Gold Tail

[Mermaid Saphira]

I know, I know. Everytime I post a new tailmaking project I never start or finish, but this time it's for real! I am making a gold mermaid tail with fishnet painted scales and a tattered fluke! I'm purchased my fabric today so it should be here soon! Below is the stuff I'm using to make my tail! So stoked! :)

Design
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Pattern
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Fabric
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[taom]

Woot! This is super exciting! I love it when people start tails.

[secret_ocean]

WOW its going to be amazing :)

[malinghi]

Woot! This is super exciting! I love it when people start tails.

Yeah, here tailmaking is a spectator sport.

[taom]

It so is.

[SweeteSiren]

Sure, you should be able to just sew each side of the zipper in the middle of each piece of fabric, kind of like you would attach a velcro strip.

[Mermaid Photine]

Sew it down. I don't trust the sticky kind. Just machine stitch a box shape over it.

[Mermaid Photine]

If you can, get a scrap and a bit of velcro and a seamripper and practice until you have it down properly. You won't ruin your tail making learning mistakes. (I learned how to rip out seams-immediately after I learned how to sew! :P )

[Maple]

I think the easiest thing to do is leave the tail open at the end and have velcro patches to seal it together. You could do zippers but they'd be more difficult to use especially on a shaped area; obviously it can be done but velcro seems much more simple.

My tails are done this way; you can't tell and so easy to take my monofin in and out of.

[LittleTreasure]

I bet it's going to look awesome! That gold is so pretty, and the green paint seems like a way to really make it unique. As for the open fluke, you could try this:

Line the fluke with either the same gold material, or with a skin colored material, but instead of ending the lining in tatters, close it in a straight line across the bottom where the monofin ends by installing the zipper which will close up the inside. On the top you'll have the untouched, gold, and tattered fluke. As long as the top fluke part is long enough, you shouldn't be able to see the lining. You could do the same thing but with velcro as well. That way, the velcro wouldn't show through the top layer. An added bonus could be that, depending on how thick the fabric is, your monofin won't show through at all.

[taom]

OMG THAT IS GOING TO BE WICKED AWESOME

[SweeteSiren]

The stitching may show through a little, but not much. I used a similar idea on my tail, but I used snaps instead of a zipper. That way, instead of one long seam, there are just a few small stitches. The down side is, can't use a machine for snaps, they have to be sewn on by hand. (Guess what I was doing on the plane on the way to WMA?) :$

[Moonflower]

As someone who has worked with metallic spandex before, PLEASE make sure you hang this to dry properly after use. The more wear and tear on the fabric (stretch, scrapes, etc...), the more likely it is for the metallic shine to come off. It will wear off over time too, but there's not much you can do about that part, just treat it with respect and it will last you a lot longer. And NEVER leave it folded - the metallic has a tendency to stick to itself and pulling it apart can cause it to come off from the fabric.

[CynthiaMermaid]

Gold tails are very cool! Hope to see more pictures of your progress.

Gold Mermaid Cynthia

[taom]

The paint should help hide any stitching, as well.

[Mermaasai]

Sweeeeeet! ^_^

[Moonflower]

Fabric stiffener won't really work underwater. You need something stronger.

sewing.net has dozens of different crystals, but you may have to call them for prices (they are sold by the gross, which is 144).

[LittleTreasure]

Just had a random thought: What if instead of fabric stiffener you used some vinyl? Like raincoat material? That could help it stand up a little. It could turn out to look really flexible but not too floppy.

[taom]

You could also try coating the fabric with clear super glue. That would keep it stiff while still a little fluid.

[SweeteSiren]

LittleTreasure, I just bought some 20 gauge vinyl yesterday to reinforce the fluke on my tail! (President's Day sale at Joann's Fabric, wooo!) I'll let you know how it performs.
By the way, did anyone know that Joann's sells neoprene?!

[Mermaasai]

partypartypartypartypartypartypartyparty
partypartypartypartypartypartypartyparty
partypartypartypartypartypartypartyparty
partypartypartypartypartypartypartyparty
partypartypartypartypartypartypartyparty
partypartypartypartypartypartypartyparty
:highfive:

[Mermaid Saphira]

^ XD

UPDATE: MY FABRIC CAME IN AS SOON AS I WALKED IN THE DOOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :yay: :yay: :yay:
Check it out....:D :D :D
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^^ FLASH ^^
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^^ NO FLASH ^^

[Gem Stone]

Beautiful fabric. Can't wait t see the finished product

[SweeteSiren]

Oooo, it looks like molten metal. That is going to be stunning! Pictures, pictures, pictures please!

[LittleTreasure]

The fabric looks so pretty! I'm so excited for you! ^-^

[Mermaid Jewel]

Ooo shiny fabric! And actually, I got mine from spandexworld, not JoAnns but I know they have neoprene there.

[Mermaid Saphira]

UPDATE: I just finished cutting out my tail...
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:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

[Mermaid Photine]

I like the end of the fluke!

[Mermaid Photine]

You could sew down some small velcro dots, you could just sew the outline of the monofin instead of the tatters, you could leave it open, you could chance it with the tatters. Any of these suggestions catch your eye?

[Spindrift]

I thought you were also making some tails for people on the forum? How did that turn out?

[Spindrift]

Oh. That's disappointing. :( Did you tell them?

[Spindrift]

I don't understand your wording. Good enough to be sold? Will it still not match up after you fix it up?

[Mermaid Saphira]

4033

Sadly, I had to cut off the tattered edges as for some reason they did not match up. I have pinned the areas around the monofin that needed to be taken in and I believe it looks better already. I will let you mers know when I get it all sewed up :)

[Mermaid Saphira]

Had some leftover material and decide to make these...

4474

Mermaid sleeves! I am going to make another set, but with fins on the side, and sell them on my etsy. :)

[Mermaid Saphira]

I re-hand stitched the tail. Gotta modify it a bit using my mom's friend's sewing machine (Bubbles broke my needle LOL). I made the tail so it fits both me and Bubbles so here is a sneek peak of Bubble's trying it on....

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[Spindrift]

Cute! What are you going to do next?

[james23]

How gold can be finalized, is there use of gold water or just a golden paint on it. If the tail is by cutting, resizing and finished in sewing machine sewn, than what other things would be required.