Edwardian Girls Surplice Dress Sewing Pattern | Past Patterns 2319
$17.00
This Edwardian Girls Surplice Dress Sewing Pattern is a reprint of a 1908 McCall design for a 12-year-old girl. Includes historical notes, sewing instructions, and hand-drawn pattern sheets on 36″ wide paper. Intermediate difficulty.
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Edwardian Girls Surplice Dress Sewing Pattern | Past Patterns 2319
$17.00
This Edwardian Girls Surplice Dress Sewing Pattern is a reprint of a 1908 McCall design for a 12-year-old girl. Includes historical notes, sewing instructions, and hand-drawn pattern sheets on 36″ wide paper. Intermediate difficulty.
Get Free Shipping
On all US Orders over $50!
All of our patterns tell a story.
Why Choose This Pattern?
Edwardian Girls Surplice Dress Sewing Pattern – Historical 1908 Design
This Edwardian Girls Surplice Dress Sewing Pattern is a faithful reprint of a 1908 McCall design, carefully reproduced and updated for use by modern historical sewists. Sized for a 12-year-old girl of the Edwardian era, it offers charming period details and authentic construction methods perfect for reenactment, education, or vintage-style recreation.
Origin & Historical Significance
This pattern originally appeared in the September 1908 issue of Delineator, page 328, where it was highlighted as an efficient and fashionable design for young girls. During this time, shirt-waists with sleeves and bodices cut in one piece were celebrated for their ease of construction and tidy appearance. The pattern combines these elements with a surplice front, a classic design where one panel wraps over the other, often closed with a belt or buttons.
On the original McCall packaging, this garment was described as a “Girls’ Surplice Dress with Guimpe, with front closing, and having a two-piece skirt.” The accompanying guimpe (a modesty under-blouse) makes this outfit especially representative of early 20th-century girls' fashion.
Authentic Construction Details
This Edwardian Girls Surplice Dress Sewing Pattern includes a waist with bodice and sleeves cut as a single piece, a popular innovation in the 1900s that simplified sewing. Tucks at the front and back provide shaping and decorative interest. The full-length sleeves finish with link cuffs, while short sleeves feature flare cuffs with inverted pleats. Options for buttons and cord loops offer room for individualization.
The included guimpe is made as a separate undergarment. The dress features a two-piece skirt for graceful movement and style, matching the silhouette of the period.
Size & Fabric Requirements of our Edwardian Girls Surplice Dress Sewing Pattern
This pattern is only available in one historical size, made for a 12-year-old girl as defined by early 1900s measurements.
Fabric requirements:
- Dress: 3½ yards of 36" wide fabric
- Guimpe: 1¾ yards of 36" wide fabric
Suggested Period-Appropriate Fabrics
The original garments were made in durable but breathable textiles such as:
- Lawn
- Nainsook
- Linene
- Chambray
- Galatea cloth
- Poplin
Common color choices included white, light blue, pink, tan, natural, navy blue, cadet blue, and scarlet — all popular in Edwardian children’s fashion.
What’s Included in the Edwardian Girls Surplice Sewing Pattern Package
Each packet includes:
- A full-size, hand-drawn pattern on two 36-inch-wide sheets
- Historical background and information about McCall's paper patterns and the sewing industry in the early 1900s
- Material requirements chart and symbol key
- Reproduction of the original McCall artwork for both the front and back cover
- Written sewing directions and a construction diagram
All pages are printed on 20 lb. archival-quality white paper and packaged in a resealable plastic sleeve.
Difficulty Rating: 3/5 – Intermediate
This pattern is best suited for intermediate sewists. It involves:
- Constructing layered garments (surplice dress and guimpe)
- Setting tucks and pleats symmetrically
- Managing period-accurate sleeve finishes
An experienced beginner could attempt this pattern with guidance, but prior knowledge of garment construction is recommended.
Perfect For…
- Historical reenactments and Edwardian living history displays
- Museum education projects
- Early 20th-century theatrical costuming
- Vintage sewing enthusiasts
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Also Available as a Download
Prefer a digital copy? Visit our download version here:
Edwardian Girls Surplice Dress Downloads
Copyright Past Patterns 1979–2025. All rights reserved.
Additional information
| Weight | 8 oz |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 13 × 10 × 2 in |
Sizing Information
(Metric size sheet opens as a PDF in a new browser tab)
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FAQ's
(Frequently asked questions)
Why are both Trowsers and Trousers listed on site?
