A Patched Cotton Diaper: Itajime Shibori

mid twentieth century 22 1/4" x 11", 56.5 cm x 28 cm This gauzy cotton cloth measures, as shown as 22 1/4" or 56.5 cm in length, when in reality as it is twice that since this is a length of cotton that has been stitched as a "tube," short end to short end. It is a diaper and is dyed in the itajime shibori or clamp dyed method. The cotton would have been folded in a series of triangular folds, then clamped, and then the edges would have been dyed. The result is this field of blue on white, kaleidoscopic, six pointed "flowers" which are configured more or less along the lines of a hexagon. Note that the dye has bled in irregular patterns along the length of the cloth, which adds a interesting variation to the motif. The hexagon form is important to note as it is the tortoiseshell motif, which is a symbol meaning long life, a conveyance that anyone would wish for the baby wearing this diaper. What is wonderful about this diaper is the patching: on both sides of the cloth we see good looking, hand stitched patches that add contrast to the base cloth. Note as well some threadbare areas of cloth. A delightful little thing.