Sashiko Jacket. Culture: Japan. Dimensions: Overall: 51 1/8 x 49 1/2 in. (129.9 x 125.7 cm). Date: second half of the 19th century.Sashiko is a quilting technique that uses a running stitch to reinforce and prolong the life of a textile or to join together recycled pieces of cloth into a new garment. Japanese farmers used the technique to create warmer and more durable fabrics, and decorative sashiko stitching developed from this practical function. This robe's embroidered design is dominated by three variations on the pattern of interlocking circles, called shippo-tsunagi. The bottom band features a design of waves. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.