Hana fukin (花ふきん), translates to "flower cloth" or "kitchen cloth" in Japanese. There isn't a comparable word in english for a generic "useful household cloth" and the closest maybe kitchen cloth or dishcloth. For us, a dishcloth is a generic term used to describe the cloth we use to wash or dry our dishes, but a hana fukin is so much more than that.
Hana fukin were a feature in the lives of most women. For women in farming communities, stitching and creating homewares was a necessity, while for those from samurai families, it was a lesson in patience and perseverance.
Beginning when her daughter was very young, a mother started crafting hana fukin, stitched with diverse patterns symbolizing blessings for health, happiness, and various auspicious occasions and seasonal events. These sampler style stitchings passed down knowledge for the daughter to use these patterns for repairs and decorative cloths in her own family.
Hana fukin is typically created by sewing two pieces of cloth together. The loosely woven fabric makes it easy for the needle to stitch the layers together. The double layer also hides the knots of the sashiko thread. With use, the cotton thread and fabric soften and hold up well to washing.
