JustCOS's fabric tail!

[JustCOS]

First tail in this post:
Second/Third tails start here: http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?11079-JustCOS-s-fabric-tail!&p=228619&viewfull=1#post228619


So, after finally trying out my monofin to a point where I was comfortable, I've dove in to making this tail.

Originally, the design I'd come up with was based off a fantail goldfish with the fins and fluke being made out of sheers.
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But when I started getting down to it, I sort of hated the way they were looking. So I used the extra I had of the ivory sparkle (gonna get more today for the fluke).
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(scrapped fin pictured to show why I hated it)
I considered doing it without the orange stripe, but I really wanted to put a boning channel in, and the sparkle on its own was just too sheer.

As for the body, that's coming along much more nicely. I've got the layers all cut out (lining layer not pictured, it's just white lycra I had lying around). I decided to give the edges some wobble so it looked a little more organic and less like two pieces of fabric sewn together. I may hand sew on some speckles to further this look.
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Sorry for the blurry pictures, the lighting isn't the greatest. Hopefully more work will be done tonight! <3

[MermaidAine]

OOOOh cant wait to see this all finished. I have put fins on my fabric tail also, but in a completely different way. I just have to get my waistband put on and mine will finally be finished.
What kind of monofin is that?

[JustCOS]

It's the Finis Aquarius! I had the problem that a lot of other people have with the strap slipping off, but the elastic workaround worked perfectly~

[MermaidAine]

Ah ok, thanks! I had never seen that one so I wasn't sure which it was. Hey, you live in Tacoma! I have family up that way. :D

[Moongazer]

JustCos!! When did you join here? (it's the Rini you had a photoshoot at SC with last year!)

[Little_Orca]

Lovely work so far. :) Can't wait to see the finished piece.

[JustCOS]

Sorry for the delays, real life kinda hit me in the face.
The tail itself is nearly finished! I just have to put elastic in the top and clear snaps on the fluke, then the tail is done! Since the top is basically a wrap top that'll be finished soon, too.

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The front and back. It's roughly the length of a twin bed!
The fins and fluke have boning in them, under the orange channels.

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Unfinished waistband and lining fabric.

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Zipper in the fluke lining so I can remove the monofin.

It fits snugly, which is good since it will loosen up in the water. With any luck, I'll be able to take some pictures next week after I find a place to take them (and let my hand heal a little more - I have a cut that's almost better lol)

[WaterDragon]

Wow :jawdrop: that is one gorgeous tail.

[Ashe]

It's amazing!

[PearlieMae]

I can't wait to see it in the water!

[Mermaid Cecelia]

Beautiful!!!

[Sherielle]

Goldfish!!! I love it

[Meronica]

How pretty! Love this!


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[JustCOS]

Thank you guys so much!! I'll hopefully be finishing it up tonight (if my cat gives up my work table, lol) and with any luck, if I can find a pool that allows photography, I'll be doping pictures as soon as next week.

[Nyx]

Ohhh it's so pretty and sparkly!! <33

[Mermaid Catkid]

​What type of zipper did you use?

[Mermaid Wesley]

SO CUTE!! looks just like a little goldfish merm

[JustCOS]

I'm so glad it still reads as 'goldfish' lol. I was a little worried it was too bright (but underwater photos tend to get washed out *badumtch*), so I'm glad it's liked. :)

The zipper is a coil separating. I don't recall the inches right off hand, and can't seem to find the packaging, but I think it was around 16"? I think it's the longest coil separating Coats & Clark makes in that color.

[JustCOS]

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The snaps are in the fluke (not pictured because they're clear snaps and fade right into the sequins), the elastic is at the top and the tail is FINISHED. The top is also finished, and I promise it sits more evenly on me than on my dressform, lol.

My photographer has his underwater housing, so as soon as we find the right location pictures will happen! :3

[Dancing Fish]

Super pretty! It will be so beautiful and flowy in the water. :)

[JustCOS]

Thank you! I took it for a swim yesterday and loved the way it looked. I'm going to see if I can get one of those waterproof cellphone bags and shoot some video the next time I go in for a dip :)

[Elodea the Mermaid]

I just found this thread! This tail is so beautiful!

