Tails

[Mermaid Colette]

Hello! I have made one tail before, and even though it was too small, i like it a lot! i used the Yaya Han Cosplay fabric to make it, and i am making another one right now. i was wondering, what is the best fabric for tails? i want to continue making some fabric ones, but what should i use???? Screenshot 2020-06-10 at 9.48.39 AM.png

[Mermaid Syriianis]

Sad i cant see the pic


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[Mermaid Colette]

wait a sec,

43944


it ain't the best but it is okay. it is too small tho

[theMerFanc]

The tail I made was using lycra swimsuit material). The Yaya Han fabric is...expensive and not great. It's really amazing that she's been able to integrate Cosplay tools and knowledge into the world like she has but the fabric line leaves something to be desired. So for a first tail I suggest lycra. Once you are comfortable with that, you can graduate to better materials like a swimsuit or scuba knit or even neoprene if your machine can take it.

[K Swim]

Do you intend to swim in it? From that picture, it's hard to tell if it has a monofin in it.

[danger369]

i don't think that fabric will hold up very well in chlorine

[Trade Winds]

i don't think that fabric will hold up very well in chlorineYeah if that's the shiny foil print, expect all of that to go bye bye on the first swim. Worst stuff to make a tail due to extreme sensitivity to the shine rubbing off.

I find any normal spandex you can get from the usual craft stores (including scale print) to just be "ok". Expect it to last a single summer. Don't get too attached.

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[Mermaid Colette]

thanks! i will check it out!!!

[Mermaid Colette]

it does not have a mono fin it it right now, but i found one that fits good in it

[Mermaid Colette]

yeah, as i was sewing it, the paint comes of like glitter and my hands are very sparkley. but i figured it will last atleast a swim or two

[theMerFanc]

yeah, as i was sewing it, the paint comes of like glitter and my hands are very sparkley. but i figured it will last atleast a swim or two
Honestly, if the glitter and paint are coming off I wouldn't swim in it at all. It'll be very bad for the filters on your pool and if you try to use it in a public or apartment pool, you might end up getting tails banned all together. Your best option is to learn from this tailmaking experience and make something new. Or maybe see if you can get a sealer to keep the glitter on and use this as a dry land tail only.

[K Swim]

yeah, as i was sewing it, the paint comes of like glitter and my hands are very sparkley. but i figured it will last atleast a swim or two
I hope that your glittery tail is not your only tail. If you have never swam in a tail before, I can almost guarantee you that you will want to do it more often than "a swim or two"

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Buy spandex/lycra that is marked as, "Swimwear". These are made with special coatings that allow the fabric to last longer in chlorine and salt water.

[Trade Winds]

Honestly, if the glitter and paint are coming off I wouldn't swim in it at all. It'll be very bad for the filters on your pool and if you try to use it in a public or apartment pool, you might end up getting tails banned all together. Your best option is to learn from this tailmaking experience and make something new. Or maybe see if you can get a sealer to keep the glitter on and use this as a dry land tail only.Give it a trial run in a bathtub and see what happens. When I got my first fin fun back in the day when they used the foil print, I had green stains all over my tub from that print.

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[Mermaid Fenicia]

For most of the fabric tails that I make, I use Lycra/Spandex or crushed (stretch) velvet. The velvet feels and looks like dolphin-skin (and kids love the feel of it dry and wet).

[Echidna]

Buy spandex/lycra that is marked as, "Swimwear". These are made with special coatings that allow the fabric to last longer in chlorine and salt water.

this.
as tempting as glittery, shiny fabric is- or something with holographic scales on it-, it won't hold up even if it seems to be meant for a tail.
Buy swimwear fabric and paint/embelllish it yourself with pool-safe materials.
Good luck!