How to make a Crinoline Cage

The History of the Crinoline Cage

The crinoline cage became very popular in the 1850s, especially during the Victorian era. Before that, women used many layers of petticoats to make their skirts look bigger. This was beautiful, but also very heavy and not always very comfortable. Then someone had the brilliant idea to create a light metal frame that could hold the skirt up. And the crinoline cage was born!

Suddenly, ladies could have enormous skirts without wearing ten kilos of fabric underneath. The cage gave dresses a huge, dramatic shape. It made every costume feel grand, elegant, and a little bit magical. Of course, it also created some funny situations. Doors became too small, chairs became difficult, and walking next to other people could become a real adventure!

My Love for the Crinoline Cage

The crinoline cage is one of those wonderful inventions from fashion history that makes people say: “Wow… that is a lot of skirt!” And that is exactly why I love it.

For me, the crinoline cage is pure costume magic. Put one under a dress and immediately the whole costume comes alive. It gives volume, movement, and that wonderful feeling of stepping into another time. A simple dress becomes a grand Victorian gown, a princess outfit, or something straight out of a historical painting.

I must admit: sometimes I dream about wearing one to the supermarket in my little village. Imagine walking between the shelves with a huge skirt around you! Nobody would come too close, because there simply would not be enough space. And the best part? I definitely would not be easy to miss. Forget the shopping cart — I would arrive with my own personal fashion bubble!

Maybe the crinoline cage is a little impractical for everyday life… but fashion is not always about being practical. Sometimes it is about joy, imagination, and making an entrance. And that is exactly why I will always love the wonderful, dramatic, and slightly ridiculous crinoline cage.

How to make a Crinoline Cage

Step 1: Choose the materials

Get the PVC pipes depending on the sizes and the number of tubes you want to use. Cut them into four parts to be bent and joined together. Allow for a few centimetres for the spacers. Label each spacer so you know which hoop they belong to. This will make later construction much easier.

In terms of fabric, it is best to choose a firm fabric but not too thick. For a Victorian crinoline, unbleached cotton would be very suitable. For a Gothic or Steampunk crinoline, we would recommend a black textured fabric.

Step 2: Start with a waistband

Make a waistband a bit more spacious and adjustable. Leave the bottom part of the waistband partially open so that you can sew the straps in here. You can also choose to make a waistband from thicker elastic or from an existing belt.

For a fabric waistband, attach eight straps that are the length from the waist to the ground (or the desired height) plus 6 x (the number of tubes) x 7 cm. You need this extra space to make the loops. The width of your crinoline is up to you. The thinner the more graceful. The wider, the more robust.

Step 3: Attach the hoops

Coat the PVC pipes you precut earlier with fabric or use them as they are. Then slide the tubes through the fabric loops you made and attach the spacers to close the hoops. This is a difficult job where you can use an extra pair of hands. If you want to see the tubes but want a different colour, you could also paint spray the tubes or wrap them with tape.

Step 4: Cover the top and the bottom of the crinoline

Finally, make the bottom of an extra band of fabric (30 cm high) and possibly a skirt over the waistband. You can only sew the extra edge of the fabric with the two hoops (tubes) through it. It is an impossible job to put the total crinoline on a table and use the sewing machine for this.

The crinoline is portable because it is foldable. You can also easily store the crinoline as it can be placed upright against the wall.
You can make a crinoline yourself. It is a sewing project that everyone can complete in their own way. Viewing a few YouTube videos in advance is a good plan. This allows you to see which method you like best. If you don’t have strong sewing skills, you can also purchase a sewing pattern which includes detailed sewing instructions.