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Mishima Kogin

Three types of kogin: from left to right: higashi kogin; nishi kogin; mishima kogin Three types of kogin: from left to right: higashi kogin; nishi kogin; mishima kogin

Mishima kogin in Japan is a form of kogin zashi and is characterised by pattern darning. Kogin literally means 'small cloth' and zashi means 'stitches'. Kogin is one of the sashiko forms, which were developed by the farmers of the Tsugaru region in the northern part of Honshu Island, Japan, and particular from the delta of the Iwaki river.

This Iwaki delta area had smaller crops owing to its more severe climate, and farmers did not have much time to make kogin zashi, so there are not many clothes preserved. Mishima kogin dress has three vividly striped embroidered zones on the front and the back of the clothes. In between, the cloth is decorated with embroidered block patterns made of lozenges.

See also: higashi kogin; nishi kogin

Sources:

  • KIYOKO, Ogikubo (1993). Kogin and Sashiko Stitch, Kyoto: Kyoto Shoin.
  • HIROSAKI KOGIN INSTITUTE, Co., Ltd (2013). Tsugaru Kogin – Zashi, Technique and Patterns, Tokyo: Seibundo Shinkosha
  • TANAKA, Chuaburo (2009). Michinoku no Kofu no Sekai (The world of old textiles in northern part of Honshu Island, Japan), Tokyo: Kawaide Shobo Shinso.

Digital source of illustration (retrieved 5 July 2015).

NK

Last modified on Saturday, 01 October 2016 16:45