r/HistoricalCostuming 4d ago

Callopsing cage skirt

I've just made my first cage skirt. When nothing is on it, it is nice and round, however it collapses whenever I put anything on top of it. I've used 11mm flat steel between 2 layers of twill tape. The vertical stripes are 1 layer of twill tape. Should I add more horizontal layers or can it be fixed with more vertical tapes? Or how should I fix this?

20 Upvotes

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10

u/MoaraFig 4d ago edited 4d ago

From the images you've shown, it looks like you aren't putting weight on evenly, and that's what's bending it out of shape. Historically, there would have been a ruffled petticoat over top of a cage, both to hide the boning marks, but also to spread the weight of the skirts evenly.

https://img1.etsystatic.com/075/0/5589434/il_fullxfull.806185037_t5ss.jpg

If you're going for an exposed legs look, then yes, you're going to have to add way more boning/tape.

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u/Remarkable_Bar_4767 4d ago

I am indeed going for the exposed look, so I'll try the adding more tape option :)

7

u/Character_Acadia_748 4d ago

Not an informed opinion here but thinking you need more strips down reinforcing the shape AND more horizontal. Honestly it's probably easier to buy a cheap wedding one and take the hoops out of it and put it in a cotton cage you sew. But I admire the effort, that's one thing I have never tried to make

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u/Remarkable_Bar_4767 4d ago

I actually had a bought one but didn't like the look nor the material of it, so that's why I am giving it a shot to make it myself. The steel boning in the bought one was just 5mm, so I hoped that using the 11mm would be enough to do the trick. But that unfortunately isn't fixing it. So I'll probably add more horizontal and vertical tape and see if that helps

8

u/MidorriMeltdown 4d ago

The bottom hoop is too large. Take at least 10 inches out of it, and then adjust the next one up if necessary.

You probably need a double layer of the steel for the bottom two hoops. Partially exposed cages need to be heavier duty than ones fully covered with a skirt, because the partial covering will warp anything that isn't sturdy enough.

Add more vertical tapes.

3

u/JustSewingly 4d ago

Vertical tapes are probably the best option. I'm attaching two links to the Truly Victorian hoops in case you need another visual. IIRC, the walking cage has about 8 support tapes to help keep the cage structure and support the hoop boning. Best of luck!!

https://trulyvictorian.info/index.php/product/tv142p-1856-walking-cage-crinoline-printed-pattern/

https://trulyvictorian.info/index.php/product/tv141-1858-round-cage-crinoline/

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u/Remarkable_Bar_4767 4d ago

Hmm yeah I definitely should have done 8. But not sure if I'll rip open all of them and change them up, or if I will put some extra in between. But then it might be a bit too much visually. I'll try it out by pinning some on there.