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A - Z : T = Tifaifai

Le tifaifai est un patchwork tel qu'il est pratiqué en Polynésie.
Tifaifai is a Polynesian patchwork art, not quite like Hawaiian quilts.

Salon du tifaifai, Papeete 2013

Du tahitien "tifai", qui veut dire pièce, morceau ; c'est aussi un verbe : rapiécer, raccommoder, réparer. Le tifaifai est constitué soit d'un grand tissu sur lequel est cousue en appliqué une pièce découpée (pa'oti), soit d'un patchwork d'au moins 2 couleurs différentes (pu'oi).

From the Tahitian word "Tifai" meaning piece, it's also a verb: to patch, to repair. The Tifaifai is made of a large piece of fabric on which a cut piece is appliquéd (pa'oti), or a patchwork made with at least 2 different colors (pu'oi).

Tifaifai pa'oti

Un tifaifai se fabrique souvent en équipe (pupu). Le tissu qui sera appliqué est plié en 4, puis découpé avec le 1/4 du motif dessiné, bâti sur le tissu de fond, et enfin appliqué à petits points d'ourlet invisibles.

A Tifaifai is often made as a team (pupu). The fabric that will be applied is folded in four, then cut with the 1/4 of the drawing pattern, basted on the background fabric, and finally applied with small invisible hem stitches.

Tifaifai, mamas de Paea

Le tifaifai est un objet précieux, produit d'un long travail méticuleux, fait main, Offrir ou recevoir un tifaifai cousu main est une marque de grande considération ou de grande tendresse. Les occasions les plus courantes pour offrir un tifaifai sont le mariage, les arrivées et départ avant ou après une longue absence, les visites de personnalités.

The Tifaifai is a precious object, handmade from a long and meticulous work. Offering or receiving a hand-stitched Tifaifai is a mark of great consideration or tenderness. The most common opportunities to offer a Tifaifai are marriage, arrivals and departure before or after a long absence, visits from personalities.

Notre mariage / Our wedding

Durant nos 18 ans de séjour en Polynésie, je n'ai fait que 2 tifaifai... et voici mon second et son patron :
During our 18 years living in French Polynesia, I only made 2 tifaifai... here is my second one and it's pattern:


Tifaifai Uru

Patron du tifaifai Uru / Tifaifai pattern

Quelques livres :
Some books:






Commentaires

Wow, how lovely! And what a fun name. :D

The Multicolored Diary
kalpana solsi a dit…
The picture of Notre wedding is so lovely. your post is so colouful.

https://ideasolsi65.blogspot.com/2019/04/trachea-parts-of-body.html
those are very pretty quilts I have said sometime I will try to make one of these and I never have but they are so pretty
This is absolutely amazing! I had no idea about these kinds of quilts. Thank you so much for sharing. Your Tifaifai Uru quilt is beautiful!
Wendy a dit…
This is a new term for me. I love the very large pattern, so graphic. Is that typical? Your design is lovely.
la tulipe a dit…
Enveloppés dans le Tifaifai avec les couronnes de fleurs, vous êtes trop beaux!
Quite an accomplishment to create 2 of these in my opinion!
Stephanie Finnell
@randallbychance from
Katy Trail Creations
Arlee Bird a dit…
I've never heard of this but I like the designs. I have a few shirts with similar types of design.

Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
Kristin a dit…
I've never done any kind of applique. I don't have the patience. The traditional quilts are so beautiful.
Liz A. a dit…
It does share a similar feeling to the Hawaiian quilt. Now I'll know what to look for.
Anne M Bray a dit…
Wonderful! I love the positive/negative patterning.
I had never heard of these quilts before. They are amazing! Thanks so much for this post, I now want to look into these more thoroughly.
pascalinette a dit…
je ne connaissais pas,c'est beau;je me demande combien de temps il faut pour en terminer un ?beaucoup c'est sûr!!
Lisa a dit…
J'adore les Tifaifai! I've seen them before but didn't know much about them. Thank you, as always, for the learning! J'adore les photos aussi.
All those tifaifai are typical, and authentic. Very few Tahitian mamas will go modern with tifaifai!
You are right Kristin, they require a loooooot of patience ;)
I visit several tifaifai exhibitions while I was in Tahiti: Salon du Tifaifai
Oui et non, parce qu'il n'y a pas de quilting. J'ai passé environ 100 heures à faire le Tifaifai Uru
Cocopatch a dit…
tu as bien raison de nous remontrer des Tifaifai! c'est toujours spectaculaire!