[Madison MerFaerie]

That all looks so awesome. I really like the top, can't wait to see how it all moves in the water.

[Mermaid Joie]

You must post pictures of your tail in the water! It's so pretty I want to see how it flows!:swoon: It's so gorgeous!

[Raayvhen]

Yo, I have one of those waterproof phone bags and we live pretty close. We should go swimming this week even though I never got back to you last time because I suck at replying to people.

[Ashton]

:swoon:the gold color you found is so pretty!

[JustCOS]

Yo, I have one of those waterproof phone bags and we live pretty close. We should go swimming this week even though I never got back to you last time because I suck at replying to people.
Hah hah, no worries I figured you were just busy :p
I managed to find one of those bags yesterday (whoo Walmart!), so I think tonight during lap swim I'll try to get some footage~ We should totally swim together at some point, though!

And thank you guys so much! I'm so happy with how this tail looks! <3

[JustCOS]

So, I've decided I need to redo the waistband. It just doesn't sit the way I'd like.
I'm also having way issues with video editing, but I put a raw clip we took today on my tumblr (http://thedarkenedelf.tumblr.com/post/123003609484) (sorry it's not attached here, I'm still trying to figure everything out lol)

[Cordelia]

Woah! The fluke flows so well. That looks awesome, and you did a really great job!! :D

[JustCOS]

Thank you so much!
Also, bonus, I figured out how to make my video convert properly! I took all the best clips we got today, but there will for sure be more behind the scenes things when I do the photoshoot

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMjbskZiseg

[PaolaMF]

is magic !!!

[JustCOS]

So, I redid the waistband. I wasn't happy with how it was bunching, so I basically did a ribbing type of thing out of some spare sequin, as that matches my skintone best.
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Excluding the fact that I my monofin strap came loose and I had to take off and put back on a sopping tail midswim, this is significantly better and easier to swim in. I kept the brown bottoms for today so I could see any gapping, but I'll probably wear closer to skintone for the shoot I have planned (on wednesday!)
I also tested out the top today while I went swimming (and conned the boyfriend into shooting some more video) <3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmSY53pyDUQ

[Raayvhen]

Your tail looks so amazing! It's definitely very realistic.

[Seraphina Suds]

Stunning!! I think your tail is one of the best fabric tails I've seen! I love that you went with a lighter tummy color. It really adds a lot of realism and depth to the whole tail!

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[MerEmma]

Beautiful colors! It looks so elegant. I knew it was gonna be a really pretty tail when I first saw the design and it seriously is. Be proud of that beauty. <3

[PearlieMae]

That is absolutely gorgeous! Congratulations on all your hard work!

[JustCOS]

Thank you guys so much, I am so super proud of this! I have a real photoshoot planned with a photographer friend on Wednesday and I just can't wait! Also, oh man my back is the best kind of sore after doing all those backflips this week.

I wish I could find the same fabric again (it went to clearance, sadly), because a friend of mine and I are discussing making her a matching tail in another color. Hopefully I can find something similar, at least.

[Dancing Fish]

Gorgeous!

[Seatan]

That is seriously one of the prettiest fabric tail designs I have ever seen!

[Meronica]

Thank you guys so much, I am so super proud of this! I have a real photoshoot planned with a photographer friend on Wednesday and I just can't wait! Also, oh man my back is the best kind of sore after doing all those backflips this week.

I wish I could find the same fabric again (it went to clearance, sadly), because a friend of mine and I are discussing making her a matching tail in another color. Hopefully I can find something similar, at least.

I found the same fabric in orange, red, green, and blue on eBay a few months ago and bookmarked it because I wanted to use the green for my own tail. It's just a bit pricey online. :(
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=171236062289&globalID=EBAY-US


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[JustCOS]

Oh no, the back fabric I got from Spandex World, I'm talking about the sequins on the front. Sorry I wasn't clear.

