An Indigo Dyed Cotton Shibori Diaper: Two Motifs

mid twentieth century
26" x 11 1/2", 66 cm x 29 cm

This lightweight cotton cloth measures, as shown as 26" or 66 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, six pointed "flowers" which are arranged in ordered repeat.  

As well, the six pointed flower forms join to form hexagons which is design shorthand for tortoiseshell which symbolizes a wish for long life

The diaper is in used condition. It is made from three pieces of cloth with two of the three stitched seams done by machine; two are a bit unraveled at one end.

Really lovely.