Aqua Robe’s Debut or The Fabric Met the Pattern

As you can see, I finished the bathrobe that I have been blogging about from a 1950s pattern, Simplicity 3592. The pattern was too small, so I used the slide method of pattern enlargement which has you sliding the pieces of the pattern out and down and marking new edges as you go. I was able to match the fabric print at front and back centers, as well as on the pockets. They wanted the pockets lined and with a ornamental flap, but I couldn’t see the point to either, so I only turned and sewed down the top edges. The double-stitching that holds them on is simply lost in the fabric print. The vintage buttons with a watery glow turned out to be the perfect choice.

I draw your attention to two nice design features. First, the short sleeves really do make it easier to function in the kitchen when you need to rinse things, or get your hands dirty for a minute as I learned wearing it this morning. Second, the collar has roll built into it as the two collar pieces form an acute angle at the center as you sew them, and then the back center of the collar is pointed.

Playing Button Button for Aqua Robe aka Simplicity 3592

When you ponder a button choice, you always need to think about your purpose Do you have a button so beautiful that it inspires you to make a garment to use it on? Yes, I have few buttons like that. Do you want to make the buttons noticeable? Do you want to them to harmonize with the fabric and garment? Or do you just want to shut an obscure opening and anything plain will do. See side waistbands on a skirt, for example.

I have 3 options here all with their own virtues, but only one suits my purpose. The mid-century vintages ones in blue with the spirograph detailing are lovely on their own. In fact, too lovely to subsume in this big, swirly print. So I will save them for a plainer fabric that will let them be the center of attention. The white ones harmonize as an idea--they look like pieces of seashells--but they draw an awful lot of attention to themselves against the blue background. The glossy, blue ones, also vintage, manage to harmonize as a color--blue-- and an idea--their gloss looks like the sheen of water which gives them a contrast in texture with the fabric. They have some visual interest, but not too much. A pleasing combination.

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.