Kantha (meaning "patched cloth") is both the tradition and craft of producing these unique, quilted blankets (making something useful and beautiful out of discarded items), as well as the stitch itself. We use "kantha" primarily to refer to the small, straight, running stitch that quilts our sari-cloth blankets together. Kantha quilts are layers of cloth stitched together, using this regional technique, to make a unique quilted blanket. At the most basic, kantha has always been a craft of repurposing the old (scraps & rags) into new — functional blankets to keep warm during colder months. Of course, the kantha quilts you see for sale today are not made of old rags! Today, these works of art are made using lightly used, repurposed saris and new thread. Our dignify kantha use 6 layers of saris that have been purchased in bulk, washed, matched, stitched, patched, and washed again. Many modern kanthas use 2 layers of cloth.