Tailmaking from old wetsuits?

[halesloveswhales]

Has anyone here tried making a tail from recycled wetsuits? I found a wetsuit at a thrift store, and I've decided to make it my project to turn it into a mermaid tail. (I'm a broke college student, just looking for a cheaper way!)
I know that Mermaid Kariel (http://mermaidkariel.weebly.com/index.html) makes her tails from recycled wetsuits, but hers look so perfect, and I can't figure out how to do it without showing seams everywhere. Anyone have advice?

[WavyMermaidy]

Good question...I was wondering that myself :)

[Mermaid Sirena]

I'm not a seamstress but I wold assume there are a few ways, also she covers her's in sequins so I'm sure that helps. Experiment?

[Bellasea]

I would just experiment.
Also, she uses 3D scales, so that probaly covers the seams. I don't think it would be that hard to hide seams. If you are profficant with a sewing machine you should be good. And if not, use paints, sequins, fabric fringes, or what ever to cover them. I would go for it if the wet suit is cheap.

[LindseyLu]

Gypsymer made a ptchwork mermaid tail from used wetsuits, you can see it in her album here http://mernetwork.com/index/album.php?albumid=79 :) Turned out pretty cool!

[Spindrift]

I really don't think Kariel's famous blue tail is as recycled as people are led to believe. For that tail, I think Kariel glued her scales down onto a base neoprene lining and didn't sew it. The scales may be from recycled wetsuits, but the base is not.

I am not sure if I would recommend doing that though, since that would make a tail twice as thick and easier to overheat in.
But I may just be nitpicking since I'm currently in an extremely tropical and humid place and it's so freaking hot that I'm sweating all the time.
Swimming doesn't really help since the waters feel only slightly cooler than the general atmosphere.

[halesloveswhales]

Thanks guys! I'll keep you updated on how it works out :)

[Bellasea]

Good luck! :D

[MermanJV]

Has anyone here tried making a tail from recycled wetsuits? I found a wetsuit at a thrift store, and I've decided to make it my project to turn it into a mermaid tail. (I'm a broke college student, just looking for a cheaper way!)
I know that Mermaid Kariel (http://mermaidkariel.weebly.com/index.html) makes her tails from recycled wetsuits, but hers look so perfect, and I can't figure out how to do it without showing seams everywhere. Anyone have advice?

Lemme know how this works. <3

[Mermaid Linda Stephanie]

I was looking to do the same since I acquired a couple old wetsuits. I have an idea of how to do this, but not sure quite yet how it will work. I have to do some experimenting (I actually borrowed a little girl's Barbie doll to try it on so I don't waste as much material). I thought of reconstructing the neoprene by cutting off the top half, taking out the entire inseam then take the measurements needed and stitching the middle (front). It will most likely need a dart. In the back, I would like to use the zipper from the wetsuit and put it down the back. It's reassuring to know that the zipper is made for this use. I figure it will look pieced together so by decorating spandex with a scale design and attaching it to the neoprene, it should hide the flaws underneath. And to cover the zipper, make a nice fin down the back. I'm sure there are many flaws with this plan...but hopefully I can make it work. I'd love to see if you anyone has come up with anything better! :D

[~Ivablu~]

Me too!! I was wondering about that same question, i cant afford a brand new piece of neoprene,so i just bought an old full body wetsuit from ebay. I was wanting to cut it up and paint it- but its black, and im not sure if it will show up, or even cover the seams? So now im thinking about using some sort of sequin, but in new zealand theyre really expensive, and if i buy them online ill have to pay a fortune in shipping!! Really stuck......

[Mahi Mermaid]

Hey I just wanted to say that I'm making one out of some pretty thick neoprene wetsuits as we speak, and it was hard enough to sew it by hand that I had to take it to a tailor to sew it...and even they said "ooh this don't look good" because you can see the seams, plus it has the knee pads, even though I made it to where they are inside.

I love Kariels tails but there is no way she could have made hers from recycled, not at all because I'm using 3xl wetsuits and the seam is on both the body of my tail and the fluke--there's no way to get around the seams unless you were making one for a baby...

just my experience though..

[Kanti]

It would probably take a while to patch them all up but I don't see why it's not possible.

[halesloveswhales]

Oh, I should probably give you guys an update. I've been really lazy about sewing, so I haven't gotten too far. After I ordered my Fish Butt, I totally slowed down on this project.

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This is a two-piece wetsuit that I found at the thrift store for about $20. The neoprene is pretty thin (I don't know the exact measure of it).
5129
This is my Waterway monofin. For anyone wondering, the Waterway gives you great propulsion in the water. If you plan on purchasing one, be sure to get it a couple sizes bigger than you think. Mine hurts my feet like crazy! But I still recommend it because of its flat surface (no ridges like the Finis Wave), propulsion, and durability.
5130
My sewing machine at home is not strong enough, nor does it have the proper functions to sew through neoprene, so I bought some ultra heavy duty thread (G​üterman, I think) and began to hand-sew the entire thing. I made up a stitch that sort of looks like a cross-stitch, to allow the neoprene to stretch. To add extra strength, I doubled up the string as I was sewing.
5131
I ripped out the inseam of the legs on the wetsuit and took out the pink shin pads. Then I measured the suit to fit around my legs, and I began sewing. The suit is pretty tight, just the way I hoped it would be. I still have to tighten the waist up a little bit because it's falling down. However, I am very pleased with how this part turned out.

