NymMimmle
03-11-2013, 12:25 AM
So I almost have all of the materials needed to start making my first tail; all I need is the actual neoprene! I have a question about how I should go about sealing the monofin inside of the fluke, however.
I have a Finis Wave monofin that will be going inside of the tail. Hannah Fraser gave me the brilliant idea to put a zipper at the bottom edge of the fluke, so one can get the monofin in and out easily. I need some help with how I'm going to keep this fluke together without it coming apart or ballooning up while I swim!
My idea was to sew partway along on either side of the monofin, so as to create a kind of pocket so that the monofin won't slide around, but the seams won't be terribly noticeable from the outside, since they will not run the entire outline of the fin. The fluke shape is inspired by Raven Sutter's basic silicone tail fluke design, so there will be some extra material around the monofin (the sequins will NOT be going on the fluke itself; they'll stop right around my ankles). Here's where I need some help; I want to leave some small "vents" in the fluke so water will be able to flow all the way through, but I know I can't just leave the entire fluke open and prone to filling up with water! So I'm trying to decide if sewing the fluke together and leaving open vents or using that special neoprene glue (and leaving open vents, respectively,) would be a better option. The zipper would run just along the bottom edge of the monofin, no wider than the seams along the sides. I also want to add some extra flowy material at the bottom, similar to Hannah Fraser's tails, so there's that to consider too....
Is this a good idea from a tailmaking standpoint? Any suggestions as far as gluing verses sewing? Thanks!
I have a Finis Wave monofin that will be going inside of the tail. Hannah Fraser gave me the brilliant idea to put a zipper at the bottom edge of the fluke, so one can get the monofin in and out easily. I need some help with how I'm going to keep this fluke together without it coming apart or ballooning up while I swim!
My idea was to sew partway along on either side of the monofin, so as to create a kind of pocket so that the monofin won't slide around, but the seams won't be terribly noticeable from the outside, since they will not run the entire outline of the fin. The fluke shape is inspired by Raven Sutter's basic silicone tail fluke design, so there will be some extra material around the monofin (the sequins will NOT be going on the fluke itself; they'll stop right around my ankles). Here's where I need some help; I want to leave some small "vents" in the fluke so water will be able to flow all the way through, but I know I can't just leave the entire fluke open and prone to filling up with water! So I'm trying to decide if sewing the fluke together and leaving open vents or using that special neoprene glue (and leaving open vents, respectively,) would be a better option. The zipper would run just along the bottom edge of the monofin, no wider than the seams along the sides. I also want to add some extra flowy material at the bottom, similar to Hannah Fraser's tails, so there's that to consider too....
Is this a good idea from a tailmaking standpoint? Any suggestions as far as gluing verses sewing? Thanks!