A Traditional Dustrag: White Zokin with Crisscross Sashiko

ca. mid twentieth century
9 1/4" x 12 1/4", 23.5 cm x 31 cm

Zokin are traditional Japanese dust rags which are almost always made from layered and sashiko stitched scraps of cloth.

This is a subtle and handsome zokin which is sewn from recycled cotton cloth, probably about three layers in all.  The repurposed cloth which was used to create this zokin is white ground, commercially produced cotton.  What is so lovely about it is the very well-stitched, well-regulated, diagonally intersecting sashiko stitching which covers front and back.