Total Amateur Attempts Fabric Tail

[Ciriun]

Hi again everyone! So after much thought and consideration and waffling and worrying and etc. I have decided to try to sew my first tail as per the traditional mer right of passage. I have watched the videos and read a few threads, so hopefully I won't botch this too badly.

As of now I have my fabric. It is a nice four way stretchy stuff with just a bit of shimmer to it. I've also got some special measuring fabric to make my pattern. Besides that all I have is my basic sewing kit with generic thread, scissors, pins, a white marking pencil, etc. So step one will of course be getting all my measurements.

Oh, and I don't have a sewing machine, so this will be all hand sewn.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_loyll2mPSL1qgiiajo1_400.gif

Advice, tips, and warnings are all welcome and really appreciated!

[selinaannrose]

I look forward to seeing it.

Sent from my LG-D959 using Tapatalk

[selinaannrose]

I am going to have to hand sew mine too

Sent from my LG-D959 using Tapatalk

[Ciriun]

I know some others on here have done hand sewing, but I can't recall who. I also have no clue what stitch to use and to be honest I only really know two stitches. But I can learn, I've done it before!

[Mermaid Saoirse]

Congrats on the first tail project! I've made three tails before and I learned a lot of lessons from them.

Tips:
- Since it's four-way stretch fabric if you want a tight tail I recommend making your pattern a little smaller(about an inch or two) than your measurements. I made my first tail to measurements and while I could get it on quick it caused a lot of drag in the water.
- Upholstery thread is a blessing, even for small projects like this. It's not too expensive and one spool of it can be enough for more than one tail.
- Learn how to do the zigzag stitch. It's a lifesaver on stretchy fabrics.

Good luck! :D Looking forward to seeing the final result.

[Ciriun]

Thanks Saoirse! I looked up the zig zag stitch and it seems to be just alternating vertical and diagonal stitches, so it doesn't seem too hard. I'm guessing I should keep the stitches pretty small, but I don't know if I should go over it twice or not. Can too much stitching be bad?

I'm already thinking I'll need to go back to the store for some elastic for the waist, so I can look at other threads when I do.

[Mermaid Saoirse]

No problem, it's always exciting to see someone's first tail. :)
It depends on the person's preference when it comes to stitch size to an extent. I likes to keep my zigs or zags no longer than the width of my pinky nail and the tails turned out okay.
I'm unsure if too much stitching could be bad if it's a stretchy fabric I know for non-stretch fabrics I've never had a problem with going over seams.

[IllynReaver]

Good luck!

[Mermaid Jaffa]

There are two ways to sew zigzag stitch. Make sure you use the one where the zigzag is on both sides, which is the alternating diagonal lines.
The other way leaves straight stitch on the other side and is not so stretchy. It does stretch but not as much a proper zigzag stitch.

I hate hand sewing. I have a sewing machine, if it fits in under the foot, I'll def shove it through!:lol: Good you have the patience for that cos I don't!

[Ciriun]

Jaffa, I was hoping you would lend me your advice once again! Do you mean the zig zag chain stitch? If so, I can tell I'm going to need to practice that one a bit.

I actually find hand sewing to be relaxing, while my minimal experience with machines has been mildly nerve wracking. I understand they're great once you get the hang of them, and if I get more into sewing my grandmother has offered me hers.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Here is a pic as my typing wasn't very clear.

When one side is finished, turn over and repeat for the other side, making sure to poke in the same holes or as close as you can. When completed it will look like lots of Vs together. VVVVVVVV

I've done it with half centimeter sized stitches to sew fins and a pair of bra cups. Neither has come off or ripped.

31473

[Ciriun]

Oh, okay! That is a lot easier. Could you also clarify something about your open fluke technique? Do you hem the edges first before you sew the fin lines?

I also looked up what upholstery thread is available and could only find one shade of blue much darker than my tail material. I wasn't sure if that would be okay or not.

[Ciriun]

Read some more threads and now I think maybe I'll need a liner?

http://38.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lovcykMvh21qmb9jyo1_250.gif

Do I just sew the liner to both halves of the tail before sewing them together? Or is there some other trick I'm unfamiliar with? And how important is having a liner?

