What makes a top 'swimmable'?

[MermaidKinsie]

Hi all,

I'm looking to make a 'found object' top to go with my new tail, and I was wondering what sorts of materials are 'swimmable'.

Currently, I plan to make it out of:

A cheap bra
Burlap or Linen
Seashells
Netting (Hobby Lobby)
Fake seaweed


Would that be swimmable or for photos only?

[Mermaid Lorelei]

You should be good with what you've listed.

Swimmable usually just means things that can be used in the water without falling apart or degrading. Some things, like shells, do better when sealed, and other things, like certain metals, should be avoided completely. A lot of if is trial and error unfortunately. You can check out the accessory making threads for ideas on safe items, though.

[Dancing Fish]

I was curious about this too! I'm wondering if people find that E600 really holds up well over repeated dunkings in chlorine...if so then I'm about to say heck with the sewing, LOL

[Calizaire]

I was curious about this too! I'm wondering if people find that E600 really holds up well over repeated dunkings in chlorine...if so then I'm about to say heck with the sewing, LOL

I use hot glue on my tops with no issues. They've been fine wet but they've only been in salt water, no chlorine.
I was impressed you were hand sewing your beaded tops!

[Merenneito Nerissa]

I have found hot glue the best, I've been using my first shell bras over a year and they are still fine :) Nowadays I also use E6000 and super glue for smaller decorations.

[Aysun_the_Mermaid]

Hot glue has worked well on 75% of the things I have used it on for my tops.

Some really slick things don't /seem/ to like it so much, but that could just be me.

E6000 was worked very well for me. Sometimes very heavy shells that get jerked on will separate, but I think I just needed more points of contact in that case.

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[Mer-Crazy]

I love E6000. I bought a hair clip from Rouge Siren earlier this year and I'm not sure what glue she used on it but some of the pearls fell off before/ during the first time I wore it. And then the actual clip itself came completely off. I used some E6000 and I've had no issues at all. It's stuck on there like a rock now, even after a few swims in chlorine.

Personal note: if it were me I'd go for a more expensive bra just because I've had cheap ones fall apart after only a couple of washes, so I'd hate to think how long it may hold up swimming.

[Dancing Fish]

I've been busting my tail (well, more like stabbing my fingers repeatedly, really) trying to make lovely tops with decorations that were sewn rather than glued for better longevity. It takes much longer, and I'm sort of annoyed at myself that I just discounted glue entirely. I'm biased-- I found the hard way that glue does NOT hold up well to the sweat and vigorous shaking of bellydancing, so I figured chlorine would be just as bad over time. But then, most mermaids probably aren't doing a lot of shoulder-shimmies in their shows. ;) Perhaps a bit of both techniques (sewing and glue) would work best. Though the latest top is simply gorgeous and I don't see how the beadwork would look half as good without being sewn. :D

[Ashton]

So far I haven't had much trouble with E6000 in chlorine pools. I always try and rinse everything off after using it to help prevent the chlorine from eating away at any of my tails/props/ect.


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[Winged Mermaid]

I wouldn't recommend hot glue. It starts breaking down after a few swims. Most mermaids I know who use hot glue start shedding seaweed and pearls after a few months. E6000 is great, but you need to use it properly too. Read the instructions and follow them, also clean oils off of what you're gluing (if you can) beforehand, and clamp during curing (like how I talk about in the accessory making faq (http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?6472-%E2%98%85-The-Accessory-Making-FAQ-%E2%98%85)). Gorilla Glue is also really great for the underside of things. Used it on my abalone top, and went 3 years before I had to reglue one of the shells, and I' haven't shed any seaweed or anything else (used E6000 for the rest). :)

[Merenneito Nerissa]

Well, I forgot to mention that I use hot glue only for large attachments, f.ex. attaching shells to bra, and a small amount doesn't do the trick, I usually put smthn like 1,5 big glue sticks to one shell. And I have tried to detach one of those shells from the bra I've used a year, and it's quite impossible still. But I also have experienced that in smaller attachments, like leafs, seaweed and gems hot glue doesn't work at all.
But that Gorilla glue started to interested me quite a bit, so it's good for attaching shells to bra? I have been searching an alternative for hot glue, and that sounds quite good. Is it easy to use?

[MermaidSandie]

I used some of my old embellishment glue because I was too cheap and lazy to go out and buy some E6000 lol
since it's made for gluing things to fabric, my pearls have stayed attached to my top amazingly well! If I lose any jewels, it's usually due to the gem coming unattached from the back of it, not due to the glue :D

[MermaidKinsie]

You should be good with what you've listed.

Swimmable usually just means things that can be used in the water without falling apart or degrading. Some things, like shells, do better when sealed, and other things, like certain metals, should be avoided completely. A lot of if is trial and error unfortunately. You can check out the accessory making threads for ideas on safe items, though.

I have a few questions here... What do you use to seal shells? And what metals are you talking about?

[A_Koi_Mermaid]

Hey Kinsie, this is the link to pretty much all the info you are wanting.

http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?6472-%26%239733%3B-The-Accessory-Making-FAQ-%26%239733%3B

Even though it says "Accessory" it really works for top stuff as well. It is super helpful! Most mers seal shells with mod podge, there are some youtube tutorials on mermaid tops that show you that and give you a run down of how to do it. The accessory thread will tell you what paints work as well, if you wanna paint them.

As for metals, I have no idea, I'd say most metals are probably a no-no but I'm sure there are exceptions.

[Princess Anouk]

Is polymer clay a good material to make decorations? Should it be sealed with something?

[Merenneito Nerissa]

I have used this polymer clay called fimo, and when painted I have sealed it with a normal shiny acrylic lacquer which is waterproof. I haven't attached any fimo to my tops but I have tested it underwater and it works really well, so I think it would work on decorations too?

[TheSirenSongstress]

Just finished this mermaid top and hope to get it tested in water soon! I used both E6000 and hand sewing to ensure everything stays in place. 36923

I JUST completed this top for my Mermaid Collection on my Etsy page https://www.etsy.com/shop/EnchanimatedDesign
here's a video to show how much she sparkles! https://youtu.be/M6DKXkPS9tE
I made one 2 years ago with seashells that still hasn't lost any pieces! :)

[MermaidSandie]

Oh my goodness that's just gorgeous!!!

[Mermaid Alea]

:drool: I love it!