The Water Phoenix's fabric tailmaking adventure!

[The Water Phoenix]

Hello everyone!

I've finally decided to make a fabric mermaid tail to swim in. The reason why I'm doing it is because my host family wants to see how I do it (I'm on exchange in Réunion Island!) and I've been missing the feeling of swimming in a tail ever since I grew out of my old one. I'll be posting pictures of my progress and the monofin will be a DIY of my own creation, using a pair of fins, duct tape and plastic pull ties because I want the fluke to be small enough and flexible enough for me to be able to take home.

[Sea~Phoenix Savannah]

Super cool! Good luck!

[The Water Phoenix]

Thanks Sea Phoenix! I got most of my materials today. The only thing I didn't get were the fins, but I can get them some other day! I went with a fabric that's metallic, because I like metallic fabrics and this metallic gold really appealed to me. I'll be using the pull ties as boning for the fluke :) https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170710/cb3e2e0cf8cdd08e26a49244cc064395.jpg


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[Slim]

I like that fabric

[The Water Phoenix]

Thanks Slim! The fabric store didn't really have that much of a variety but I'm glad that I at least found a fabric that I liked! :)

[Rebela Hunter]

I hope this goes well for you, Phoenix! :)

[Mermaid Joie]

Best of luck!!!

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[Mermaid Joie]

Wait did you say you are using zip ties as boning? You might find my tail making thread helpful I did same thing with my fluke and fins the effect is amazing!

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[The Water Phoenix]

Wait did you say you are using zip ties as boning? You might find my tail making thread helpful I did same thing with my fluke and fins the effect is amazing!

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I sure am using pull ties :) I looked for the largest ones I could find because I wanted a really nice flow effect :)

[Mermaid Joie]

They are tricky to sew in but it would make my struggle worth it if you would check out my thread so you don't have to waste a bunch of time trying to figure out how they go in. :)
Are yours nylon?

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[aquamtc]

You'd do it the same way you do boning for a corset by sewing channels with an opening at one end and then inserting it.

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[The Water Phoenix]

Here's the finished monofin :) Tapatalk decided not to cooperate so I had to upload pictures with my laptop. 41635

[Mermaid Joie]

Much likage! Did you use bifins or zoomers?

[The Water Phoenix]

Sewing, sewing and more sewing..https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170803/f47f7c9c3a82aaca30113582896a853f.jpg


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[Mermaid Joie]

Sewing, sewing and more sewing..https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170803/f47f7c9c3a82aaca30113582896a853f.jpg


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Yep truth

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[The Water Phoenix]

Here's the finished tailskin. Entirely hand sewn, about 5 hours of work. It's inside out so it would be easier to put the monofin in. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170805/ab59aff0deb3a35437321ab13dcde5e9.jpg


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[DancingJohari]

Nice! I do alot of handsewing for belly dance bras and for decorating my belts. I also hand sewed my first mermaid top. Hoping to upload photos very soon.

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[Mermaid Whisper]

Hand sewing has taken up a good chunk of my childhood lol. I admire your perseverance! I also have a thing for darker tails. Are you planning on adding any embellishments? It's beautiful as is, whatever you do!


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[The Water Phoenix]

Hand sewing has taken up a good chunk of my childhood lol. I admire your perseverance! I also have a thing for darker tails. Are you planning on adding any embellishments? It's beautiful as is, whatever you do!


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Thanks Whisper :) The tail is actually gold, in the picture it's inside out. I've finished the tail and it fits like a glove, although I might add some fins and embellishments later :)

[The Water Phoenix]

Here's the finished tail! I'm sorry for letting this thread die! I had to cut off the ends of the fluke of the tailskin because there was no other way I could get the monofin in. With this design , I can get the monofin in and out easily. Don't mind me, I'm curvy, very curvy.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170930/bac80f8ebaa8e55ff030650bcbce7bb2.jpg


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[Ashton]

I like how reflective the fabric is!