[Celaeno]

Hi again everyone! So after much thought and consideration and waffling and worrying and etc. I have decided to try to sew my first tail as per the traditional mer right of passage. I have watched the videos and read a few threads, so hopefully I won't botch this too badly.

As of now I have my fabric. It is a nice four way stretchy stuff with just a bit of shimmer to it. I've also got some special measuring fabric to make my pattern. Besides that all I have is my basic sewing kit with generic thread, scissors, pins, a white marking pencil, etc. So step one will of course be getting all my measurements.

Oh, and I don't have a sewing machine, so this will be all hand sewn.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_loyll2mPSL1qgiiajo1_400.gif

Advice, tips, and warnings are all welcome and really appreciated!

This is awesome and ambitious and you are brave and rad! I will be following your progress with baited breath! I prefer the ease of a sewing machine, but having completely hand-sewn and hand-quilted a baby quilt before, I totally get what you mean about hand-sewing being relaxing. It can be quite meditative.

[Ciriun]

Thanks Celaeno! I hope I don't disappoint! :)

[Dancing Fish]

I hand sewed my daughter's first tail. It didn't take long and I didn't use a liner. In fact by hand sewing you have more freedom because there's some places a machine couldn't stitch. I'm hand sewing my top, too. :) one thing I found helpful was to use safety pins to fit it properly as I went. Much easier to get on and off than using straight pins. Good luck!

eta that I've now nade four fabric tails from JoAnn spandex, and never lined any of them. Hers do wear out rather quickly (I'm way more careful than my kid is).

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Yes, hem all edges before sewing the fin lines. Gives it nicer look.

Unless you're aiming for a tattered edge look.

One thing about liner in a tail is, you have to sew it properly, not bag style like I did. Mine is super hard to put back on when wet, whether in the water or poolside!

[Mermaid Fenicia]

All my tails are fabric and none of them has a liner and aren't see-through :)

[Ciriun]

Okay, so skipping the liner for this tail. Thanks everyone!

And Dancing Fish, thanks for the suggestion of safety pins. I've got a big packet of assorted sizes from previous cosplay stuff.

I don't suppose anyone happens to have advice for the elastic waistband? I know to buy swimwear elastic and to use the zigzag or stretch stitch for anything with it, but I don't know how to actually put it in. I've tried to look it up and most of what I've found has said to make a casing and then sew that in at the top. Is that correct?

[Mermaid Fenicia]

I don't use elastic in my waist, as the tail kept slipping down when swimming, instead I use a cord and special pearl to keep my tails in place: http://users.telenet.be/the-mermaid/tutoral/meermin/meermine.htm (scroll down to the waist-part) ;)

[Ciriun]

Thanks for the suggestions, but I think with my hips elastic should be sufficient. I really just want it to prevent excessive gapping.

[Ciriun]

So I discovered that my tracing fabric is not wide enough to make both halves of the tail. Whoops! Guess I'll have to go back to the store for more before I can proceed. I have some pics of the tracing process that I'll have to post soon, including some footage of my wonderful assistants.

[Ciriun]

No new progress, other than that I got my pics uploaded!

http://mernetwork.com/index/attachment.php?attachmentid=31649&d=1437688901

This is Pepper, my roommate's cat. She is helping! Okay, so maybe she just thought we bought her a new play mat.

http://mernetwork.com/index/attachment.php?attachmentid=31650&d=1437688956

And this is her owner, aka my roommate, aka my semi merwrangler, aka my bestest friend, aka my human calculator and GPS. As you can tell our first attempt involved measuring me and then transposing the measurements to the tracing fabric. It didn't work, so we ended up just doing a plain trace of my body.

http://mernetwork.com/index/attachment.php?attachmentid=31651&d=1437689049
You can mostly see the outline here. Sorry for the bad lighting.

[Mermaid Joie]

This is exciting! I salute you for hand sewing your tail, I am also making my first tail, but I am using a sewing machine. Don't worry too much about the pattern if you have enough seam allowance you can adjust as needed. I am sewing my tail for a fitting (just a pain straight stitch), adjusting, seam ripping, and then sewing my final stitch. If you don't have a seam ripper, you may want to pin it together with a lot of safety pins, try it on and then make your adjustments before you sew your final stitch. I look forward to seeing your progress. If there is anything I can do to lend a hand (or a fin) feel free to message me.

