Print Predicts Pattern: Or The Tale of Many Fishes
I got this charming fish print at an end-of-bolt sale and have been pondering what to do with it every since. At 3 inches across and forming stripes of fishes down the length of the pattern, the fishes are too large for a dress pattern. They would have to be cut up or matched up or the pattern would have to be very simple when I like a fit and flare dress pattern. So, this yardage has sat in a box for a while.
When I was going through my vintage patterns and realized fish motifs make for a very nice beach robe or bath robe which I currently need, but which one? Beach robes are one of those lost garments that take the place of the “cover-up” or the sarong wrap today. Beach robes usually had sleeves, large collars and large pockets. Making them better protection from the sun for the first two features and practical for the last.
The more formal vintage bathrobe pattern styles, those that are double-breasted, with scalloped lapels, or similar details are too complex for the print. So it comes do these two: Simplicity 3592 and 4494. Both were dubbed “Simple to Make” in the 1950s, but they are simple in different ways. 4494 has set-in sleeves, but finishes its edges with contrast binding. While 3592 has full facings to finish its edges with wider, cut-on sleeves.
Cut-on sleeves would eliminate the need to match the print from the sleeves across to the front and back. So long as I manage to match the print from the fronts to the back over the shoulders, and the fronts across, the sleeve matching takes care of itself. I will add a few more buttons or a belt and some belt loops. In fact, with a fish motif, rope--which the beach robe version also used-- is perfect.
This is one of my summer projects, so we shall see how it goes.