Selkie Inspired Bodysuit Tail

[AmbrGlows]

Okay, so at the March Meet-Up of the DFW Pod I was able to talk a little with Mary Marine & Mermaid Enora about my next tail idea. I've been tossing around this idea of making a selkie inspired tail since before I made my first tail and I've to kick this adventure into high gear. I was browsing through pictures of seals and sea lions to try and figure out how I could possibly make the flippers look believable on my monofin. It didn't take long for the discouragement to start hitting so I tried a new image search, this time for selkie tails and to my surprise I found a VERY inspirational picture. This picture led me back here...of course...to a post by Lord Wukits on page 71 of the "SHoW Us YoUR TaiLS THReAd" (the link is below) and it even had a video. From that moment I knew I had to give up my thoughts of a new purse in order to purchase a pair of swim fins/flippers. THANK YOU Amazon for 2-day shipping for Prime members.

So here is the breakdown of how I hope my weekend will go:

Friday: Go to Spandex World to purchase material. Go to JoAnn's for zipper & brown ribbon. Get mom's help to get the pattern drawn out for the bodysuit tail. YES!! You read that right. The tail will be one solid piece from shoulders to toes.

Saturday: Get the material cut out and start the sewing process while I wait for the flippers to be delivered.

Sunday: Take the tail for a test swim...that is if the pod is getting together.

I'll do my best to post regular updates this time.

( http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?1389-SHoW-Us-YoUR-TaiLS-THReAd!!!/page71&highlight=show+tails )

[Dancing Fish]

My daughter just watched "Song of the Sea" and is now clamoring for a selkie skin of her own. Though I'm hoping she doesn't want to swim in it. Can't wait to see where you go with this!

[Sassenach]

Seems like you've figured out the monofin problem, but it would probably be easier to use actual flippers instead of a monofin. Can't wait to see what you've got planned! :D

[AmbrGlows]

My daughter just watched "Song of the Sea" and is now clamoring for a selkie skin of her own. Though I'm hoping she doesn't want to swim in it. Can't wait to see where you go with this!


I had a cloak that was made of a cream crushed velvet that I was reminded of when I saw that movie.

[AmbrGlows]

Seems like you've figured out the monofin problem, but it would probably be easier to use actual flippers instead of a monofin. Can't wait to see what you've got planned! :D


Yeah, I'm not using the monofin for this tail. My flippers should be here tomorrow but USPS isn't updating like it should so I have no idea where they are.

[AmbrGlows]

Okay, material is purchased. My MerWrangler and I decided it would be best to make the tail as a two piece for safety reasons.

[AmbrGlows]

Oh my scales!!

I typed up this big long update and Tapatalk force closed on me. Grrr! I'm gonna try a shorten version this time.

[AmbrGlows]

Materials:

Body will be a lovely stretch velvet.
Flippers will be done in a "wet-look" spandex.
Cover-up will be a sheer brown with turquoise dots.

[AmbrGlows]

My flippers couldn't be more perfect for a selkie inspired tail.

[AmbrGlows]

So the tail body is done and comes up over the boobs despite the decision to make the tail in two pieces. I am unsure if I wanted to just add quick release shoulder straps...like over-all straps...or if I want to cut the excess material away so the tail stops at my waist. I did order enough material to make a separate top. However if I leave the tail as is i can make a second tail that will use my monofin instead of flippers.

I had enough material left after covering the flippers to make a pair of capri length swim pants for wearing when not in my tail. These pants make the transformation much quicker and easier when at the water park.

I can't tell you how excited I am to get the tail and flippers attached to each other so I can go swim in it.

[malinghi]

That's awesome! Can't wait to see how it comes out.

[Mermaid Galene]

We're Selkie sisters! I'm making a Selkie tail, too. Love this thread, and I look forward to seeing your Selkiehood evolve!

[AmbrGlows]

I finally have pics to share. The tail actually comes all the way up over my boobs if I wanted but I love this swim top so much I have the tail tucked up under it.

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I even made swim pants out of the extra material from the flippers.

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[Mermaid Wesley]

Awesome!


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[Seraphina Suds]

Cute!

[AmbrGlows]

Thank you Wesley & Seraphina.

[Mermaid Galene]

That turned out wonderfully well, Ambr! I love the flippers. I shall start on a selkie tail, too, in the next few months. Thanks for blazing such a lovely trail!

[AmbrGlows]

Thanks Galene. I can't wait to see how yours turns out.

[AmbrGlows]

😢 The above selkie tail isn't exactly swimmable. 😢

I went for a test swim and while it wasn't a complete failure, swimming was just too difficult. Floating was impossible because the weight of the flippers just took my feet to the bottom if I wasn't moving my legs or feet.

This tail will have to be for either dry events only or someone with stronger muscles that can handle the extra weight of the flippers.