[Ciriun]

Thanks Joie. Sadly, all is not well with tailmaking. The trace I did (fortunately on the tracing material only) did not fit. As in when I basted it and tried to pull it on, the seams at the top popped to reveal that the material didn't even fit around me. There was a good inch or empty space between the pieces of fabric on either side.

http://33.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lo1b5xXLE41qmb9jyo1_400.gif

I guess tracing is not going to work for me. I'll have to get more material and try the measuring every few inches method instead.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

It will be right if you hold the pen straight when you do the outline, and not angle it with the curve of your body.

I always have a wide 3 cm seam allowance so that when I try it on, with safety pins, I can adjust it for a tighter fit.

[Ciriun]

I tried to keep the pen straight, and I left an extra 1/2"-ish seam allowance, but even when I sewed at the very edge of the material I had it was way too small.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

You could sew in side panels and still be able to use the fabric you already cut.

[Ciriun]

I could try. I've never made side panels on something before. They won't make it harder to trace onto the final fabric, will they?

[Mermaid Jaffa]

I've made side panels for my fish suit. You will need them in the missing width + seam allowance. For example, your tail is a bit too small and you estimate it needs another 2 cm on each side, then you cut two strips 4 cm wide or wider strips, just in case you need more and don't want to cut extra again. Try on before sewing.

Here's what it looks like. 2nd photo. My suit wasn't too small. I altered as I didn't like the way I sewed them together. The previous side seams made it look like I was going to burst out of the suit!
31766

[Ciriun]

Okay, I tried to salvage my original material, but it was sort of torn in places from trying to cram my hips into it and I could not for the life of me figure out how to extend it evenly on both sides. So I've scrapped it, bought new measuring fabric, and will try making the pattern again using the every two inches measuring. I even got my roommie to help me with the measuring. And yes, this time I am leaving a full 3 inches of seam allowance just to be safe.

[Vela]

I have been avoiding my tail making process for almost a year now because I was worried about messing it up! It is good that you are still trying and it gives me confidence to take the plunge and make my tail. My boyfriend and I made my pattern last night (after several mistakes) and my bestfriend and I are going to sew the tail because she knows more of what she is doing while I am clueless when it comes to sewing.

I can't wait to see you succeed with your tail and see it finished!! Good Luck! :)

[Ciriun]

Thank you so much Vela, that was amazing to hear! It really is my sincere hope that my experience will be an example to other mers, though I've been thinking it was more of a cautionary tail tale. :p Good luck to you as well, and please do share pics when your tail is finished, I'd love to see it!

[Ciriun]

Good news! My second attempt using Sasha's measuring method worked! It's actually a little loose this time, so I'll have to learn how taking in a tail works, but it worked and right now I'm just happy about that. I'm on my way to having my own tail!

http://38.media.tumblr.com/e9d6e76be65c02f7d79de87d10b4e299/tumblr_inline_npv1cj81Ir1qbyo75_500.gif

[Ciriun]

New Pics! First, I'd like to share the so helpful table my roommate made for me. Before taking my measurements she labeled every two inches on the tape with a letter. Then afterward she put them all into a spreadsheet program and had it calculate all of the relevant adjustments needed to measure them correctly for making the pattern.

http://mernetwork.com/index/attachment.php?attachmentid=31942&d=1438633726


And this is the result! Yes, I left way too much around the fin, I'll hopefully be able to fix that later.
http://mernetwork.com/index/attachment.php?attachmentid=31937&d=1438633459

[Ciriun]

Okay, I'm now onto my (hopefully) final size adjustment, and I have to ask... How in Davy Jone's locker does anyone put their fin on in their tail poolside?! I was flopping around like a dying fish just trying to stuff my feet into my fin without being able to separate my legs, and I can barely reach the tips of it to get the fabric over. And then in the water I'm supposed to be able to remove it quickly and safely through that hole? I cannot see that going well.

[Echidna]

The poolside is carp.
Usually, it is a fairly complicated and undignified procedure which involves a mer making weird aerobics on the icky floor (or, better, a yoga mat), assisted by one or two more people :p

I'm putting my tails on in the water.
It takes a bit of practice, but there is no flailing and nothing to gawk at: I walk in nicely with the tail folded up, dive under, put it on, voila.

