Kantha stitching is also used to make  quilts. Women in INDIA typically use old saris and cloth and layer them with kantha stitch to make a light blanket, throw or bedspread, especially for TRADITION. Kantha is very popular with tourists  and is similar to the decorative running stitch of Japanese sashiko quilting. Kantha originated from the way in which Bengali housewives mended old clothes by taking out a strand of thread from the colorful border of their saris and making simple designs with them. Kantha stitching is also used to make  quilts. Women in INDIA typically use old saris and cloth and layer them with kantha stitch to make a light blanket, throw or bedspread, especially for TRADITION. Kantha is very popular with tourists  and is similar to the decorative running stitch of Japanese sashiko quilting. Kantha originated from the way in which Bengali housewives mended old clothes by taking out a strand of thread from the colorful border of their saris and making simple designs with them.