Currently, I am figuring out how to disassemble the top piece of the wetsuit and sew it so that it fits over my massive monofin. I am trying really hard not to have to buy a new wetsuit to finish it. Then I need to find a place to hide a zipper to take out the monofin. After my tail is all patched together, I'm probably going to cover it in sequins (I'm thinking blue/purple/pink), to hide the seams. The seams right now don't look too bad on the legs, but they're going to be horrid on the fluke!

So there's my update. I'll let you know more as I keep sewing. I really hope all of the pictures work. This is my first time uploading pictures on MerNetwork!

[~Ivablu~]

Awesome!! Thats exactly how im planning to do my one:) how long did it take you to hand sew it? Love the colour too:lol:

[ShyMer]

Hey, cool that you're making progress! Do you have any plans for hiding the seams at all or for painting?

[Mermaid Crystal]

Like others i say decorate it! good luck

[Capt Nemo]

Keep the jacket intact!!!! They rarely make them like that anymore!!! Keep the jacket for making the boys drool at the beach! ;)

[halesloveswhales]

Capt Nemo: Too late... :( I was pretty hesitant about taking the jacket apart. I totally felt like 80's Scuba Barbie when I had it on. :)
Ivablu: It definitely takes a while. Depending on how precise you are. It took me like an hour to sew a foot or two (I am also not a huge sewer, so I was improvising a lot).
Shymer: I'm going to cover it all in sequins I think, so that should cover the seams pretty well :)

[Capt Nemo]

Rats!!!! :(

Do get up here to WI once that tail's complete! We'll shoot! :)

[Usagi]

Wow! I found a bunch of wetsuits from when I was a kid and thought I was the only one crazy enough to want to make a tail out of them! Haha although an adult-size, full-length one like that looks like it would be a lot easier. And might I just say, you are one super gorgeous girl!

[spottedcatfish]

I am in the process of making a tail from used wetsuits myself. The process has been put on hold for now, as I am on vacation, but so far I have cut the wetsuits in a way that i can use the material. The wetsuits I have area pretty thin, and I plan to glue and sew them together into a tail. I hope I will have enough material for the entire tail. I will post pictures when I have it done, hopefully before the end of the year...

[Usagi]

What parts did you cut? So far on one I have cut the bottom part into shorts, which i need to fix so it's more of a "skirt" and another I cut along the seams so it's like a mirrored image- with one side shared, if that makes sense.

[Mermaid Narina]

Im thinking of turning a wetsuit into a tail too, and im going to cover it in scales!! :) but i have a few questions,
1: how do you sew it? Im cutting up a whole bunch of smalll wetsuits, so handsewing will take FOREVER!!! If i get a good needle for my sewing machine, will it work? And what kind of thread should i use?
2: Also, I want to add fins to cover a zipper down the back, how do i sew clear plastic vinyl and neoprene together? wait, i might have to hand sew that :(
3: for the handsewing, what kind of stitch did you use?
Thankyou!!!
And good luck with your tail! I think you should continue making it!!! <3

[halesloveswhales]

Im thinking of turning a wetsuit into a tail too, and im going to cover it in scales!! :) but i have a few questions,
1: how do you sew it? Im cutting up a whole bunch of smalll wetsuits, so handsewing will take FOREVER!!! If i get a good needle for my sewing machine, will it work? And what kind of thread should i use?
2: Also, I want to add fins to cover a zipper down the back, how do i sew clear plastic vinyl and neoprene together? wait, i might have to hand sew that :(
3: for the handsewing, what kind of stitch did you use?
Thankyou!!!
And good luck with your tail! I think you should continue making it!!! <3

1: I figured it would just go better if I could hand sew it instead of buying a heavy-duty machine. I think you could machine-sew it, but you'd need a really good machine. I used the thickest thread they had at my fabric store. It's Güterman brand.
2: I have no clue, and I've been wondering that myself! If I add fins, I'll probably just hand-sew.
3: I honestly just made up a stitch. I don't know how to explain it, but I sort of brought the needle through the loop of the last stitch. It's like an overcast stitch, but you stick the needle through the loop every time. I'm really bad at explaining. Just go experiment. Haha.
Thank you for the luck wishes! Being in school has sort of halted my process. I realize that I should have probably sewn on sequins before I sewed the leg part all the way together. Oops!

[halesloveswhales]

And might I just say, you are one super gorgeous girl!
Aahhh you are my new best friend!

