Hidden Cat Patchwork Tea Mat – Hand-Stitched Wabi-Sabi Chabu

Approximately Dimension: 41 x 26.5cm |  16.1’ x 10.4’ inches

🐈 A Little Story Behind This Tea Mat - 🐾 Three Little Cats Hidden in the Cloth

Three mischievous little cats are hiding among the patches — each one caught in its own tiny, playful moment. Look a little closer and you’ll find these small embroidered stories tucked between botanical-dyed fabrics, raw edges and hand stitches.

This tea mat begins with handwoven cotton, with each section treated using different traditional and experimental dyeing techniques. The fabrics include botanical dyeing, persimmon dye (kakishibu), rust dyeing, botanical heat printing, tie dye, soft gradient dyeing and distressed snowflake effects. Instead of trying to make every piece perfectly uniform, I chose fabrics with different faded tones, markings and textures, then carefully arranged them into an earthy patchwork of muted green, brown, terracotta, grey and warm natural linen.

🪡 Each section is carefully arranged and joined by hand, with different stitching, raw edges and small embroidered details adding texture throughout. Hidden among the patchwork are three little hand-embroidered cats — little playful surprises to discover while enjoying tea.

Because the fabrics are naturally dyed and individually pieced together, every mat has its own variations in colour, markings and placement, making each piece truly one of a kind.

Perfect as a Gongfu tea mat, tea ceremony cloth, teaware display mat, or simply as a decorative textile for a quiet corner of the home.

🌿 **Natural Fabric Note**
The handwoven cotton may contain natural slubs, knots or tiny seed husk remnants. These are part of the character of traditional handwoven fabric, not defects.

Care: Gently wipe with a damp cloth when needed.