[Meronica]

Oh! Nevermind then. (:


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[JustCOS]

Thank you for the link, though! That's not a bad price on it.

Got to do the (hopefully first of many) photoshoot today!
I got some behind the scenes video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKvsrPwpI7Y

And a few preview pictures:
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[Elodea the Mermaid]

This tail is so beautiful! Oh my gosh, the way it flows. And the colors looks so great with your hair and skintone! I'm sold, I believe mermaids are real now! :-)

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[MermaidBrandie]

What a simply gorgeous fabric tail. :jawdrop:

[JustCOS]

Sorry for the radio silence, guys. I'm still lurking quite a bit, but real life kinda hit me like a ton of bricks.

I do have more tails planned!
First and foremost, a friend and I will be making a tail twin to match mine, in blues:
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We're also planning some cosplay type tails - mainly I wanna make Milotic (and she may make Goldeen)
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And then today I was hit with inspiration for an albino betta tail:
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Hopefully real life will calm down soon enough that I can update more again <3

[JustCOS]

Quick update: I splurged and bought myself some of the betta fabric! In my defense, I had a good coupon to go on top of a sale.
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The plan for this one is to have a rave bra style top. Now I just wait for the next extra good coupon (this weekend) and I can pick up the lace.
Part of the reason I'm so excited for this tail is I even have a location picked out already
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It's too shallow for tricks, but those columns are just too perfect! (And they're a hotel pool that doesn't mind pictures)



My Milotic samples came today, also! I've decided on a few. This tail will end up being much more than my betta or goldfish, just because the downside to Spandex World is no coupons (but great selection).
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I've also sketched out a ton of top ideas, and may still play around with more. Currently I'm liking the bottom row the best.
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[MermaidBrandie]

Some of your pictures are broken. :(

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[JustCOS]

I see this. :/ It's weird, because they're still clickable on my end and bring up a separate page with the picture? I'm working on fixing it (or at least attempting to)

Edit: They all seem to be working on my end now. Hopefully that fixes it.

[JustCOS]

Update tiiime! So the Albino Betta is somewhat on hold. I decided that instead of boning, I want to do a thin layer of silicone on the lace (so now I have to wait for the weather to warm up before I can order any).
In the mean time, however, I'm working on Milotic (and maybe planning out a few more tails.. oops)

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Luckily I have soooo much spare lycra (seriously I have a huge bolt of the stuff), so I can make mockups and patterns for stretch pretty easily. Modified my two seam pattern into a single seam, cut it out and fit it to me, then began the process of mapping out all of the pieces. After freehanding it I went back in with a custom straight edge (read: piece of cardboard I cut to the size I wanted) to get all the lines evened out, then numbered them for my sanity.

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Still have to cut out the black holes, but this is starting to resemble Milotic!

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This is the beginnings of the fluke, btw. It'll fit over my Finis Aquarius, and has a neoprin lining (just for a little added stiffness). I'd originally planned to do the overlapping bits with careful sewing/trimming of the pink (more of an optical illusion), but I kinda like how it is now? I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

https://i.imgflip.com/xa1q3.gif (https://imgflip.com/gif/xa1q3)
And here's the fabric in action, because I can't get over how pretty it is when it moves!

[LouLouBelle]

I love that fabric! I'm a sucker for anything sparkly! [emoji38]


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[saborigakusei]

JustCOS, could you tell me what kind/category of fabric the one from spandexworld is? The fabric I got from there for my tail ended up being super heavy, so I'm trying to figure out which ones have less drag. Any insight on this? :)

[Ashton]

that looks really cool so far!

