Aria's Tail Projects!

[Mermaid Aria]

Hi Everyone!

I've decided to start on some tail making projects for Mermania. The first will be a trial-run fabric tail, since I have 0 sewing experience, that I want to paint in a blue and gold color scheme. The second will be a sequin-tail based roughly off of this guy: 39552

The fabric that I am using for the 1st tail is a scuba knit/pointe knit 4 way stretch blend that I got from fabric.com
https://www.fabric.com/buy/0390349/pon-te-am-scuba-knit-turquoise

The fabric that I'm using for the sequin tail is the scuba knit/neoprene blend that Mermaid Caspi used in her tailmaking thread (in turquoise)
https://www.fabricwholesaledirect.com/products/neoprene-scuba-fabric?variant=15592732550

I made my pattern yesterday following Stella the Siren's tutorial, so either tonight or tomorrow I am going to attempt to cut out the fabric for the 1st tail and sew it together! Wish me luck!

[Mermaid Keena]

Good luck!! 😊

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[WaterDragon]

Good Luck!!!!!

[Mermaid Aria]

Ok up date time! Sequins and paint are ordered and will be here this week! I tried making the spandex tail but it turned out to short and too tight. It barely covers my bum and doesnt fit the Mahina. Not sure if it is fixable. Here's some pictures. http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161212/426bdcbd03e632ae8763852b92aa79c3.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161212/0e9ecd88c041a94716a80ece16fcd22f.jpg

Also for the neoprene do I need to account for strech in the fabric like I do with the spandex when doing the measurements for my body pattern?

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[Mermaid Aria]

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161213/a5c8267b4c50966a4aa07d325242c9ef.jpg

Sequins have arrived! Just need to take in the tail a bit and I can start gluing!

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[Mermaid Aria]

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161218/79bd4a7125aaf4fc64a328f570f40e27.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161218/efd857689fbc19d280934f6481a2aeb0.jpg

Yay it fits! Next up zipper for the bottom waistband for the top and body dummy for the sequins!

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[Mermaid Aria]

Ok so I made a body dummy and stuffed it in the tail and also closed the bottom with velcro since the zipper seemed beyond my skills.

Is it ok if the form when its inside the tail doesnt match my body shape exactly?

I'm also unsure of what to do about the bottom of the fluke it looks so ugly even with the velcro.

Gonna start sequining tomorrow though since it's getting really close to the deadline

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[Mermaid Aria]

Oh here's the pics I forgot to attach:
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161229/0615ae1e65087e399694fa977b55c976.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161229/160977bcf57be38518a49ea7a2d056c6.jpg

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[Ayame]

I may be able to help with the dummy. What did you use? I use a duct tape dummy for fursuit and costume commissions, and regardless of what you do wit hit on the dummy, it should match your body. If you put sequins on with the dummy on to stretch the fabric (?) they could ravel and cut/rub the fabric if it's not stretched all the way, or it can tear the stitches if its pulled too tight.
Stuffing my Duct Tape dummies with polyfill/stuffing works good, and if I need more filling I just use old clothes or leftover fabric. It'll push the tape back to contour your body, its pretty freaky actually! I can see where clients' rib cages are in some cases.

As for the fluke, I see some people use some kind of clear plastic that looks really nice under water, or you can use some extra fabric to leave a trail of flowy-ness :)

[Mermaid Tami]

Oh here's the pics I forgot to attach:
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161229/0615ae1e65087e399694fa977b55c976.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161229/160977bcf57be38518a49ea7a2d056c6.jpg

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The sequins should cover the Velcro and you won't see it, I used plastic shelf liner found at Home Depot to add flowy fins to the bottom fluke, they look really nice.


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[Mermaid Aria]

The sequins should cover the Velcro and you won't see it, I used plastic shelf liner found at Home Depot to add flowy fins to the bottom fluke, they look really nice.


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I saw the shelf liner in your thread it looks really good! Did you sew or e6000 it on? I plan on painting the fluke instead of sequining it which is why I was concerned. I may undo it and e6000 it on and trim the rough edges. The bubbling that its doing really bothers me.

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[Mermaid Aria]

I may be able to help with the dummy. What did you use? I use a duct tape dummy for fursuit and costume commissions, and regardless of what you do wit hit on the dummy, it should match your body. If you put sequins on with the dummy on to stretch the fabric (?) they could ravel and cut/rub the fabric if it's not stretched all the way, or it can tear the stitches if its pulled too tight.
Stuffing my Duct Tape dummies with polyfill/stuffing works good, and if I need more filling I just use old clothes or leftover fabric. It'll push the tape back to contour your body, its pretty freaky actually! I can see where clients' rib cages are in some cases.

