Why oh why am I such a fail at pattern making?

[MermaidIndie]

So I've tried over and over again to make tail Patterns from measurements for fabric tails and no matter what they always come out wayyyy too big. Any way I can fix this?


The crash of waves and salty air are the signs of freedom

[Ashe]

How do you measure for them? And how much seam allowance do you add?

[MermaidIndie]

I use the mermaid Sasha method of measuring every two inches and then I tried the waist, hips, knees, ankles kind of method and I haven't been adding a seam allowance. Whoops.


The crash of waves and salty air are the signs of freedom

[MermaidIndie]

I'm pretty sure I'm cursed


The crash of waves and salty air are the signs of freedom

[ShyMer]

If you're using four way stretch spandex (it stretches all directions), it'll do that. I guess you have to remember that it needs to be stretched out to fit you properly, or else it just looks baggy and sad :(
I had the same problem with my spandex tail, and I think I took an inch or so off the width of my measurements, which seemed to work fine.
Good news though, it's an easy fix! It's just annoying is all.

Good luck with your tail! I'm sure it'll be lovely <3

[MermaidIndie]

I normally end up just tracing myself but I one day wanted to make tails for others and need to have patterns come out correctly, I guess I'll have to keep practicing


The crash of waves and salty air are the signs of freedom

[Nyx]

I have that problem with neoprene, which is why I'm not selling tails yet.
I think in that situation you just have to learn how much you need to take off for it to stretch nicely the way it's supposed to.
I'm still trying to learn that too.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

I normally trace around myself. Its my butt/waist that has the most problem! Its because one is sitting so the flesh is squashed on the floor thus making it you need more fabric there, but once in the water, its sooo baggy. I just put elastic at the waist and sew in a few cms at the butt area.

[telzey.amberdon]

Have someone trace you standing against a wall?

[Samantha Sleeman]

I normally trace around myself. Its my butt/waist that has the most problem! Its because one is sitting so the flesh is squashed on the floor thus making it you need more fabric there, but once in the water, its sooo baggy. I just put elastic at the waist and sew in a few cms at the butt area.


Hi,
Try making a body mould of yourself by first getting a friend / partner etc to wrap you in clingfilm, waist to ankles. Then get some duct tape and have them wrap that around you, again waist to ankles. Once done, cut it carefully down the back and slip it off. THEN, reclose it using more duct tape before carefully filling it with crushed newspaper or any other material that will give you a firm mould. When complete you have a faithful replica of your body, waist to ankles. Deduct at least 50% of the difference between stretched and unstreched material measurements and strap the cut outs to the mould using lots of belts. Then you can tack the spandex before removing to sew!

Hope that helps.

It's not what you do, but the way you do it, that counts

[PearlieMae]

Clear packing tape is better, it's not as gummy as duct tape, and won't goo up all your supplies.

[Prairie Mermaid Jamie]

I had the same problem with my lil fabric tail.

I found getting the fabric wet and stretching it a bunch then letting it air dry and making the tail from there helped. The nice thing is that they are fairly easy to take in. I think mine is between 2 and 3 inches smaller then my pattern was everywhere except the ankle area.

[PearlieMae]

I talk about making a tape dummy here:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1o4VVj25iCg

Sorry I look so tired!

[MermaidIndie]

Thanks for all the advice guys! I just have to keep trying different techniques until I get it down. More mermaid tails then!


The crash of waves and salty air are the signs of freedom

[PearlieMae]

Because it blurs the line between what we do and making missiles which can be weaponized.

What, are you high?

[Merman Arion]

What, are you high?

@Pearlie

LOL :lol:
I just had a good laugh of 5min thanks to you.

[PearlieMae]

@Pearlie

LOL :lol:
I just had a good laugh of 5min thanks to you.

http://replygif.net/i/162.gif

[Keiris]

http://replygif.net/i/162.gif

OMG PEARLIE THAT GIF!!!! LOL! That little girl looks like she's auditioning for the Bad Seed.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

That's all CarMi does though. Post random things not related to topics.

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