[JustCOS]

JustCOS, could you tell me what kind/category of fabric the one from spandexworld is? The fabric I got from there for my tail ended up being super heavy, so I'm trying to figure out which ones have less drag. Any insight on this? :)

The black for Milotic (and the orange stripey for my goldfish) are both part of the "animal print hologram" category - the turquoise and fuchsia for Milotic are both "reflective mystique spandex".
Personally I was aiming for a little heavier fabrics when I picked these out (both tails are also lined), to reduce the look of knees. I have a fair bit of drag in the goldfish tail just due to the heavy sequin fabric over the fluke, but maybe it's less than full spanext will be? I'll have to give you an update on that once I finish the Milotic fluke :)

LouLouBelle, I am too! I love that not only is the black super rainbowy and glittery, but the blue and punk have kinda rainbow tones too (the blue shifts a little green and the pink a little purple)!

Ashton, thanks! I've been watching your progress and you tail's looking amazing!

[JustCOS]

So, while it's not my Albino tail or my Milotic tail, the tail for my friend (Moongazer) is like 90% done! I collected the fabrics and provided patterns and support, but she did all the heavy lifting. She still has to add the trim to the sides of the fluke, and she may add some black to the fluke/fins (she's going for a bit more predatory look), but all the hard parts are done~

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[Adalira]

Wow it so nice and sparkly!

[Luna Dreamtide]

Very nice! I love it. That's very much my style - I love blue and sparkles!

[Ashton]

Dat' Sparkel!!! you look that part in ariel where her dad turns her into a human and she gets all glow-y

[Moonlight Blues]

Quick update: I splurged and bought myself some of the betta fabric! In my defense, I had a good coupon to go on top of a sale.
34871
The plan for this one is to have a rave bra style top. Now I just wait for the next extra good coupon (this weekend) and I can pick up the lace.
Part of the reason I'm so excited for this tail is I even have a location picked out already
34870
It's too shallow for tricks, but those columns are just too perfect! (And they're a hotel pool that doesn't mind pictures)



My Milotic samples came today, also! I've decided on a few. This tail will end up being much more than my betta or goldfish, just because the downside to Spandex World is no coupons (but great selection).
34872
I've also sketched out a ton of top ideas, and may still play around with more. Currently I'm liking the bottom row the best.
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I think the last one closest to the pokemon on the bottom row might look the best becuse it allows for some kind of break up in the pattern but looks fluent

[Moonlight Blues]

Update tiiime! So the Albino Betta is somewhat on hold. I decided that instead of boning, I want to do a thin layer of silicone on the lace (so now I have to wait for the weather to warm up before I can order any).
In the mean time, however, I'm working on Milotic (and maybe planning out a few more tails.. oops)

35153
Luckily I have soooo much spare lycra (seriously I have a huge bolt of the stuff), so I can make mockups and patterns for stretch pretty easily. Modified my two seam pattern into a single seam, cut it out and fit it to me, then began the process of mapping out all of the pieces. After freehanding it I went back in with a custom straight edge (read: piece of cardboard I cut to the size I wanted) to get all the lines evened out, then numbered them for my sanity.

35154
Still have to cut out the black holes, but this is starting to resemble Milotic!

35155
This is the beginnings of the fluke, btw. It'll fit over my Finis Aquarius, and has a neoprin lining (just for a little added stiffness). I'd originally planned to do the overlapping bits with careful sewing/trimming of the pink (more of an optical illusion), but I kinda like how it is now? I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

https://i.imgflip.com/xa1q3.gif (https://imgflip.com/gif/xa1q3)
And here's the fabric in action, because I can't get over how pretty it is when it moves!

what kind of fabric did you use is that spandex? or neoprene

[Moonlight Blues]

Thank you for the link, though! That's not a bad price on it.

Got to do the (hopefully first of many) photoshoot today!
I got some behind the scenes video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKvsrPwpI7Y

And a few preview pictures:
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did you make this tail or was it bought if you bought it by who, if you made it private message me

[JustCOS]

Wow it so nice and sparkly!
It is! I think it's going to be amazing underwater, too!


Very nice! I love it. That's very much my style - I love blue and sparkles!
She does, too!


Dat' Sparkel!!! you look that part in ariel where her dad turns her into a human and she gets all glow-y
Hah hah, thanks! It's actually Moongazer in the picture - we got together and made it. But I agree she does! ;)


did you make this tail or was it bought if you bought it by who, if you made it private message me
I made that tail, you can actually see my progress at the beginning of the thread. :)

[MermaidBrandie]

This is still one of my favorite tails ever.

