A Stitched, Abraded, Boro Zokin: Pieced Cotton

mid twentieth century
8 1/2" x 14 1/2", 21.5 cm x 37 cm

Zokin are traditional Japanese dustrags which are almost always made from layered and sashiko stitched scraps of cloth--zokin represented one of the last stages of the textile recycling process since often times leftover, tattered pieces were used to craft a zokin.

This is a very handsome, boro and abraded zokin which is sewn from recycled cotton cloth. It is sashiko stitched in fairly even columns of white thread--the white sashiko stitching is just wonderful contrasted against the dark background of pieced cotton fragments. The back of the zokin, as can be easily seen, is rough and abraded from prior use.

A very good looking zokin with lovely piecing.