😊 On a happier note I have enough stretch velvet for another tail...i just need another yard of the plain brown.

[Mermaid Wesley]

What are the flippers made of? And dry tails are nice too. You need them more than you think.

[AmbrGlows]

What are the flippers made of? And dry tails are nice too. You need them more than you think.


I'm not sure what they're made of. They are the model called, Trek, by US Divers.

[Mermaid Wesley]

Oh theyre swim fins duh... huh I wonder why they feel so heavy... Ok well still, the tail is adorable and works for dry selkie-ing :)

[AmbrGlows]

Oh theyre swim fins duh... huh I wonder why they feel so heavy... Ok well still, the tail is adorable and works for dry selkie-ing :)


Yeah, I still lil it. I'm just gonna have to make one of the same fabrics using my monofin for swimming.

[Mermaid Galene]

I wonder if some neoprene padding in the flippers might help counteract their weight. When I make mine, I think I'll make the whole flipper area out of neoprene. That being said, I don't know that an anatomically correct seal tail will ever be very swimmable for a human. Seals have many adaptations that make their muscles specialized for swimming underwater with relatively small flippers. They are built completely differently from land mammals, and without those anatomic tools, we can't mimic their swimming style as well as we can mimic that of a dolphin.

[AmbrGlows]

Lol, Galene. You are correct about their swimming style. I kinda true when swimming and I feel like I drank half the pool. It was entertaining. I was able to still do the dolphin kick with the individual flippers but it was work. I'm about to get out to run my errands for the day and the spandex store is the top on my list. I'll have my mermaid style seal tail done by tomorrow.

[Vrindavana Starfish]

OMG Selkie!!! That tail looks amazing! You did a great job - those fins are perfect!

[AmbrGlows]

OMG Selkie!!! That tail looks amazing! You did a great job - those fins are perfect!


Thank you Vrindavana. That tail is a dry tail only. Just bought the fabric needed to make a new one that is swimmable.

[Seatan]

That's really weird about the fins sinking! I dolphin kick in full SCUBA gear and never have a problem... Maybe you should try another brand? Mares fins are good.

[AmbrGlows]

That's really weird about the fins sinking! I dolphin kick in full SCUBA gear and never have a problem... Maybe you should try another brand? Mares fins are good.


No money to buy different fins. Plus the flipper material is cut just for the ones I have. I'll just keep it as a dry tail. Unless someone wants to buy it...fins and all.

[Mermaid Galene]

I'll have my mermaid style seal tail done by tomorrow.

Can't wait to see how that one turns out!

[telzey.amberdon]

No money to buy different fins. Plus the flipper material is cut just for the ones I have. I'll just keep it as a dry tail. Unless someone wants to buy it...fins and all.
Hmmm!

[AmbrGlows]

Hmmm!


I can lay it out and take measurements of it if you might be interested.

[Sabrina the Selkie]

Ooof. Beautiful tail. I'm sorry it didn't work out like you'd hoped. I've been battling that since I worked out my mersona, finally gave up and made myself a normal fishy. I love my yellow-bellied fishy self but... selkie...
Anyway, it's beautiful, even if the swiming didn't work out like you'd hoped.

[AmbrGlows]

Ooof. Beautiful tail. I'm sorry it didn't work out like you'd hoped. I've been battling that since I worked out my mersona, finally gave up and made myself a normal fishy. I love my yellow-bellied fishy self but... selkie...
Anyway, it's beautiful, even if the swiming didn't work out like you'd hoped.


Thank you Sabrina. We learn through trail and error. This tail was a dream that I have to rework. I will fix the tail so that I can swim in it. I am determined of that.

[Sabrina the Selkie]

Good luck!

[IllynReaver]

It's such a lovely tail! This is the fabric tail I've been wanting to make, nice to see others have tried it even if it is difficult to swim in.

[AmbrGlows]

It's such a lovely tail! This is the fabric tail I've been wanting to make, nice to see others have tried it even if it is difficult to swim in.


The flippers is what made it difficult to swim in. Once I took the flipper pockets off and replace them with a regular monofin pocket swimming was wonderful. In fact, this is my favorite tail at the moment. The stretch velet is amazing!!

[Mermaid Fenicia]

Most of my tails are made (by me) in stretch velvet ;)

[theMerFanc]

Your tail is beautiful :D Where did you get the fabric? Was it at Spandex World like you said int he OP? Is that a physical store or one online?

[AmbrGlows]

Your tail is beautiful :D Where did you get the fabric? Was it at Spandex World like you said int he OP? Is that a physical store or one online?


So sorry, I've been offline for a bit busy with other things. The fabric is stretch velvet and I bought it at a local spandex shop, Spandex Wherehouse. There is an online store called Spandex World.