[spottedcatfish]

What parts did you cut? So far on one I have cut the bottom part into shorts, which i need to fix so it's more of a "skirt" and another I cut along the seams so it's like a mirrored image- with one side shared, if that makes sense.

Syd: Were you asking me this question? I cut the wetsuits in half so i have two mirrored halves. I got three shorty wetsuits all too small for me but they were cheap on ebay. Hopefully I will have enough fabric to make the tail. Your method sounds good too.

[Mermaid Narina]

1: I figured it would just go better if I could hand sew it instead of buying a heavy-duty machine. I think you could machine-sew it, but you'd need a really good machine. I used the thickest thread they had at my fabric store. It's Güterman brand.
2: I have no clue, and I've been wondering that myself! If I add fins, I'll probably just hand-sew.
3: I honestly just made up a stitch. I don't know how to explain it, but I sort of brought the needle through the loop of the last stitch. It's like an overcast stitch, but you stick the needle through the loop every time. I'm really bad at explaining. Just go experiment. Haha.
Thank you for the luck wishes! Being in school has sort of halted my process. I realize that I should have probably sewn on sequins before I sewed the leg part all the way together. Oops!
okay, thanks!! Yeah, i found wetsuits at a thrift store and i remembered this thread and got so excited!! I can make it for less than $50 most likely, including buying scale sequins XD

[Usagi]

I realize that I should have probably sewn on sequins before I sewed the leg part all the way together. Oops!

OH GOD WHY? Whywhywhywhywhy do they need to be sewn on before? Haha


Aahhh you are my new best friend!

8286 FRRRIIIEEENNNDDDD. :P


Syd: Were you asking me this question? I cut the wetsuits in half so i have two mirrored halves. I got three shorty wetsuits all too small for me but they were cheap on ebay. Hopefully I will have enough fabric to make the tail. Your method sounds good too.

So do you have to buy more, or do you mean they were too small, but good enough to use for a tail?

Also, I found some transparent shelf liner. How do you think it would work for a fluke? Like maybe if you paint on the back?

82878288

[halesloveswhales]

OH GOD WHY? Whywhywhywhywhy do they need to be sewn on before? Haha



I'm not entirely sure. I think that it might just be hard sewing with the tail all closed off.

[halesloveswhales]

I can make it for less than $50 most likely, including buying scale sequins XD
That's wonderful! I applaud your frugality!

[Mermaid Dottie]

I am now going to follow this thread like crazy.

:O_o: :crazy:

[Usagi]

I still haven't finished mine..haha

[halesloveswhales]

Oh mine is hopefully starting back up soon! I'm not super stoked about all the work that I still have to do though

[Nyxie]

just got done patching mine together guyz!!! i stoked and ready to paint...my fingers are STILL recovering tho :sad eyes: but no worries....inspiration will hit soon enough and ill be bulldozing thru the pain, lol11559

[halesloveswhales]

It's so pretty, I love it!

[Nyxie]

It's so pretty, I love it!
thanks hales...i can't wait to start painting!! :eek:

[Usagi]

Okay how did you attach the shelf liner? mine ripped a bit and I don't know how to make it NOT tear. lol

[spottedcatfish]

just got done patching mine together guyz!!! i stoked and ready to paint...my fingers are STILL recovering tho :sad eyes: but no worries....inspiration will hit soon enough and ill be bulldozing thru the pain, lol11559

Wow! Thats great! I'm still in a slow process with my tail. but I hope to have it completed by Wednesday!

[Nyxie]

Okay how did you attach the shelf liner? mine ripped a bit and I don't know how to make it NOT tear. lol
i actually used regular needle w/ fine upholstery tread and just sew right tru the liner attaching it to the tail...it was a slow and painful process but its on there pretty good (a good tug wouldnt budge it) without any real damage to the liner (i can recycle it if need be...not that liner is expensive; the option is just there)

[Nyxie]

Wow! Thats great! I'm still in a slow process with my tail. but I hope to have it completed by Wednesday!

thanks spotted and i found that i probably wouldn't have gotten as far as i did without some help from the hubby, a couple bottles of wine and a dang good rubber thimble, lol. it went by a lot faster when we were having fun doing it :) even tho i had to deflect some crazy comments about my baby; now named "franken-fish" because it was literally patched together:rolleyes:

[spottedcatfish]

It always helps to have extra help making your tail. Franken fish, is better than no fish. I'll be one too when I get my tail done. :-)

[mermaidsammi]

I have recently got a old wet suit and I am going to do this and then put silicone overtop for the scales, then I am going to paint it and put some clear fabric on the seams to help hid them and add decorations. Cant wait till my suit arrives. I think I am going to use the knee ads on the heal of my feet. or less wear and tear.

[Mermaid Enora]

I've made a tail from patchwork old wetsuits.
Mine took 2 full wetsuits to cover my legs and fluke as I'm quite tall.
I'm sewing the sequins on right now, its taking a while.