yesterday i had to go to the hospital for tests and they gave me a gown that had 3 arm holes. have never seen one of these before. it had sleeves in 2 of the holes.
does anyone have a pattern for this.

my mother is a large woman and when she goes to hospital she has to wear 2 gowns, the ones that tie at the back. she puts one on the right way and then has to put one on, with ties to the front. this is very degrading.

so if anyone knows where there is a pattern, could you please advise.
thank you in advance for your help.

Try here....free pattern....Naomi

http://www.lazygirldesigns.com/hospitalgown.php

FWIW, I'm NOT a "very large woman" and I still have used 2 gowns per the staff's instructions.

What I would THINK would work is a standard over-the-head gown pattern, but cut 2 fronts and 1 back...instead of sewing the front to the back, finish each edge with a hem on the "first front" and then the opposite side of the "second front".

having 3 sleeves may defeat the purpose of the 2-hospital gown thing, so perhaps snaps or ties might be the answer?

I've remember those in Dr's offices and XRay clinics years ago ... a more modest gown, indeed! You get a full cover at the side, instead of that inevitable split down the front or back. And if worse case scenario it comes apart, it's not quite so bad at the side as in the front/back

If you have a pattern that you have used for your Mom for a nightgown or dress, you could convert it over ... you're basically making two sides, and letting it wrap around.

I just love the new gowns, it's more of a wrap.

thank you naomi, i will print and see what it looks like. sorry if this posts twice, am having problem with comp.

Ok, I give up, what's the 3rd arm hole for??

It's kind of hard to explain ..... think of it like a wrap. So ... you put your arm thru the hole and the edge of the gown falls down about your bra strap, then across the back (or front, as it doesn't matter) and put other arm in. Now it's kind of like wearing a sweater. Then bring the gown across the front. Then thru the 3rd armhole, and the end of the fabric will be about where your bra strap at the back would be.

In the end, your left side actually has a double layer of fabric because of the 3rd armhole. Whereas a traditional gown just meets .... and if it doesn't meet, well, you get that picture! :) So with this one, if the person is large and it starts to split apart, you have that overlap for a bit of dignity.

The other bonus .... with the 3rd armhole, it helps hold the gown on. The traditional ones .... of the person is small, it will slipslide off the shoulders easier.

I always liked them ... and you actually feel more properly dressed with them on!

What I want to know is, who came up with the design for the split in the back in the first place? What purpose does it serve? If they need to work on the patient, wouldn't it be just as easy (if not easier) to have a gown that splits in the front?

When examinations are in the back .... you wear it split down the back.
Split in the front, for frontal examinations!