The Tale of the Second Tail

[Mermaid Alea]

I messed up on my first tail and my Mom is calling it my trial tail. I didn't use 4 way stretch swimwear fabric I used some kind of cotton 4 way stretch (it is kind of cool how it gets darker when it is wet, but it doesn't work so well). Basically I rushed to finish tail #1 and the result was too many mistakes!
Here is my tailmaking thread for my first tail: http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?9845-MinxFox-s-First-Mermaid-Tail-(fabric)

Soo now I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my fabric from Spandex World! So far it looks like it will be here Thursday.
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The monofin I will be using is the same one I used for my first tail. It is a Finis Rapid.

I am considering having fins on this one, but at the moment I am not sure what shape, size, and placement I want. Or even what fabric for that matter.

The fabric will be coming at just about the end of my pathetic spring break in which almost half of it was spent being sick. I am going to try and take my time but also not take too long because I would love to fit in some beach time in a new tail. I haven't been to the beach yet in a tail because it has been too cold, and maybe it is still too cold for me but I might as well go for it!

I have been really inspired by all of you who have really beautifully painted fabric and neoprene tails. Nyx's neoprene tail that I saw recently in the photo shoot topic is really stunning, and I have always been inspired by Jadestone's orange miliskin tail.

[Merperson Danny]

Cool fabric! Can't wait to see the finished tail ^w^

[Onyx Jewel Catfish]

I am so excited for you! The fabric is Sweet! Sorry you have been ill. Feel better and enjoy your swim

[Mermaid Alea]

I went to my boyfriend's house today and when I came home tonight I checked the porch and found the box with the fabric inside! It is really pretty and definitely better quality fabric than my first tail. Tomorrow hopefully I will have some time to start on my tail.

I am still trying to decide if I should do anything to the fluke and if I should add fins. :confused:

What do you all think? Should I do something to the fluke area or add any fins or do you think just leave the fabric alone and don't add anything extra?

Here is the fabric. I didn't realize it has stripes on it too. From the website photo I thought that was just shadows from folds in the fabric. I am happy with all of the patterns!
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This is the design I drew while I was waiting for the fabric to come in. I am already not sure if this is what I want it to look like. I don't know if I want fins or not. Of course all the fins in the drawing wouldn't stand up like that, they would be floppy.
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[Mermaid Alea]

I thought I took more progress pics, but I guess I didn't. :( I haven't started sewing the tail yet. I decided to not add any fins. In the future if I want fins I can always add some. I did come up with a design for the end of the fluke. The fluke will be open so that I can remove the monofin so on the white inside of the fabric design I made I will paint it so that when the fabric moves when the inside shows it will be colorful too. My first tail I left room for sewing when I cut out the material, but I think that caused it to not be tight enough. This time I cut it exactly to size.
For some reason I didn't take a photo of the tail all cut out before I flipped the fabric and pinned it. It looks really pretty!
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So tomorrow I will be sewing this tail! Yippie!!! :D

[Mermaid Alea]

The tail is mostly finished! At the end of the fluke you can see the white inside of the tail. I am going to paint markings on the parts of the inside that are visible.
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The tail comes up pretty high so I might just fold it down and that way I can have it high or low whenever I want. I am super excited!!!!

[Merperson Danny]

I looks great! And it looks kinda realistic with the dark marking down the centre - almost like two conjoined legs ;)