Difficult Decisions!

[Mermaid Menanna]

Hi to all the merfolk out there! I am in dire need of help. I am FINALLY ready to purchase my first monofin and get started on my tail but I can't seem to decide on what shape & size will be right for me. I have a very tight budget to work with and have waited so very long for this, I don't want to make a mistake that I can't afford to fix. I have approximately $200 to spend for my first tail. I have been researching all of this for the past 2 yrs, thought I would have some set ideas by the time I had the money, but I still feel completely lost. Fabric? Color? Monofin? Fluke shape? Ugh!
Can someone help me please???
Other questions...
I am a plus size mermaid-in-the making but am expecting to lose quite a bit of weight once I can finally get out and hit the pools, lakes, and rivers in my area this summer. (I just need the exercise) Will tail size and shape make a difference once I start losing weight? Should I expect to need to make changes to the whole tail or just the waist/hips area? (will the same fluke shape/size work no matter my weight/size?)

I have a bad knee (torn ACL ligament with yrs of atrophy) and I'm concerned about how this will affect my disability... does length & shape of the tail make a difference in regards to stress/strain on the legs? And if so, what do others suggest for a beginner?

I want this to look as realistic as possible when it's finished, though I realize that to some degree this is a learning process and things will change as I get used to it. How do others decide on what is "realistic" looking for them?

I really feel lost and can use all the help I can get. I am 45 yrs old, was an avid swimmer most of my life. I haven't had the opportunity to get out swimming for 10 yrs now and am so eager and excited to get back in the water, but I am really stressing myself out over all of this. I don't want to lose the fun before I even get started. Anyone who can help with suggestions, advice, and maybe even just a bit of support would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance!

[Morticia Mermaid]

With you budget and the fact you're planning on losing weight, I would go with a fabric tail. It will be far easier to adjust as you lose weight, and it will fit into your budget very well. You can use your extra fund to paint scales on it also to look more realistic :)

[Mermaid Jaffa]

A Finis Foil is just the right size. Its not too big or too small. I have one. Its fairly affordable in terms of price. I've made flowy tails for my foil, it looks quite nice in the water, a little shake and the fluke tips move so nicely. Though on land, it just flops over!:lol:

I must add too, I am not in the highest of body strength either. So the foil can propel me quite nicely without too much effort or me surfacing too much and huffing and puffing like I just ran a steep hill!
As for colors, I just choose whatever patterns/colors I like. You don't have to be a scaly fish mermaid to make some kid's day.

[Mermaid Menanna]

Thanks Morticia Mermaid, that's a start. I have been browsing swimsuit fabric online. I've done enough research to know that I need 4 way stretch and I have found a few that I like (based on what they look like on the website). I guess I will just have to wing it for that part, lol.

Mermaid Jaffa, thank you for your suggestions also. I was actually looking at the Merfin today, thinking that the shape of it is closer to what I want for a tail than a standard monofin, and then I could sew the fabric to fit the shape rather than having the "floppy" fabric shape around the standard monofin shape. I have also emailed about a custom monofin on an Etsy site, asking for price quote and some details. I'm thinking I probably can't afford the custom fin, but the Merfin is definitely doable. I have never tried on a monofin before so I don't know the differences in how they fit, feel, etc. As I said in my original post, I am feeling pretty lost still, and a little overwhelmed.

I did find a swim school nearby that offers classes on how to fin swim, $8/class, so I plan to sign up for a few of those until I am confident I will be safe in the water elsewhere, and I have allowed for a pair of swim goggles in my budget for those times when I'm swimming in chlorinated pools (especially the classes). I have always had a difficult time being able to open my eyes underwater, though I do intend to keep working on that, too. A mermaid with goggles can't be very attractive to look at, lol. This forum has become a study site for me and I am taking notes as I read through the different boards, threads, comments, etc. There's so much information here that in 2 yrs I still haven't managed to see it all yet.

I am also looking into some of the lubricating eye gel that I read about in another part of the forum, hoping to try it out in the shower and bathtub before getting out into the pools/lakes this summer, and if it doesn't do the trick I plan to discuss it with my eye doctor. I have also spent a lot of time on youtube searching out and watching videos on breathing training and have started the long process of learning how to hold my breath better under water. 30+ yrs of smoking I'm sure will take a while to overcome, but my doctor is already working on a smoking cessation program with me. I am currently recovering from pneumonia so there's a bit of a hold up on that part... so I'm hoping to get through the ordering and tailmaking process as I recover. I want to be able to get into the water as soon as my doctor gives me the all clear. It is my desire (dream) of becoming a mermaid that is pushing me hard to get healthy again and I am determined to make this happen. This will be life changing for me. I am also trying hard to convince my husband to join me, starting out with a monofin of his own and hopefully allowing me to make a tail for him in the future.
I have 1000+ gallons worth of aquariums in my home and it drives me absolutely nuts that I can't swim WITH them in their environment. A large part of my mermaid experience is meant to double as research, allowing me to enjoy and learn from the animals in their habitat instead of having to bring them into mine. I have been doing behavioral studies for years, but it has been limited. This will surely pull out all the stops for me.

