Women's Chrissy Cross Over

Chrissy Cross Over

Difficulty Level = Beginner 

This cross over top and dress is perfect for pregnancy, nursing, and regular wear. The front pieces cross  over just under the bust. The skirt has two options, either gathered across the waist area, creating  flattering gathers for regular wear, and comfortable bump support for pregnancy, or a smooth plain front for non-maternity/regular wear. There are three lengths, a top length, a knee, and a midi dress length. The  sleeves have three length options (short, ¾ and long). 

There is also an optional cami for nursing, modesty, or just personal styling preference. For nursing simply  pull the top down and cami up for easy nursing access. The cami straps can be finished using the fabric  strap pattern pieces provided, or by using fold over elastic (FOE). There are no fastenings and it simply pulls on.

Our Facebook group is a great place to get help, share your tips and creations! We are a friendly bunch, and we love to help and see what you have made.

Please read the full instructions before getting started.

Wash, dry, and press your fabric before starting your project. A bit of prep now prevents shrinking and means your garment will stay the same size you made it.

Never leave a child or baby unattended or allow to sleep in a garment made from one of our patterns with ties, snaps, buttons, or anything they could remove, choke on, or get caught on. Always use caution if you are unsure. We love our patterns, but we love your bundles of joy more!

Size Range

Womens XXS-5XL

Size Chart

This pattern is drafted to the sizes listed below. If you are between sizes, choose the larger size and adjust the pattern to remove the extra width to achieve the intended fit.

Finished Measurements (Inches)

Fitting Notes:

The cross over section of the top should finish just below the bust. The gathers should start approximately 1-2 inches below the bust, and finish around mid-hip. 

• Finished garment measurements – The garment is designed to have negative ease in places. This means it will be smaller than your body measurements and will stretch to fit. If you fall towards the lower end of your size range, you may find you need to take the fabric in slightly to achieve this fit. We recommend trying a muslin (see below) to make sure the fit is exactly how you are wanting.
• Measure – Please measure and use the size you fall into on the size chart. Sizing varies by designer, brand and country so please be aware it may or may not be the size you are used to.
• Selecting your size – If your measurements fall across several sizes, use the size on the size chart your chest falls into. That way the chest and shoulder area will fit best.  If your waist or hips fall into a different size, print using the layers feature, so you can print the size your bust, waist and hips fall into. Then draw a gently curving line on the side seams between the sizes to blend.
• Front gathers – The gathered front option has gathers across the tummy. There is no need to adjust these between pregnant and non-pregnant sizes. 
  • For regular wear (non-pregnant models), you will find the gathers skim across the stomach. They are not designed to be tight and will just skim the body but not be loose or baggy. The fit is designed to look relaxed while giving stomach coverage. If you wish to have a tighter fit around the tummy, you will need to take the side seams in between the gathered area. To do this, make a muslin first, then try the garment on inside out, pinning down the side seams where you’d like to adjust. Then remove the garment, trim as needed, regather and attach. 
  • For pregnancy wear, the belly will spread the gathers and stretch to allow space for your bump as it grows. Make sure to use the gathered skirt option for maternity. Do not use the plain skirt for maternity.
• Bust – The pattern has been drafted for a sewing C cup bust. We tested the pattern with up to a J cup and found that fabric with at least a 40% stretch, fit well. B cups fit well but A found it a little loose. That said, fit can depend on body shape as well as cup size and fabric type. So, for best fit, we recommend completing a muslin as below.
• Length – This pattern is designed for a height of 5 foot 6 inches. 
  • If you wish to lengthen or shorten the top, you will need to lengthen or shorten the Front Top, Back Top, Front Skirt, Back Skirt and Cami pieces, As well as the Sleeves. 
  • For the Front Skirt and Back Skirt pieces, adjust the length at the hem. 
  • For the Back Top, Front Top and Cami, adjust the pieces 1 inch below the armhole.
  • For the Sleeves, check the finished sleeve length in the chart above and adjust at the ¾ length cutting line. 
  • For minor length adjustments, you may find no adjustment is needed, that you can simply shorten or length at the hem as preferred. 
  • Again, for best fit, we recommend completing a muslin to check for your personal body shape.
• Cami – The Cami is optional. It can be used as a nursing Cami, as a modesty panel, or just for personal preference if you wish to have a Cami underneath. If you choose to do the Cami, it is one sided only and just covers the front bodice to the same length as the front top pieces. The front and back skirt will cover the rest of the torso. 
• Muslin – For the best fit, make a muslin (a test garment out of inexpensive fabric) using the front and back, skirt and sleeve pieces to check the fit and see if you wish to make any adjustments for your body.