Over the last 200 years, much like the human body, our style of language has changed. For vintage patterns, we attempt to use the language of the day where possible.
Can you grade (edit) a Vintage Revival pattern for my size?
please contact us with the specific pattern number and the specifications you require. We have staff available for this for an additional fee.
What sizes do Past Patterns patterns come in?
Our patterns, with some exceptions, are manufactured in sizes 8 through 26 for women and sizes 34 through 54 for men. Most patterns are multi-sized. For a complete listing of measurements in inches see the size chart.
Do you have vintage patterns (manufactured prior to 1950) that you want to sell?
we are always on the lookout for original, American designed, vintage patterns especially for categories outside of current items. We are interested if you have 1 pattern or 1000 patterns. Give us a call to discuss.
Why is my pattern size different from my off the rack dress size?
We use the U. S. Board of Standard Measurements to size our patterns. The ready made clothing manufacturers have their own set of sizes developed from their own statistics. For a complete listing of measurements in inches see the size chart.
How are the patterns packaged?
We package our patterns in two forms: Bond Paper and Tissue. Except for the Tissue patterns, each is slipped into a reusable plastic sleeve. Many contain documentation in the form of Historical Notes or the printer ie., Butterick. Because the patterns are printed in house to order, they can take from three to seven days. Tissue patterns, which are printed out of house, are available to ship immediately.
What does a Corset Kit contain in addition to the Corset pattern?
In addition to the pattern, the kits contain everything you need to make the corset except the thread. The kits contain, according to their type, fabric and lining, stays, clasp or busk board, back lacing, tape for finishing the edges, trim lace, ribbon, leather, tin stock, waist tape, punch and setter, eyelets, marking pencils, cording, reed and a loop turner.
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The answer depends on if the pattern is still in production or not. If it is, please mail us the old pattern and we will ship you a copy of the latest pattern for a minimal fee along with normal shipping charges. If the item is no longer in production, we would need to know exactly what you have to determine the best course of action to help you.
What is the difference between a Past Patterns original pattern and a Vintage Revival pattern?
The Past Patterns originals were designed in house and based upon the research, disassembly and time of Saundra Ros Altman. These designs come from finds all over the United States reaching from San Diego, California to the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC. She created the initial patterns, the sizing charts and the instruction content. Many of the these patterns are multi-sized or are available in various sizes. For the most part, these designs are done taking into account the modern human body's shape, height and weight. The Vintage Revival patterns are traces or copies of an old, mass produced pattern; the first mass produced patterns came out in the 1850s. For the most part, you get exactly what came in the original package; in some cases, Saundra has appended historical notes to the instructions. The Vintage Revivals patterns, being copies of the originals, generally only come in one size and are based upon the size and shape of the human body from the era the pattern came from.
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We utilize PW Studio for our designs. Isabelle Lott, a contributor over the years to Past Patterns, is the owner of the company and will be happy to answer an software related questions you have. Her software is available for licensing.
What measurements do I need to know to order a Corset Kit?
The bust and back length. The back length is measured from the prominent bone at the base of the neck to the natural waistline.
Where can I see the appropriate clothing fabrics for the 18th and 19th centuries?
You can see 1740 through 1940 fabrics in a book titled "Textile Designs" by Susan Meller and Joost Elffers. The subtitle states, "Two Hundred Years of European and American Patterns for Printed Fabric by Motif, Style, Color, Layout and Period and 1,823 Illustration in Color." What they don't say is that 90% of the swatches pictured are life size. The ISBN is 0-8109-3853-7. A second book is Wearable Prints, 1740-1860, History, Materials, and Mechanics by Susan W. Greene. The ISBN is 978-1-60635-124-6. Great books! Order it from your local library that has interlibrary loan capability if you cannot afford the price. There are now many sources for appropriate fabric through the Internet.
Where can I find antique patterns to purchase?
On the Internet try: "Patterns from the Past."
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Why don't we sell PDFs of our patterns - First due to piracy. We have spent over 40 years creating and tracing these patterns along with researching them. We print and ship all of our patterns ourselves. If we started sending out PDFs, in no time, copies of our Intellectual Property would be all over the internet and we would be out of business. Second, some of our patterns are constantly being updated. We want our clients to get the BEST POSSIBLE version of our products.
