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Monday, October 15, 2012

Constructing my Originals by Kay cage crinoline

Armed and dangerous! 
I love how alot of historical sewing involves tools such as these -  makes me feel like I'm doing some real work. lol
Lots and lots of measuring and marking. Did everything twice to be sure I got it right. :D
Cutting this stuff wasn't as easy as it looks. Thanks to some help from the little brother we got thru it okay.
Even more marking! Yes, it got a bit tiring. ;) It was more stressful than anything. I'm alittle bit OCD about making things for myself.
An 'artisitc' shot of the rungs. Had to document them while they still looked decent. They are much rougher condition now. :-/
Poking holes for the rivets. Incase you were worried - I'm highly skilled with a hammer and didn't once hit my fingers. ;D
The finished product!!!
 
I've only been able to wear it three times this year. And I must say it hasn't held up the best. Not sure if its because I've gotten rained on quite alot 2 of the times or some other reason. I don't think I've really been that hard on it...It probably also doesn't helped I rushed to get it done in a day since I wanted to wear it to an event. Never the less I'm hoping it will at least last several years. Can't really afford to get a new one of these any time I please. :-/ I have a few other minor issues with it, but I think they are mainly due to my clumsiness - since no one else seems to experience them (please tell me I'm not the only one. lol). It occasionally turns during wear and when I'm dancing I tend to get my heel caught in the back rung. Weird. lol
Anyhow I adore the shape it gives my skirts and I feel so much better about my over all impression. Not wearing a covered hoop anymore. Tho they are perfectly fine if they are made with period materials - mine just wasn't up the par.

Love,
Brooke

6 comments:

Samantha said...

hi brooke! sadly, my cage from kay has not held up very well at all either, and i only had it for a few months before it started falling apart. i didn't make it, but ordered it ready made from her. i think it may just be a flaw in the materials. my hoops have essentially disintegrated and shredded. i also have no money for a new one, so it is currently taped together with packing tape!! i hope to invest in a needle and thread cage, but that's almost $200...

Scene in the Past said...

As for catching your foot, try making a little button-on fabric "case" that fits over the lower two rungs. You're not clumsy; it's something that happened to them, too!

Robin's Egg Bleu said...

Be very careful with the heel catching in the rung. I caught mine in the bottom rung on the back of my hoop climbing two steps onto a porch and went flying forward about 5 feet, the keys in my hand ripped my wrist open and put a hole in my palm. So I have crinoline induced stigmata scars on my hand now and forever to remind me NOT to get my heels caught in the cage.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for this! I'm trying to decide if I want to make a hoop or buy one...your thoughts? :)

Belle

Brooke said...

That's a bummer, Samantha! I guess I will indeed have to save for a N & T one...

Scene in the Past, that's SO clever I might have to try that one of these days. :)

Oh my, Robin! That's horrible!

Belle, I think maybe the best route may be to get the chart/sizing info from Truly Victorian or Originals By Kay and get your own materials and construct it yourself. That way the quality is superior, but you still have a proper shilloute. :)

Lindsey said...

Hey Brooke! I have a cage crinoline that I made from an Originals By Kay kit about eight years ago - it's still holding up fine. There was a problem with the boning - the white cotton cover coming apart from the metal boning, but I went back and applied Aleene's Tacky Glue (or similar) to the back of all of the boning to hold the cotton in place and haven't had a problem since. Maybe that would help yours hold up longer?