How to Make Hoops for Dresses
If you're looking for a way to add more volume and movement to a dress, a dress hoop is an effective solution. Dress hoops are made from boning and are circular, designed to fit inside the bottom hem. They maintain the dress' shape so that it resembles the bottom of a bell. Making hoops for dresses is a craft project that requires sewing skills, using materials that can be purchased from a fabric store.
Instructions
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1
Turn the dress inside out, and place it flat on the working surface. Set a roll of hem tape on the bottom of the dress, such that the bottom of the hem tape lines up with the dress' hem.
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2
Pin the hem tape in place as you work around the entire bottom hem of the dress. The sewing pins keep the hem tape steady, so that you can go back and sew it down. Cut the hem tape with scissors, when you have enough of it to cover the dress' bottom circumference.
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3
Sew the hem tape in place along both edges, leaving the middle of the hem tape unstitched. Use a needle with thread that matches the material of the dress, and use a blanket stitch to secure the hem tape, removing the pins as you come to them. Sew the end of the hem tape shut, but leave the beginning of the hem tape open to insert the boning.
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Slide the boning through the opening of the hem tape. Push it through -- all the way around the dress' circumference -- until it hits the end. Cut the boning with scissors, to make sure it fits into the opening with approximately 1/8-inch of room remaining.
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Use the needle and thread, and a straight stitch, to sew the entrance to the hem tape shut.
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Tips & Warnings
Iron the dress before starting this project. Wrinkles and creases can work against you as you line up the hem tape.
If you want to be able to remove the boning for an alternate look, close the hem tape with a fastener that you can open and close, rather than sewing it shut.
References
- Photo Credit Pixland/Pixland/Getty Images
