Galene's Swan Tail

[Mermaid Galene]

I'm hard at work making my second neoprene tail. It's a trumpeter swan theme, to wear at an upcoming library gig and future pool gigs. Here's my costume design:

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I started with the pattern I devised on my computer for my first neoprene tail. I printed it on freezer paper, which adheres to the neoprene when ironed - much quicker and easier than pinning pattern pieces on. I'm having to piece together the fluke, because the neoprene sheets weren't long enough. But so far the pattern is working out beautifully!

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The gig is Feb. 21, so I have 3 weeks to get the tail made, embellish the top I bought on Etsy, and make some accessory pieces. Should be doable!

[Atlantisblue]

Looks very pretty :)

[AniaR]

PRETTTTTTY

[Mermaid Silverlilly]

Beautiful can't wait to see this as it is made :)

[Echidna]

oh, another white tail!
You don't see many of those.
I love the swan theme!

May I ask where you found white neoprene? I've looked for it in vain.

[Mermaid Galene]

I love the way a white tail looks; I've always admired yours, Echidna. I had a hard time finding the white neoprene. I got my first tail's neoprene from foamorder.com, 2mm. This time I wanted 1.5 mm, since I'm using leftovers to make things for my Etsy shop. I ordered 1.5mm white from foamorder, but then they called and said they only had white in 3-4mm - much too thick! Ultimately I ordered from Seattle Fabrics. They didn't have 1.5 mm white, but they did have 2 mm, so that's what I'm using. My sewing machine handles it fine as long as I'm not trying to sew very small pieces of things. Apparently the white is a "sometimes we have it, sometimes we don't" item for both of those companies; presumably they import it from Asia. The best idea is to just call and talk to a human and see what they've got in stock.

One disadvantage of this tail: I'll never be able to swim in a lake around here with it! The water is much too stained with tannins and green crud. For swimming it will be limited to pools. But I plan to use it every year for a winter library program, so it will be well loved!

[Echidna]

Thank you!
Seems like the US have a far greater selection of fabrics, including neoprene!
There are only one or two suppliers here, and all they sell is black.
It's all well though, I'd probably go bankrupt if I could order from Spandexworld xD

I sewed my neoprene tail by hand. I love some thicker fabric, it's sturdy, covers the leg outline better, and it keeps you warm.
Like you, I'm particular where to swim with my white tails.

Thankfully, I can swim in pristine mountain lakes during the summer (chlorine can turn white fabric yellow, or so I've heard.
Maybe it's less the chlorine and more the stuff people leave behind in pools tho :p), sadly those are so cold they're only good for a 1 minute photoshoot :lol:

[Miyu]

Oooh, a white tail! I adore the few white tails I've seen on MN, I can't wait to see what you do with it! I really like the whole costume design as well :swoon:



...Yep, I also want a white tail eventually! I actually have some sooper-sekret plans for one in the making, I just need to procure some supplies ;)

[Echidna]

^^I'd love to see some shiny white silicone tails too, one wouldn't have to be so worried for them to be stained.

[Miyu]

*nods in agreement* That's why I've been fantasizing about a white silicone tail... I mean, I know from personal experience with silicone that with many types of silicone, the light colours like clear, white, super-pale anything can become discolored eventually... But then, we mers need to replace tails every so often anyways, and how many mers have pale silicone tails that don't notice discoloration at least until they need to be replaced anyways?

But think how sleek and elegant a white/silver silicone tail could look darting through the water... :drool:

[Mermaid Galene]

Oh, yeah, a silvery white silicone tail would be fabulous!

[Lucinda]

Classy design, Galene. I like it. :)

[Mermaid Galene]

Making progress! My first attempt to transfer my feather design onto the neoprene with sewing transfer paper failed miserably. The stuff worked fine on a test swatch, but all it did on the actual tail was make a smeary mess. Next I used an Xacto knife (ouch) to cut the lines of the pattern, creating a stencil. The first piece went okay, but subsequent ones were so complicated that I couldn't get them to line up on the tail. Finally I realized I could lay the pattern pieces on the tail, then use a sharp mechanical pencil to poke a series of tiny holes through the paper pattern, marking the tail with dots. Then I just freehand connected the dots and went over the design with washable a fabric marker.

For the next construction phase, I've enlisted a little help...

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[Mermaid Galene]

I finished the painting. Ready to install the zipper and sew the whole thing up today. Then I just need to add a few sequin embellishments, a dorsal fin and fluke trim, and I'm good to go! With the tail. Then I have to finish up the rest of the costume.

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[Mermaid Isabel]

that is amazing!!!! that wing is just stunning!!!!! where did you order the neoprene?

[PearlieMae]

That is so gorgeous, Galene!

[Mermaid Enora]

You sure move fast on making those tails!

[Echidna]

I didn't know neoprene could be so shiny!

And...dorsal?
Will it be wing-like, as in the sketch?
Or are the wings on back separate?

There's lots of stuff you could do with that costume!

(I have a swan lake waterballet choreo, but I'm using a plain white ballet-like costume for that.)

[Mermaid Galene]

I got the neoprene from seattlefabrics.com. I used Jacquard Lumiere pearlescent white mixed with super sparkle for the feather color (with a few other colors for shading and lines), which does glow beautifully! The dorsal and fluke fringe will just be some sparkly white tulle sewed onto a flap that will cover the zipper. Most of the time I'll just be sitting on the dorsal, so there's not much point in doing anything fancy there. The wings you see in the design art are a separate piece that I'll wear backpack style. You can actually see them on the wall in the pic three photos below. I do plan to add a few embellishments to the wings, too, to make them a little more moth-like.

I'm anxious to get this costume done. After that, I'm hoping to get some music recorded and other products made and listed on my Etsy shop, so that the audience at our Feb. 21 swan storytime will have something to buy.

And THEN I plan to finish up my Pearlie Mae tail/top design and get my duct tape mannequin done!

Never a dull moment around here!

[Mermaid Galene]

She's finished! Behold Cygnus, the swan tail:

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I may add some scales to the back eventually, but right now I don't have time.

I'm pleased with how she turned out, though!

[PearlieMae]

She looks amazing! "Cygnus inter anates"

[Echidna]

Congrats!
That's a pretty and truly unique tail.

[Mermaid Danielle]

This tail is beautiful! Great work!

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