A Generous Length of Itajime Dyed Cotton: Two Processes
early to mid twentieth century
4 yards x 13", 3.65 m x 33 cm
This is a generous length of indigo dyed cotton cloth that 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, six pointed "flowers" which are arranged in ordered repeat.
At the same time the six pointed flower design forms hexagons which is design shorthand for tortoiseshell which symbolizes a wish for long life
And notably there is an additional resist dye technique that is part of this beautiful cloth and that is the layered effect of what appear to be stencil resist dyed faux shibori dots that are arranged in wavy, vertically-oriented lines that travel along the entire length of the cloth.
The length of 4 yards or 3.65 meters is in good, used, condition, with some very lightly ingrained creases that are almost impossible to perceive.
Recommended.