A Length of Patched Zanshi ori: Left Over Yarn Weaving

early twentieth century
66" x 13 1/2", 167.5 cm x 34.25 cm

Zanshi ori is cloth that is woven from threads either leftover from home production of yarn making, or from broken threads that were purchased from local commercial weavers.  Usually the weft is fed with these random threads while generally the warp is regulated producing an irregular horizontal 'striping'; if home threads are used, knotted slubs can often be seen.

This is a length of indigo dyed cotton zanshi ori that has been mended by cotton patches, about five in all.

The ground cloth is subtle and lovely: the warp yarns have created a stripe effect and the weft yarns are variegated due to them being leftover and used in no particular order. The base cloth is somewhat fragile and shows some holes the size of pin pricks, noticeable only when the length is held against light.

A handsome and subtle length of old cotton, zanshi ori is a good reminder that frugality and intentionality can yield beauty and practicality.

Wonderful.