Anything else that anyone can suggest to help me get started will be much appreciated.
Thanks again! :-)

[Mermaid Jaffa]

There's nothing wrong with a mermaid wearing goggles. I wear bulky prescription goggles and the little kids just accept it as natural. They just focus on the tail and still think I'm real!

I have the Sunset Orange merfin in the adult size... I'm warning you, if you have little to no core strength in your body, you're going to find it very hard to swim in! I do take my merfin occasionally to the pool, to test out if I have the strength yet. I can get half way of the 25 m pool on one breath but I tire easily. Whereas in my foil, I can go the whole 25 m in one breath and glide along on the way back. Just an example of what to expect.

[Mermaid Menanna]

Oh wow! That sounds like a major difference. Thanks for explaining that. Maybe I need to rethink this and start saving for the Merfin AFTER I get back into shape. The foil is definitely cheaper (1/2 the price).
That leads to another question... if I go with the foil, would it work to use ribbing in the frame of the fluke to help hold it's shape when out of water so the extra fabric doesn't flop around limp around the sides of the monofin? Or would that create drag while swimming?

[Mermaid Menanna]

Will this fabric work?
http://fabricsworldusa.com/product/details/103/milliskin-shiny-deep-red.html

[Mermaid Menanna]

I was just looking around on youtube at the finis foil and saw comments that it shows through spandex. Should I plan to use a liner for the fluke to avoid this? I really want this to look nice and was excited about a large fuller fluke, but the foil appears to be quite a bit smaller than most of the others I've seen. How can I get the results I want using the foil? I'd like to order my monofin and fabric this weekend, am eager to get started before summer gets here. I noticed the Great Lakes pod is considering a location that is very close to me, which would give me the chance to meet others who share my passion for all things mermaid. Now I'm in a bigger hurry and more excited than ever!

[MermaidAine]

Since your fin is going to be the majority of your cost I would really concentrate on that. I think you are going to find that you are going to want to build your core back up before you are really going to feel comfortable. Like you, I hadn't swam in quite some time. I have bad knees, and fibromyalgia and found once I got back in the pool, my swimming skills had dwindled quite a bit. Way more than I had ever expected! I still can't get myself to stay under the water without running out of breath in just a couple of strokes. I grew up in California, and swimming was my favorite thing to do, but you sure couldn't tell by watching me right now. I finally got a fin for Christmas and am planning on getting in a bunch of practice before I get my full tail in the next couple of months. I know exactly how you feel though...I have wanted this for soooo long, I can barely stand it!

[Mermaid Menanna]

Thanks for the support aine43. I am going stir crazy wanting this so badly... it's just not happening fast enough.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Swimsuit fabric is quite thick. Get the proper ones that are made for swimwear. I find the plain colors that are found in the dance wear section is a bit thinner and does show through. Its swimmable but will also fade and wear out faster than swimwear fabric.

I make all my tails with an open closed fluke design. Where water and air bubbles can flow through. There is still the drag from wearing so much fabric as opposed to just a swimsuit, you'll just get used to it.

You can see my technique here.

Here's how to sew it.
http://mernetwork.com/index/album.php?albumid=1001&attachmentid=26908

Here's how it looks after sewing.
http://mernetwork.com/index/album.php?albumid=1001&attachmentid=26909

And before I forget, if you have the option of going to the store to buy your fin instead of online, make sure you get one where the foot pockets are all soft. Mine has a hard piece of plastic inside the rubber of one of the foot pockets. It digs holes into my foot causing a deep blister. To solve it and make it swimmable, I used E6000 to glue a thick piece of neoprene fabric over the area. Its now very comfy to swim in.

[Mermaid Menanna]

Thanks for the extra advice Jaffa! Much appreciated. :-)
I ordered the fin (went with the finis foil) and fabric (lycra/spandex from Fabrics World USA) tonight. I hope I got everything right, lol. After shipping costs were added in the fin cost me $49.94. I couldn't beat that price, looked all over the net to make sure I was getting the lowest price possible. Friday I will be heading to the local Joann Fabric store for thread, needles, boning for the fluke, and will be looking at paints. I am going to need help figuring out which paints to use. I was reminded tonight of a mermaid costume a friend of mine made for me for Halloween almost 10 yrs ago. (It was meant to flirt with the man who is now my husband... yes, it worked perfectly, lol) I bring it up because my friend painted that tail for me (no fin inside) with fabric paints and when I put the tail into the water of the fish pond at the store where I worked, the paint started to bleed off into the water, which was horrible for the fish. My boss freaked when he saw all of the sparkly stuff floating around in the pond water and it took me days to skim it all out (my punishment for getting it in there in the first place). I don't want to run into that problem again, so I need to make absolute sure the paints I use for this tail are waterproof and will stay put where they belong, on the fabric, and at the same time won't hinder the swimming ability by making it stiff or creating extra drag. I have a few airbrushes I could use, but I also have a wide variety of brushes, too. I'm not really caring which way I go, though I'm thinking airbrush might be more work since I'd have to do it outside now that I have my macaw home with me.
I plan to make the bottom of the fluke with clear plastic snaps so that I can remove the fin for cleaning and to make it easy to swap out when I am ready to make my next tail. I will be putting elastic in the waistband since I expect my weight to fluctuate by quite a bit over the course of this summer, and elastic will be the easiest way to take it in as needed (or let it back out). Still toying with the idea of a zipper, but will see how difficult it is to get into it without one first. Zipper will be on an as needed basis only and would be done as an invisible zipper.
I have been sewing since I was about 12 yrs old (am 45 now) so I am pretty confident I can handle that part as long as I have the videos and online tutorials to help me. I've found plenty of those here already and now will be adding yours to my collection. I am still undecided about whether or not I want to add a dorsal fin so will play that by ear and wait for everything to arrive before I decide. My biggest focus will be the painting and the fluke. I want a larger fluke so will have to make that up with fabric since the foil is a smaller fin, thus I am hoping the boning will help to frame the tail and help it to hold shape around the fin so it isn't floppy. Worst case, it doesn't work and I remove the boning and wait until I can afford and handle a larger fin, then either modify the foil or purchase a new fin.

