13 1/2", 23 cm x 34 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 re-purposing or recycling of cloth is concerned.

This zokin is a few layers thick and is made of fantastic old katazome dyed cotton cloth. It is sashiko stitched in a concentrically arranged rectangle pattern, the white stitches are a strong presence over the faded blue-on-blue katazome base.

A wonderful katazome dyed zokin with a very good old cotton cloth and great stitching.