As for the fluke, I see some people use some kind of clear plastic that looks really nice under water, or you can use some extra fabric to leave a trail of flowy-ness :)
The dummy is duct tape over plastic wrap. It looked fine when i cut it off and taped it back together. I think it looks weird because of the way I stuffed it, which was jamming it with as many towels and clothes I could find around the house. It does have the general shape though so maybe its fine and I'm being a perfectionist.

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[Mermaid Tami]

I saw the shelf liner in your thread it looks really good! Did you sew or e6000 it on? I plan on painting the fluke instead of sequining it which is why I was concerned. I may undo it and e6000 it on and trim the rough edges. The bubbling that its doing really bothers me.

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I decided to sew the shelf liner, I felt like it would hold better. I uesed E6000 to put the sequins on my fluke because I used E6000 to glue the Neoprene to to Lexan that I made the fluke out of, I was worried the neoprene might be loose.


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[Mermaid Aria]

Today's progress! Got this done before the sun went down and it got too cold.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161229/b004b90211c97e365ab7ef6900fbe286.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161229/fc15f2d8166ac42a75f57c6550c05588.jpg

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[Mermaid Aria]

Finished the white! You can't see it well in the pictures but she has a lovely shine!
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161231/7282d3a883e70b6f40ac0f4567d7f193.jpg

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[Neerai]

Finished the white! You can't see it well in the pictures but she has a lovely shine!
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161231/7282d3a883e70b6f40ac0f4567d7f193.jpg

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Wooooah shiny!! *_*

[Mermaid Aria]

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170109/6f58c3963168d41288e11d6d7eeab5c9.jpg

Had some time to work on this again today. Getting there slowly but surely! Gotta ramp it up if I want to have her one for mermania!

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[Azurin Luna]

Looking good! Good luck :D

[Mermaid Tami]

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170109/6f58c3963168d41288e11d6d7eeab5c9.jpg

Had some time to work on this again today. Getting there slowly but surely! Gotta ramp it up if I want to have her one for mermania!

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It's turning out really beautiful!


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[Mermaid Aria]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170112/4feb40524438a2a40d1d5b7afc8ef7c9.jpg

More progress!

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[Mermaid Aria]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170117/85140724d62f0afdc81aa6fd5d682dde.jpg

Almost there hoping to have her done either today or tomorrow!

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[MerEmma]

Wow, those scale colors are beautiful! You've done such a good job of matching that fish's scales!

[Mermaid Aria]

Wow, those scale colors are beautiful! You've done such a good job of matching that fish's scales!
Thank you so much!

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[Mermaid Aria]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170118/e5709feeeb18b16b2abd38a91ae45a22.jpg

One side of fluke done!

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[MermaidLiara]

The scales are beautifully done!

[Mermaid Kelly]

Wow that is looking great. I am curious to know how it stretches and fits when it is all completed!

[MerGreg]

As someone who has, like, ZERO artistic skill, there are no words for how impressive I find this. I can't wait to see the finished product! Congrats!

[Mermaid Aria]

Thanks everyone! This is my first big artistic project. It's been really exciting and nerve racking at the same time! I ran out sequins for the other side though. They will be here tomorrow just in time to finish up before I leave Friday morning which means I won't get to try it on before I go like I was hoping but hopefully it still fits and you'll be seeing lots of pics from mermania (or it in person if you are going!)

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[Mermaid_Izzy]

Thanks everyone! This is my first big artistic project. It's been really exciting and nerve racking at the same time! I ran out sequins for the other side though. They will be here tomorrow just in time to finish up before I leave Friday morning which means I won't get to try it on before I go like I was hoping but hopefully it still fits and you'll be seeing lots of pics from mermania (or it in person if you are going!)

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Can't wait to see it in person hopefully(i'll be looking for you)! It looks gorgeous!


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[Mermaid Aria]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170119/def34ce44f649b9aee71a3c05447fa7f.jpg

Other side of fluke! Almost there! Just need to finish sequining, trim the excess fabric off the fluke and re-velcro it.

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[Mermaid Aria]

My sequins never came. I'm disappointed. I had enough to finish all but a small square section of the bali breeze (the medium blue). I'm still bringing it since I put so much effort, time and money into it but I wanted it complete.

[Mermaid Alea]

Well on the bright side you finished a TON! Have fun at Mermania!