[Mermaid Fenicia]

You always can use my tutorial as a guide: http://users.telenet.be/the-mermaid/tutoral/meermin/meermine.htm ;)

[Mer-Crazy]

I think boning in a fluke is a brilliant idea! Just saying.

[Mermaid Menanna]

In ordered everything on the 15th and since I didn't get any confirmation emails saying the stuff had shipped I made some calls today. (yes, I'm very impatient, especially when I spend that much money online) The fabric has shipped, should be here early next week, and the fin is set to ship today or tomorrow morning, so should be here by the end of next week. Yay!!! Tonight I will be going to Joann Fabric for thread, needles, and other supplies. I have a 50% off coupon that's good through tomorrow... good for any full price item. I am thinking of spending it on either the boning or some swimsuit liner fabric for the fluke.
I know they have a bunch of different types of fabric paint at this store, but I'm still not sure what paint to look for that will adhere well to the swimsuit fabric? I don't want to have to paint it repeatedly nor do I want it peeling off right away. I'm hoping to paint my bathing suit top to go with the tail so they look like a matched set and blend together. Any ideas? I have been all over the threads about painting and I am so confused.

[Sherielle]

Large Zip ties make excellent boning for corsets. I'm sure they would be wonderful in this case too.

[Mermaid Menanna]

That's a neat idea Sherielle, thanks! I will definitely keep that in mind as I move forward...
At present I am still struggling with what paint to use, lol.

[Mermaid Menanna]

My fabric arrived today! Yay! I'm SO excited!!!
29121

[Grey Gambit]

That color looks AWESOME!

[Mermaid Menanna]

Thanks! I wanted something that would stand out a bit in the local lakes so I can be seen, lol. While the lakes I plan to frequent aren't exactly murky, they surely aren't super clear like a swimming pool would be. I just ordered the paints today... orange, burnt orange metallic, yellow, white, and white pearl, with black for some edging/definition. Now I'm just waiting for the monofin to show up. I should have everything by the end of this wk/early next week. I'm so excited!!!

The only thing left on my list of must haves will be the swim goggles and that will require some store shopping on the weekend. I am now slightly over budget but still not doing too bad for cost, plus I know I will have some random leftover supplies to work with for the next tail when the time comes. :-)

[Grey Gambit]

Oh, I have a feeling your tail is going to be one of my favorites. I love those kind of color combos! (I'm going to be doing something similar, only more rusty red/orange, yellows, teal and blackish green)

What kind of color patterns are you thinking of? I'm excited to see what you do. :)

[Mermaid Menanna]

I am still unsure of color patterns yet. I have been painting since I was a little kid, working with acrylics from the age of 8, moving onto oils by age 12. My favorite things to paint were landscapes (on canvas) but eventually I got to a point where I would paint anything I could get my hands on, lol. One thing that has always applied to me is that my best paintings were those that came straight from my head while I sat and stared at the blank canvas, so I plan to do the same thing with the tail. Once it is sewn and ready to paint I will sit here and stare at it for a little while until I feel inspired and a picture develops in my head, and then I will just start painting.
I bought a yard of spandex material at my local Joann Fabric store to use as a test piece for the paints when they arrive. That will give me a chance to see how they lay on the fabric, how they blend, etc. before touching my tail. I mixed up the types of paint I ordered, some of them being the Jacquard Dye na Flow, which are said to be more like a stain or dye, then some of the Jacquard Lumiere opaque colors, and then the one burnt orange Jacquard Lumiere. My goal is to change the texture of the fabric as little as possible while still achieving the most blendable, versatile color palette.
I continue to scroll through photos of other people's tails to get a feel for what appeals to me in regards to color patterns. I have seen some I like, some I don't, and some that spawn new ideas as I look at them. So... all I can do is wait to see what happens when the day comes to start painting. :)