the EPIC hoopskirt.

Part of my "Purple Reign" dress project for my formal.

The underskirt, hoopskirt, crinoline...whatever, of absolutely epic proportions. (I know you can get ones bigger than this, but on a short person, this feels huge...and somehow makes me appear taller ) So tedious to sew, but worth it

I love the domey shape (reminiscent of a dolly varden cake tin, much?) , but at the moment I'm trying to work out how to sit down...can't fit through standard doorways either...and I'm knocking over everything in sight at near-floor level. It's bigger at the back, I'll have to post other views later.

This thing is so much fun to twirl around and sway in. Once I put it on, I don't want to take it off! The downside is that it takes up a lot of space in my room...

Will make the corset and skirts (there's 3 - 2 overskirts and 1 underskirt) at a future date. Probably won't be these holidays...I've still got until July

The blue thing to my right is another dress I'm working on, on my dress dummy. And yes, I have a mosquito net and purple curtains

Pattern: Simplicity 9764
Time taken: 32 hours over about 5 days.
Fabric: lilac cotton with lilac ribbon casings.
Hoops: galvanised wire and plastic tubing (can't afford hoopsteel )
Model and photo: me (using self-timer)
Finished dimensions: length approx 90 cm, circumference 326 cm/126".

For a more in-depth review, rather than me bragging about the construction and pattern here (as I normally do), see my review at PatternReview.com [link]