An Undone Sekka Shibori Diaper: Two Layers and Sashiko Stitching

ca. mid twentieth century
52" x 13", 132 cm x 33 cm

This gauzy cotton cloth is a traditional, Japanese diaper and is dyed in the itajime shibori or clamp dyed method.  This particular diaper, which was originally stitched together to form a "tube" is undone to reveal its full length.  It is composed of two layers which are sashiko stitched together; on the back side of this diaper there is length of gauzy, spare, kasuri cotton, brown on white.

To create the shibori pattern, 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, eight pointed "flowers" which are configured more or less along the lines of a hexagon. 

There are four lines of sashiko stitching down the length of this diaper, a very nice feature.  The shibori dyed cotton face shows a bit of surface scuffing and a few, extremely faint, small stains.

In good, used condition.