A Civil War Era Cross-Over Bodice
I have been admiring pictures of Early and Mid-Victorian dresses with a cross-over bodice. They are unique and not seen much at Civil War reenactments. As a matter of fact, I’ve only seen them in pictures of originals and some amazing reproductions.
![f3c4029cf1e2e36b9c54cfaef77d1137[1]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sewdecadesago.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/f3c4029cf1e2e36b9c54cfaef77d11371.jpg?resize=429%2C581&ssl=1)
Original picture of a woman wearing a cross-over bodice, edged with white ruffles.
![906f79a186d89ae3f75320291241694e[1]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sewdecadesago.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/906f79a186d89ae3f75320291241694e1.jpg?resize=564%2C760&ssl=1)
From Les Modes Parisiennes, 1850.
![7cc7dc9804125563bfa21920606b948e[1]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sewdecadesago.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/7cc7dc9804125563bfa21920606b948e1.jpg?resize=433%2C650&ssl=1)
From a museum in Moscow, Russia.
![f2fa7764159b25dbd3d7ea329c3156ab[1]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sewdecadesago.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/f2fa7764159b25dbd3d7ea329c3156ab1.jpg?resize=564%2C756&ssl=1)
This dress sold on E-bay.
![f4090446100a0c097bc22c36b2879a64[1]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sewdecadesago.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/f4090446100a0c097bc22c36b2879a641.jpg?resize=282%2C361&ssl=1)
Another example, this one with horizontal pleats.
Since I am always up for a sewing challenge, I tried my hand at making my very own dress with a cross-over bodice.
I chose a semi-sheer gray-blue cotton fabric with delicate stripes. Vintage black lace and velvet ribbon act as an accent color. Since I have never seen a ready-made pattern in this style, I used a Past Patterns Darted Bodice pattern as a base, and then altered it completely. I only kept the sleeves original.
Here is my version of a dress with a cross-over bodice:
Erika Louis
Your work is phenomenal. Thanks for sharing.
SewDecadesAgo
Thank your for your kind words 🙂
SewDecadesAgo
Thank you, Erika, for your kind words.
Jamie hyde
Any tips or copies of your bodice alterations. I am wanting to do this same item with a crossover bodice. I would pay for a copy of the bodice you front you made. I am a rookie and the crossover bodice is my favorite on my Pinterest board
SewDecadesAgo
I checked in my pattern stash and couldn’t find the altered pattern piece for this bodice. I started out copying the original pattern on a piece of tracing fabric (interfacing) and drawing a diagonal line from the neckline to a point in the waist where I wanted the bodice to button (I took a measurement on myself to see how far off-center I wanted the bodice to close). After that it was some trial and error on scrap fabric until I got the result I wanted. Hope this helps you in your new sewing venture 🙂
peony67
Ohhh, I just came across this post…. I love cross-over fronts, even in modern clothing, and look for ways to incorporate that style into historical stuff, and your post is so inspiring! Thank you. My special love the blue dress in the Russian museum, I made a dress inspired by that one (here: https://www.instagram.com/p/B4FpquXAjd0/ )
I love your dress as well, and will keep it as a reference for future endeavors.
SewDecadesAgo
I’m so happy that you liked my post – thank you for taking the time to comment 🙂 One of my many inspirations for my dress was the one in the Russian museum. I followed you on Instagram and I absolutely love your version. You did an amazing job!
Vég Anett
Thank you. It is one of my favorite historical dresses.