A Kasuri Cotton Zokin: Wonderful Stitching

mid twentieth century
8 1/2" x 12 1/4", 21.5 cm x 31 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 a few layers thick and is stitched together a brown colored kasuri cotton: note the wonderful grid of white sashiko stitching and the diagonal line of stitching coming down from the upper corner of the dust rag.

Just wonderful.