SOO much better than the poolside gymnastics...

Edit: Pepper is adorable! She's just like mine.
I can do absolutely nothing with fabrics and sewing and measuring without at least one of them strolling onto it.

[Ciriun]

How much breath holding is involved in getting the tail on in the water? Currently at best on land when fully relaxed I can still only manage about 20-25 seconds. Without my tail I've been putting on my monofin in the water, but that's at the surface.

I've noticed a lot of mers have feline assistants. Pepper has minimal interest in my actual tail fabric, but I could not keep her off the measuring stuff! If I shooed her off she just lurked nearby for all of 10 seconds before getting right back on it. I already gave in and cut off some of my excess material for her and I'm seriously considering letting her keep my first f/tail attempt.

[Echidna]

It depends on the tail.
For a normal one with fins/monofin, I need about one minute.
An elaborate costume, a few minutes.

I just surface in between as often as I have to, because I float very well.
If you're a sinker, you're out of luck unless you sit down on the pool stairs or so.

Don't bother giving the cat your material. It's only interesting as long as it's unknown and you're handling it ;)

[Ciriun]

I should be fine then, I can't sink if I try. Is there some secret special technique to it or do I just flail until it's on?

You would think she'd lose interest, but it seems to be the material more than whatever I'm doing. The scrap she has already is now one of her favorite spots. Of course this is the same cat that has a small towel for a bed because when we were drying pieces of a little fountain she kept wedging herself onto whatever empty space she could find on the drying towel. She also wouldn't touch the couch for about a year or more unless there was a blanket covering it. :thinks:

[Mermaid Alea]

I usually put my tail on sitting on pool steps that are in the water Being at least half way in the water seems to help. Also, what I like to do is dunk my tail into the water and get it wet before putting it on. To me it is easier to put on when it is wet rather than dry, but you might find the opposite to be true.

First, I put the fabric tail on and then I stand on the step pulling it up making sure it is pulled up high enough and it is even. I leave the fluke part of the fabric bunched up. Then I sit back down and grab my monofin and put it on. I make sure the straps are up high enough on my feet so that I don't have to worry about pulling them up once the tail is on. Then, I carefully (because sometimes the fabric snags) pull the fabric down over the monofin. I can do this on my own but it does help to have another person do the final pulls on the fabric to make sure that it is completely covering the monofin. I don't have the end of my tail sewn shut at all. You can sew the corners for some extra hold to keep the fabric pulled down. I haven't even done that and don't have much trouble with the fabric pulling up, but sewing the edges would make things easier for sure.

The annoying part is the ankle area because that is usually where the fabric wants to bunch at and it can be hard to pull it down from that area - at least with the monofin I am using it makes it a little difficult.

Practicing will really get you more used to putting the tail on and you could practice putting the tail on while sitting on the couch or in the bathtub. Eventually you will develop your own methods for the best way to get your tail on properly.

It sounds like you already figured out how to take the tail in, but just incase if you have to do it again a good way to take the tail in is wear it and then place pins in the areas where the tail is too loose so that you know where to re-sew.

[Ciriun]

Thanks Alea! I was just on the floor when I was trying it on, so maybe sitting on something raised will help. I do plan to sew a little bit around the fluke edges to keep it secure, and possibly reinforce it a bit with a second, less stretchy material at just the very tips.

My taking in process has been slow and tedious. I put safety pins around the entire outline and since it was loose all over, I am adjusting them inward a few at a time, trying it on, then adjusting a few more. So far I have it down almost to my ankles. If I have the time and energy I will try to finish that today and maybe even get everything re-centered because my adjustments got crazy asymmetrical.

[Ciriun]

Just wanted to let anyone actively following this know that it is on a very brief hiatus while I visit family in the Chicago area. It is a short trip so I'm not planning to try to meet up with any mers in the area this time. I might get in a fin swim if the pool my cousins frequent allows it.

[Mermaid Alea]

Have fun on your trip! :)

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Normally, I put the monofin inside the tail, put one foot inside a foot pocket, dunk the whole tail, put other foot in, go in the water and then pull the rest up. Minimal breath holding to adjust tail so it sits right. Then start swimming!

