A Scrappy Zokin: Stitched Kasuri Cotton

mid twentieth century
7" x 12 3/4", 17.755 cm x 32.5 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 about three layers thick and is stitched together from indigo dyed kasuri cotton cloth. The strangely patterned sashiko stitching is wonderful; note some ingrained dirt on one of the two sides of this zokin.

Charming.