Consumed WIP

04/15/2013

5 Comments

Progress IS progress

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Ashlee

04/15/2013 3:02am

Ahh! That's absolutely beautiful! Do you have any tips on making a hoop skirt? I'm trying to make one myself, and I'm not sure how to go about it.

Martha link

04/15/2013 3:22am

WE do! Rather -- I do~!

I'm not going to pretend that I'm a HOOP master, but I have picked up some tricks that work best for me.

1. ALWAYS use steel hoop boning. The first hoop I made was a pannier, and I got the hoop boning from some internet shop that's long since been out of buisness, but I have tried this shop : http://www.onlinefabricstore.net/sewing/boning-corsetry/hoop-wire/white-hoop-wire-cloth-covered-.htm with great luck! You can also try http://www.macculloch-wallis.co.uk/ if you're from europe/the entirety of the western continents~!

I do SERIOUSLY advise you use steel, it's an aboslutely pain to work with, but it will always hold a rigid shape, and if you needted to do something strange like make sharp angles, it can take the stress.

2. Use a heavy weight fabric: I just got done making the hoop for this and it taught me several things. While I was in London I had to use what was basically availible on oxford circus at the time and I got stuck using flimsy flannel bedsheets. Big mistake. I found out that you can get away with that with a pannier because the shape is held together with ribbon, but for a HUGE round hoop like this one, you really need to consider heavy weight muslin/canvas. I used canvas for the one in the picture. Obviously if you're making a smaller hoop you can pretty much do whatever you want.

3. If you can, and I mean seriously try to find them because the alternative requires a village, try to find hoop clamps. They have a more scientific name than that, but they are basically plastic tubs that hold the hoops in place. If you can't find those, and you're using steel boning, get either a heavy weight 1/8th drill and some pop rivets in the same size, or a diamond tip drill bit. For this hoop I went through like 9 drill bits, but for my pannier I only used one, so it REALLY depends on what and how you're using the steel boning.

4. For patterns: THERE ARE LITERALLY so many patterns on the market for hoop skirts. Unfortunately -- the sought after ones are discontinued, but the patterns I've used with roaring success were McCalls 3609 (thats the one pictured above) and Simplicity 3635. Like I said, there are literally hundreds of hoop patterns, including bustle cages and modified pannier cages.

I'm not sure if I have any other tips that don't come off as just plain common sense? I guess I could just add to always make sure you put a line of crinoline over the bones to just mask the bone marks on the skirt of your dress!

I hope that helped!

Happy sewing~
<3
DD Team

Martha link

04/15/2013 3:30am

OH I DO HAVE ONE MORE SUGGESTION! For the hoop casings I like to use cotton bias tape, and the hoop pictured above used 7 packages of the stuff, so be sure to stock up~

Ashlee

04/15/2013 3:54am

Thank you so much for the tips!

Martha Powell

04/15/2013 3:56am

No problem! Let us know how your quest pans out and if you need anything just holler~

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