A Hemp Stitched Zokin made from a Tenugui: Duck Images

early twentieth century
8" x 12", 20.25 cm x 30.5 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 re-purposing or recycling of cloth is concerned.

This zokin is a charming because it is made from a tenugui or a traditional, printed hand towel. It is sashiko in hemp thread which is a desirable material when considering sashiko stitching because it often suggests age or the cloth's origin as being rural.

A charming and unusual zokin with a delightful base cloth of a recycled tenugui.