need help on hoop skirt/petticoat

By Icarus. 28/12/09, 10:04 am

I've done the base of it and used boning for the hoop (is that a bad thing?) when I drape a layer of fabric over it the boning bends out of shape/bends in wards. Any tips on reinforcing it?

Here's a photo of it (the circumference is about 3m)

Spoiler:

By azeria. 28/12/09, 10:10 am

Not sure if this is what you wanted but there's this tutorial

http://www.funkyhorror.com/hoopskirt.htm

I need to try that out sometime.

**Guest** Guest

That Tutorial is good Very Happy

Boning isn't very good for Hoops skirts for the reasons you are stating...lol Piping is best, as its light and hard to bend out of place...
Historical Costumers use it for their Hoop Skirts, as a cheap way of getting the right shape Very Happy

SS

By Icarus. 28/12/09, 10:26 am

looking at the tutorial I guess I'll need to add another load of hoops....

@SS: Would that be rubber piping? Where can I get it from?

By Thornback. 28/12/09, 10:27 am

try your local hardware shop?

**Guest** Guest

You would only need one or two hoops of it...try Mitre10/Mega for it...

SS

By Icarus. 28/12/09, 10:30 am

ah ok, thanks guys~!

By neimhaille. 28/12/09, 10:33 am

Boning is fine, but one hoop of it is not. One hoop of cording is not enough either ;) Cord is used only for corded skirts, not to replace hooping wire etc. Never has been never will be as the properties are so different. It gives a soft support for skirts like that worn in the 1820s and 30s as it collapses in on itself as it is not rigid.

Plumbers coil actually is brilliant and I've used it for my farthingale and paniers and will probably also use it for a bustle soon.

If you are continuing with the boning you will need at least two more between the hoop you have now and the top of that ruffle. And then keep spacing them that distance all the way up the petticoat.

You can also double up the boning, especially if it is rigiline (which you can zig zag over to make it a fairly nice weight and firmness for skirt support.

But Plumbers coil (can be found in dollar stores as drain snake or drain aide or similar names- not the one that looks like a long spring but flat metal strips) is the cheapest option and the strongest.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/91424360@N00/3133058684/
That skirt has about 1kg of pearls on it, the fabric of the skirt weighs about 3kg and the farthingale under it has 7 hoop channels of plumbers coil holding it up and out I doubled the coil in the bottom hoop and every second one above it.

How hoops and boning works is by spreading the weight/stress so the more hoops/bones you have the less weight each hoop/bone has to take.

By Icarus. 28/12/09, 10:42 am

@neimhallie: thank you for the help~! I really needed this hoop skirt to be able to withstand alot of frantic movement and the geddon crowds need help on hoop skirt/petticoat Icon_biggrin

is plumbers coil the same stuff used for curtains? (like coiled wire inside and a coat of plastic on top?)

**Sponsored content**