Lining a spandex tail?

[Mermaid Menanna]

Has anyone used swimsuit lining to line an entire tail? Can anyone tell me what the pros & cons would be in doing this? I plan to line the fluke so the fin doesn't show through the fabric, but am unsure if I should also line the entire tail?

[Mermaid Jaffa]

I have a fully lined tail that I've made.
I lined it up to the foot pocket area, not the entire tail as I wanted the fluke to have soft flowy bits.

The two pros are, you don't have that chilled feeling when wet and the seams don't itch.

The cons are, it can feel very heavy. Much heavier than swimming in a regular unlined tail.

The worst part about having a lined tail is that, its hard to put back on whether you are wet or dry as the inner fabric bunches up.

When I bring my lined tail to the pool, I spend at least 15 mins arranging the lining to get it to sit right inside the tail, and so it doesn't make the spandex look like you have weird bulges in odd places!

[Princess Pearl]

Maybe try flat lining instead of bag lining.

Bag lining is when you make two of the whatever you're making, one in regular fabric, one in lining, and sew them together at the hems. Flat lining is when you sew the lining directly to your regular fabric, then you sew everything together like it's one piece. That might help with the bunching.

[Mermaid Wesley]

I wish I had lined mine, it was see through before I painted it and it was a really dark color. There's a reason bathing suits have lining lol


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[Mermaid Menanna]

I think I could deal with 15 minutes of getting settled into it if it means it won't be see-through, lol. Thanks Wesley for that note, that was one of my worries.
I was thinking of cutting it all out together and sewing it as 4 pieces instead of 2, but I may be able to find a way to add a few unseen stitches by hand in various places to help control the bunching. If I sew it this way the lining won't do anything to detract from seams but I'm not too worried about itching. I have made other clothing before and never had any issues with itching seams and I have never had a bathing suit that had seams that bothered me.

[Mermaid Menanna]

I will be making an elastic band with a piece of foam attached, so it straps securely to my leg and the foam sits between my knees to avoid any issues with my knees rubbing together. I'm thinking that if I line the whole tail then it will be less noticeable that I have an extra piece of "something" inside...

Thanks for the input everyone, I think I am going to line the entire tail.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Maybe try flat lining instead of bag lining.

Bag lining is when you make two of the whatever you're making, one in regular fabric, one in lining, and sew them together at the hems. Flat lining is when you sew the lining directly to your regular fabric, then you sew everything together like it's one piece. That might help with the bunching.

Thanks for the tip! It was my first time lining something and that wasn't what I had though of!

[Sherielle]

I will be making an elastic band with a piece of foam attached, so it straps securely to my leg and the foam sits between my knees to avoid any issues with my knees rubbing together. I'm thinking that if I line the whole tail then it will be less noticeable that I have an extra piece of "something" inside...

Thanks for the input everyone, I think I am going to line the entire tail.Just remember the foam will add to the tails floatability. Meaning it may be harder to swim in if it keeps wanting to float back to the top of the water.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

The foil's foot pockets are set fairly wide apart. I've yet to have my knees rubbing together at all.

My thighs on the other hand... MEGA THUNDER THIGHS!!!:lol:

[Mermaid Menanna]

LOL Jaffa. You're too cute. :lol:
I'm still waiting for the fin to arrive, had expected it here by now. Got an email from the company yesterday saying if it wasn't here within 48 hrs to contact them. I'm hoping it doesn't come to that or that there isn't a problem. I want desperately to try it on and to get started on this tail. I will have to see how it fits and then determine if I will still need the padding between the knees. It would be nice to not have to worry about that.

[Mermaid Menanna]

Just remember the foam will add to the tails floatability. Meaning it may be harder to swim in if it keeps wanting to float back to the top of the water.
If I need the foam I don't expect it will be a problem... I am thinking soft foam/sponge which can easily be waterlogged by pressing my knees together for a minute and then releasing. It would be lined with the swimsuit liner to help keep it from shredding or falling apart, with a small loop on each end to slide elastic through it. Then I can just slide it on and it should fit like a knee pad, just lays between the knees instead of covering a kneecap.
I have to be very careful with my bad knee. If I stress/strain it then I wouldn't be able to walk for weeks at a time.
I was supposed to be in a wheelchair almost 25 yrs ago. Taking care of it, pampering it, listening to my body is the only reason I am still walking. My dr has been baffled by it, has shown me the MRI scans and warned me... all it will take is once and there won't be any going back. I have no desire (or plans) to be in a wheelchair any sooner than absolutely necessary.

[Mermaid Wesley]

a small spongey thing should be ok.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Mermaid swimming is good exercise. If you do it right, that is not using your legs or knees to kick, then you have less chance of injuring yourself.

[MermaidBrandie]

I lined the last spandex tail I made with flesh lining. Didn't notice it being heavy at all. I basically had four layers of fabric and sewed the lining and the spandex together around all the seams. No bunching or anything. :) Much sturdier.

[Mermaid Menanna]

Thanks CoyoteWalker, I am hoping for the same result. Now if my monofin would just get here so I can get started... I have everything else. I am getting very impatient now.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Its heavy for me as I'm still not yet used to swimming with so much fabric!