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[Kait]

OOOOO JusCOS I love it! So sparkly and I love the stripes. Awesome work :clap:

[JustCOS]

This is still one of my favorite tails ever.

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Thank you! You're so nice <3 I'm still super proud of it


OOOOO JusCOS I love it! So sparkly and I love the stripes. Awesome work
Thanks! I love how noticeable the stripes are on Moongazer's, and I'm excited to swim with her (when my back isn't being stupid u_u )

[JustCOS]

So, I tend to measure projects in movies/tv that I have on in the background. So far I've spent 9 Scrubs episodes on my Milotic tail (just the sewing bits) - so far 20 of 35 panels sewn35481

[Adalira]

Wow, that's awesome!

I love you measuring of time :-)

[JustCOS]

Whew! I'm always really bad at documenting my process, oops. But with the con about 9 days away, Milotic is 95% done! I still have to cast clear bracelets to attach the scarf to, but the wig, earrings, top, and most importantly TAIL ARE DONE!!

Real pictures of the tail when I have some space to spread out, but I couldn't help myself and hopped up on the table to grab a snippit
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The top:
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The scarf (sans bracelets)
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And the wig/earrings:
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I may change how the bangs are. I like the idea of puling them back into the horn thing, but I'm not sure I like the execution

[Mermaid Russet]

Both of these tails are so gorgeous! You are a true artist, these are amazing!!
(Also your hair.... mermaid hair 100%)

[JustCOS]

Thank you so much!! I can't wait to make more (I have so many plans and fabrics already lol)

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My best friend's cat is judging me pretty hard

[LouLouBelle]

Lol at the cat!

That looks amazing! The top has turned out just gorgeous. I'd love to see you with the wig and everything as well.


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[Ashton]

ll that sewing totally paid off and it looks great!
I cant wait to see the final costume all together?

[kandell]

This thread has been a HUGE inspiration for me!! I'm going to be making a tail for a renaissance fair and was super torn between trying to do latex or silicone or making a fabric tail. I didn't realize fabric tails could look so pretty and realistic!! Thank you so much for all the photos and videos, they're incredibly helpful!! :]

[JustCOS]

Lol at the cat!

That looks amazing! The top has turned out just gorgeous. I'd love to see you with the wig and everything as well.


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Thanks! He should be used to dress up things by now, but he still judges lol.


ll that sewing totally paid off and it looks great!
I cant wait to see the final costume all together?
Thank you so much! The con's looming ever closer (about a week now D: ) so hopefully I'll have photos not long after. A friend is gonna be Goldeen with me!


This thread has been a HUGE inspiration for me!! I'm going to be making a tail for a renaissance fair and was super torn between trying to do latex or silicone or making a fabric tail. I didn't realize fabric tails could look so pretty and realistic!! Thank you so much for all the photos and videos, they're incredibly helpful!! :]
Oh wow thank you so much!

[JustCOS]

I swear I'm not dead you guys. Life has just been absolutely crazy... So still no pictures in my Milotic tail, but hopefully soon now that I'll have some free time (*laughs bitterly*) I'll be working on tails again and should be able to plan some shoots.



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This is still a thing that I'm planning - I'm debating between doing the fluke with the boning channels like I'd originally thought, or layering it with silicone. Any thoughts?

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But I did finish the top for it at least! (excuse the mess)

I'm also planning on painting an Ariel tail (because the fabric I LOVE for it is out of stock for probably forever - or at least until I spend hours hand painting it)

[Ashe]

Lovely top! And I'd say do channels, the silicone might look out of place unless you silicone the entire tail, but doing that will take away the beautiful sparkles. Amazing work regardless!

[JustCOS]

Thanks! Ahh that's a good point! My main concern had been weight with the fabric, but I hadn't even considered it might take away visually from the rest of the tail. Thanks! ♡