A Length of Itajime Dyed Cotton: Hemp Leaf Pattern

early twentieth century
31 1/2" x 12 3/4", 80 cm x 32.5 cm

This length of gauzy, lightweight cotton is dyed in the itajime method, a resist dye technique which uses carved boards and applied pressure to resist the cloth in order to produce patterns.  

This particular fragment of cloth shows a repeat pattern of the traditional hemp leaf or asanoha design.  In the center of this fragment you can see a gap in the pattern: it is here where the cloth has been folded as it is interleaved between the carved boards.

The length is light faded and shows two tones of color, an orange tone and a pink tone.

A lovely and collectible length of resist dyed cotton.