An Itajime Shibori Diaper or Mat: Stitched

mid twentieth century
26 1/2" x 15 1/2", 67 cm x 39.25 cm

This layered cotton cloth is or was intended to be a diaper or a small mat and is dyed in the itajime shibori or clamp dyed method. 

For the itajime shibori 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 medium-toned, grey/blue on white, six pointed "flowers" which are arranged in ordered repeat. 

The cloth is three layers thick and is stitched together using white thread; it is in good, used condition with one faint stain to one side, shown on the detail photo here.

Really lovely.