If you get stuck with fitting, see our favorite resources on our Pinterest Sewing Fitting Advice board.

• Your fabric needs to be a stretch/knit fabric. It can be any weight; however best results & fit will be achieved with a medium weight fabric such as jersey, double brushed poly (DBP), cotton lycra (CL) and French terry. 
• You’ll need knit/stretch fabric for both the top and the Cami top. We have included the Cami top in the fabric requirements in case you wish to use a different fabric, but if you wish to use a separate fabric, you’ll need approximately 0.5 yard.
• Both 4 way stretch (stretches both horizontally and vertically) and 2 way stretch fabrics will work. For 2 way stretch fabrics, take care to place the pattern pieces as indicated for the grainline so the stretch is doing the correct direction. 
• If you are planning to nurse in the top, we would recommend a 4 way stretch fabric for both the top and the Cami for comfortable nursing access.
• Your fabric will need to have at least 40% stretch to get the fit as it’s designed. To check how much stretch your fabric has, take a piece of fabric, and pull along its stretch. If it allows you to stretch it at least 40% longer than its original length, then it has at least 40% stretch. I.e. A 2-inch piece of fabric (unstretched) should be able to be stretched to 2.8 inches.
• The stretch recovery of your fabric is just as important as the stretch percentage. This will ensure your top maintains its shape and fit for as long as possible and not become baggy. To test the stretch recovery (elasticity), simply check that when you stretch your piece of fabric it returns back to its original size. 

Fabric Requirements 45 inches/115 cm wide (in YARDS)   

Settings

The pattern is a separate download. Choose either the US letter paper, A4 paper, or A0 paper size based on the printer you wish to use. If you are in the US or Canada then your printer will likely use US letter paper. Other regions normally use A4 paper. Some people prefer to print their patterns at a print shop: A0 is best in this case.

Print at 100%.

On the second page, you will find a 1-inch and a 3-inch square test box. Print this page first, on its own, and measure these squares.

Once you are happy that the test box is accurate, print the rest of the pattern pages.

Please follow this video for information and assistance on assembling this pattern.

Also, please note that some Rebecca Page patterns and projects also come with cut files and a printable design page which you can use to plan your project if you wish. These are provided in a separate section below to avoid any confusion! 

Cut each of the pieces according to the directions on the pattern piece. Seam allowances are all included so just cut them as is.

If you are doing the OPTIONAL Cami top, you will need binding for the straps and neckline. You can either use Fold Over Elastic (FOE) or cut binding from fabric. If you are using fold over elastic, use the Cami Strap Binding and Cami Neck Binding pattern pieces as a guide for length to cut.

Cutting Charts – All pattern pieces are included, however if you prefer to cut using a cutting chart, the dimensions for the rectangular pieces (in INCHES) are below:

Cutting Checklist:

• 1x Back Top on fold
• 2x Front Top (1x mirror image pair)
• Skirt
  • For the plain skirt option
    • 2x Plain Skirt on the fold, to the Top, Knee or Midi length cutting lines
  • For the gathered skirt option
    • 1x Plain Skirt on the fold, to the Top, Knee or Midi length cutting lines
    • 1x Gathered Skirt on the fold, to the Top, Knee or Midi length cutting lines
• 2x Sleeves (1x mirror image pair) to the short, ¾ or long sleeve cutting lines
• OPTIONAL – 1x Cami on fold
• OPTIONAL – 1x Cami Neck Binding
• OPTIONAL – 2x Cami Strap Binding

NOTE – To cut fabric on the fold, fold your fabric over parallel to the selvage edges. Align the pattern piece so it is on the fold of the fabric. Cut around the edges, leaving the fold. If you have folded your fabric correctly the fold will be parallel to the two edges of the fabric that are finished. The raw edges (e.g. the ones you could pick at and threads would come off) will be at a right angle to your fold.