[Ciriun]

Thanks Alea, I plan to! :cool:

Jaffa, thanks for the suggestion! I'll have to try out a few methods to see which works for me and report back. Whenever the tail is done, that is. This has been kind of a busy and hectic summer, and that doesn't seem to be over yet.

[Ciriun]

I did it I did it I DID IT!!!

http://collegemagazine.yaronguez.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/littlemermaid.gif

Despite lack of confidence, experience, and unexpected set backs, I have a swimmable tail! :yay:

It isn't exactly finished. I haven't cut and hemmed the fluke yet or put in the waistband, but this may be the last really hot day of the summer and I am not going to miss it! Expect pics and maybe a new video from my first real mermaid swim!

[Mermaid Alea]

Good job! :cheerleader:Have a great swim!

[Celaeno]

Hurray!!!!:yay:

[Ciriun]

Thank you! I'll give more details later, but here is the quick version.

The good: I got the tail with minimal trouble by the pool by putting the monofin in first, sticking just up to my ankles in, getting the strap on, then pulling the tail up. Hardest part is getting the fin in. Also, I had trouble with swimming in it whatsoever, except for a few temporary design flaws, as stated below.

The bad: Thanks in part to the excess drag from the untrimmed fin and mostly because of no waistband, any attempts to swim more than slowly and gently caused the tail to slip down off my butt. Not a big deal since I was in a one piece and all, and it will be fixed ASAP.

More details this evening!

[Ciriun]

Pics! Video isn't posted yet, but it will be.

http://mernetwork.com/index/attachment.php?attachmentid=32301&d=1439865759
Getting my helper cat to check my work. Then I had to chase her off it to get the pins out.


http://mernetwork.com/index/attachment.php?attachmentid=32298&d=1439865611
A close look at my work. All hand sewn.


Skip to me putting it on at my complex's pool.
http://mernetwork.com/index/attachment.php?attachmentid=32302&d=1439865808


And finally swimming in it!
http://mernetwork.com/index/attachment.php?attachmentid=32303&d=1439865868

[Mermaid Jaffa]

I'm a floater. When I pull the rest of my tail on, I'm on my floating on my back! I found out recently, I can do a lot of things whilst back or front floating, that other swimmers can't!

[Ciriun]

I float like crazy, too, but I put my tail on out of the water this time for a few reasons. First and foremost, I had tried it on in my home to test the fit so I already knew for sure I could get it on this way. Second, for the sake of pics. And finally, since it was my first time I wanted to be full mermaid when I hit the water! I'll experiment with other ways of getting it on later.

[Ciriun]

Okay, so the tail is now basically finished. My mom came over a couple of days ago with her sewing machine to help put in a very nice waistband as per this tutorial: http://www.fehrtrade.com/article/588/a-beter-elastic-waistband-finish-tutorial. It has a very smooth look to it even after being assembled by a combination of dying sewing machine set to just a basic zigzag and my clumsy hand stitching. I got in another swim in it, but sadly no photographer since she was not feeling her best that day.

So my main takeaways from this experience:
1. This forum is the single best resource for information and advice. Everyone here is wonderful, helpful, and supportive.
2. Measure twice, cut once. Or measure 5 times. Whatever it takes to be certain you've got it right. Cutting can be practically the last step, because until you make that cut, you can always fix it.
3. A waistband makes a big difference and isn't all that complicated or expensive. Definitely worth it. Just make sure the elastic both fits comfortably and isn't too much longer or shorter than the circumference of your tail's waist.
4. You do not have to be an expert at sewing as long as you are patient and persevere. If you can use a measuring tape and poke a needle in and out of fabric, you can make a tail. It might not be fancy, and it might not look perfect, but it will be your tail that you made yourself.
5. If you are not yet a strong swimmer, do not expect your first tail to last forever. I touched the bottom a couple of times during my two brief swims and I am already getting some tiny holes in my fabric. But that's why I made myself a tail instead of buying a fancy expensive one, I knew I would damage it while I'm still learning.

I still may go back and hem the fluke if I can ever figure out how to do so while maintaining the curvy shape of my monofin.

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