Making my first tail

[Lexicious]

So, after wandering around a few craft stores and reading some posts on here, I've been inspired to make my first tail instead of buy one, that way I can customize it to exactly how I'd like it.

It'll be a week or so before I can start buying materials, but I thought I'd start this thread now so I can post my design ideas (of which there is only one so far) and ask questions.

This first design I drew yesterday, it's simple but I like it. Unfortunately I can't replicate exactly how it is in my mind because I have no idea how to draw/color shiny material and the pictures aren't the best quality. :$

But here it is....Tail design #1

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Everything is metallic/pearlescent.

I'm thinking this material for the main body of the tail:

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Or one that was very similar but more black and less silver that I saw in the store and then using different shades of the Lumiere fabric paint to create the patterns, belly shading and fluke design.

I'm planning on adding a thick elastic waistband under the material as I have very little in the form of hips to keep this on with drag.

I toyed with the idea of adding pectoral muscles but I can't find any that I'd 100% want on a fabric tail.

Any advice or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Mers :D

[Mermaid AshleyML]

I love the second design


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[Lexicious]

I should of said...Top picture is the belly pic, second is the back :$

Thank you. :)

[Keiris]

Good luck on your tail-making journey! Nice design!!

[Lexicious]

Thanks Keiris, I just wish I could get started right away. I'll probably end up designing one or two more tails before I buy everything I need and I'll be sure to throw them up here. :)

[Keiris]

I've seen that fabric in different shades. It has great stretch and shine to it. I was considering on using it for a Medusa costume in the future.

[Mermaid AshleyML]

I should of said...Top picture is the belly pic, second is the back :$

Thank you. :)

Oh okay that is an awesome design!! Lol

[Lexicious]

I've seen that fabric in different shades. It has great stretch and shine to it. I was considering on using it for a Medusa costume in the future.

It's purdy :swoon:


Oh okay that is an awesome design!! Lol

Thank you! :D I'm hoping it ends up looking awesome. My biggest worry is how opaque the paint is going to be and whether I can blend shades in the correct places on the tail.


I already have another design in mind, I'm just trying to figure out how to put it onto paper.

[Merman Andrew]

What monofin are you planning to use? With that shape you have designed in your pictures it looks a lot like a Finis Rapid.

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[Merman Andrew]

Beautiful fluke design by the way!

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[Kait]

Good luck, can't wait to see your progress :)

[Lexicious]

What monofin are you planning to use? With that shape you have designed in your pictures it looks a lot like a Finis Rapid.

Beautiful fluke design by the way!

Yep Finis Rapid, I liked the rounded design, I toyed with the idea of having parts flowing off or modifying the shape of the fin but I really do like the roundness of it, reminds me of a manatee.

And thank-you so much! :thumbs-up:


Good luck, can't wait to see your progress :)

Me either :money: hopefully by the end of this week I can buy materials.

[Lexicious]

Design #2 has been put onto paper. It's close to how it is in my mind, but not perfect (are they ever? :P )

It's a predominantly white tail with black accents and a peach belly.

With the tail being white fabric I'd have to either have to find pretty thick fabric or line the tail with something that would be less see-through.

Picture time!

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Here's the belly picture showing how the black fades from the outer edge into the white on both the fluke and extra fins, also showing the peach underside which won't be as harsh as the drawing makes out, it will be very faint and fade out at the edges.


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The back and side, again showing the fading on the fluke and side fins but also showing the dorsal fin/ridge. The top half of the tail has a full dorsal fin with fading similar to the pectoral and side fins but becomes a solid black spine like ridge all the way down past the tail. To create the dorsal fin I'm thinking about covering shelf liner with the fabric and sewing to the main body and either using the same idea for the ridge or a strip from a pool noodle painted black and glued to the tail.

This fluke is also designed around the finis rapid, however I'd modify the monofin like it shows in the video on this site to fit the shape I drew.

Hope you guys like and if any of you have better ideas for the fin and ridge please do let me know.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Neato! Are you going to make it a one seam tail?

[Lexicious]

The plan is a seam down each side but I'm open to the single seam idea. The only thing I think would be difficult is the fluke, I could be wrong though.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

The plan is a seam down each side but I'm open to the single seam idea. The only thing I think would be difficult is the fluke, I could be wrong though.

Make the tail body with the one seam. Then for the fluke, you make it the normal way where you sew two sides.

Here's a video of my one seam tail.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGlFQbY_oRs

[Merman Andrew]

Make the tail body with the one seam. Then for the fluke, you make it the normal way where you sew two sides.

Here's a video of my one seam tail.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGlFQbY_oRs
How does the tail attach to the fluke part with your design? I couldn't see any explanation of that in the video.

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[Mermaid Jaffa]

How does the tail attach to the fluke part with your design? I couldn't see any explanation of that in the video.

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Hmm... You're right! I'll make a video of how I attached the fluke to the tail tomorrow.

I thought he could figure it out by seeing it.

[Lexicious]

Thank you for that, it's given me some great ideas :)

[Lexicious]

I've also been internally debating whether to scrap the spandex fabric and go straight to neoprene (if I'm allowed to spend that much), that way the white on the B&W tail will be way less see through and has the added bonus that I could slowly buy sequins to transform the tail at a later date.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

If you buy the spandex from the swimwear section, it won't be see through. With the exception, if you have black swim sock or black swim pants, then it will be see through. Its not very noticeable, not like you can see the whole sock or pants through the fabric. This is just with white spandex only, other light colors I've found are also not noticeable at all.

With solid colors, it depends on the material, whether it is a thin spandex or thicker one like the ones from the swimwear section.