Tips for Sewing with Knit Fabrics

Using a serger is not a necessity to sew with knit fabrics! Here are a few tips to get the best results on a regular sewing machine:

• Use a ball point needle of a size appropriate to your fabric when working with knits – The ball point needle has a slightly rounded tip and will prevent from damaging the fibre. Use ball point pins or clips and, if you can’t, use regular pins into the seam allowance and you should be just fine.
• Use a stretch stitch – You can use either a short and narrow zigzag or a stretch stitch (lightning bolt stitch) for construction. Test on a scrap of fabric to find which stitch and tension settings work best for you. You don’t want the fabric to pucker under your stitches.
• Your machine might have many fancy stretch stitches and you are welcome to play with them, but often the basic zigzag or stretch stitch are just right.
• Use a walking foot – Using a walking-foot is not a necessity but it is highly recommended when working on a stretchy knit. The walking-foot helps to prevent one layer of fabric from stretching out while sewing. Both layers of fabrics are fed at the same time under your needle.
• Reduce your presser foot tension – Some machines will allow you to change your presser foot tension. Check your manual to see how to reduce your presser foot tension. Reducing tension will prevent your fabric from stretching while it goes through the machine.
• Use a ball point twin-needle (double needle) for top stitching – Using a twin-needle will give you a regular double line of straight stitches on the right side and a short and stretchy zigzag on the wrong side. Alternately, if you don’t own a twin needle, you can use a medium size zigzag stitch for hemming and topstitching. I like to lengthen my stitch a little when top stitching with the twin needle. Test on a scrap of fabric to find what works best for you.
• Finishing the seams – Because knits don’t fray, it isn’t strictly necessary to finish your seams. That being said, you will achieve a more polished and durable look if you do an overcasting or zigzag stitch on your raw edges.

Here is an example of some of the stitches you could use.

From left to right: Ballpoint twin-needle, narrow zigzag, stretch stitch (lightning bolt), overcasting.

⅜ inch seam allowance included – Basting ¼ inch

Preparation – 

1. PATTERN MARKINGS – Mark the pattern using either tailors chalk or a disappearing fabric marker.

Sewing –

1. OPTIONAL CAMI – The optional Cami can be finished by either binding or using Fold Over Elastic (FOE). BINDING OPTION: Place the Cami wrong side up and then place the binding piece on top of it with the wrong side up. Pin in place and then stitch using a ⅜ inch seam allowance. Press the seam allowance up and then wrap the binding around the Front. Pin the binding in place and stitch close to the folded edge. Place the strap binding wrong side down along the wrong side of the armhole edge, pin in place and stitch using a ⅜ inch seam allowance. Press the seam allowance up toward the binding and then wrap the binding around to the front. Pin the binding in place and stitch along the folded edge and up the strap. Repeat for the other strap. FOE OPTION: Stitch FOE along front top edge. Then stitch FOE along the front armhole edge and up for the strap. Repeat for the other strap. Serge the bottom edge to finish (optional). Fold the bottom hem under and stitch in place. Check strap length against your body. Place the Cami face up, then place the Front pieces on top. Baste the straps to the center of the Front shoulders.
2. SHOULDERS – With the right sides together pin the Front to the Back along the shoulders, and then stitch using a ⅜ inch seam allowance. If you chose to add the Cami, make sure that the strap is sewn in the seam. Optional – Serge up the front edge, around the neckline and down the other front edge to finish. Turn neckline edge to wrong side and topstitch.  
3. SLEEVES – With the right sides together pin the Sleeve to the armscye at the notch. Ease in the Sleeve and pin throughout. Stitch the Sleeve to the top using a ⅜ inch seam allowance. Repeat for the other Sleeve.
4. SKIRT – With the right sides together, pin your Back skirt to the Back top. Stitch using a ⅜ seam allowance. Press the seam allowance toward the skirt. With the right sides together, pin both of the Front top pieces to the Front skirt. The Front top pieces will be crossed over each other. Stitch using a ⅜ inch seam allowance. Press the seam allowance toward the skirt.
5. SIDE SEAMS – If you are doing the Cami, pin it to the Front pieces along the side seams, starting from the underarm and working down the side. Make sure that the straps are not twisted. Baste in place using a ¼ inch seam allowance. If you are doing the gathered skirt, sew two rows of gathering stitches between the markings on the Front skirt. Gather the Front skirt so that the side seam matches up with the Back skirt. For both the gathered and plain skirt, pith the right sides together, pin the Front to the Back along the Sleeves and down the side seam. Stitch together using a ⅜ inch seam allowance. If you are doing the gathered skirt, remove your gathering stitches.
6. HEM OPTIONAL – serge along the bottom edge to finish. Turn the hem under ⅜ inch and press, then topstitch. Turn the Sleeve hem under ⅜ inch, press and topstitch. Repeat for the other Sleeve.

Congratulations, your Chrissy Cross Over is done. Enjoy! 

We would love to hear how you got on and see photos of your finished project!

Join us at our Facebook Group, tag us on Instagram, or use the hashtag #rpchrissycrossover.

Thank you for using a Rebecca Page pattern.

© Copyright 2021

All Rights Reserved