Rainbow Fish Tail!!

[Mermaid Allie]

I have been in the market to make a new fabric tail (due to disastrous deterioration of my gold tail). I have been pillaging the internet for fabric that looks like scales but is NOT made of holograph because of my terrible experiences with it in chlorine.
I will be using white milliskin shiny
http://spandexworld.com/c3/catalog/product/736
and lumiere fabric paints!
I have already ordered fabric samples(just to confirm my choices). I am going to start this tail after May 15th! (My AP European history exam)

Final Tail design:
(excuse poor execution I did it in 10 minutes)
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Expect updates after I get my samples! (Ordered 2 days ago: estimated arrival date Friday May 10th) Then I will order the fabric! Sewing and pattern making and such should start May 17th!
AHHHH im so excited!! :yay:

[Taylor is a Mermaid]

This tail is going to be darling! I can't wait to see it.

[Mermaid Allie]

Thanks Taylor!

[Carolina Mermaid]

The pattern reminds me of the book I read when I was younger, it was a about a fish, for the life of me I cannot remember what the name is. Awesome design!

[Mermaid Pickles]

Eee! Now if only mernetwork would let me post pictures. Bah. Anyhoo....
AWESOME.

[Mermaid Pickles]

The pattern reminds me of the book I read when I was younger, it was a about a fish, for the life of me I cannot remember what the name is. Awesome design!
How about the book "Rainbowfish"? It was a book about a multicolored fish who had sparkly scales and thought he was better than the other fish. He wouldn't share his scales, but for some reason ended up sharing them later, and then all the fish had ONE sparkly scale and they were all friends....that's what I remember...the copy my family had got lost when we moved to Texas six years ago.

[Mermaid Allie]

This book? Basically my childhood LOL11007

[Mermaid Pickles]

YES. THAT EXACT BOOK. -nodnodnodnodnod- My sister was the one who the book actually belonged to. Small wonder we don't have it anymore.

[MerEmma]

I can't wait to see this!! <3

[Mermaid Allie]

I can't wait to make it!!!

[Mermaid Pickles]

Eeee! LOL. Guess what, the tail I'm making for said friend who isn't including me in her series is gonna be rainbow, too. ><

[Ariel-Starfish]

This book? Basically my childhood LOL11007


Cute! <3

[Carolina Mermaid]

I'm going to go slam my head against a table. Thank you, that's the book!

[MerAnthony]

:headwall:

I'm going to go slam my head against a table. Thank you, that's the book!

[Patches]

This book? Basically my childhood LOL11007
Can someone PLEASE tell me the dinosaur show thing that was related to this?
I remember watching Rainbow Fish on TV and there was a show that went along with it.
I've been trying to figure out the name of it for ages and I can't figure it out someone helppppp D:

[Carolina Mermaid]

Thanks Anthony.

[Mermaid Allie]

GRRRRRR. Alright my samples came today and... The print is WAY too big. Mermaid scales are definately not this big. Aargh. I'm going to have to go with my other idea. Stay tuned for a new design! 11116

[Mermaid Momo]

Can someone PLEASE tell me the dinosaur show thing that was related to this?
I remember watching Rainbow Fish on TV and there was a show that went along with it.
I've been trying to figure out the name of it for ages and I can't figure it out someone helppppp D:
Dragon tales?

[Carolina Mermaid]

Land before time?

[Carolina Mermaid]

I LOVE that fabric!!!!

[Mermaid Allie]

The green one? Its such a pretty colour! Or the polka dot one? The print is gigantic so i don't think im going to use it :(.

[shimmygoddess]

Good luck, Can't wait to see it finished!!

I just made one for my daughter that I call her Rainbow Fish Tail. I made all the scales individually. LOL.

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[Mermaid Allie]

WOW that is SO COOL! I'm Thinking of Painting on all the rainbow scales, but its a huge ordeal (and tons of paint) after I realized the fabric I was going to order is... not quite right.

[Mermaid Allie]

JUST ORDERED MY FINIS WAVE MONOFIN AHHH SO EXCITED <33

[Mermaid Dottie]

XD

[Mermaid Allie]

Okay so guys ive sadly decided to abandon the rainbow fish tail :(( I don't really have enough time to devote to the tail (painting etc.) so I'm doing a simple lime green tail with emerald scales painted on (sorry for my indecision problems) I have already ordered my fabric
http://spandexworld.com/c3/catalog/product/741
and im getting my paint soon!
http://www.joann.com/lumiere-2-25-oz-fabric-paint-1pk/zprd_06017099a/
(pearlescent emerald)
and i ordered my finis wave monofin!!! It will be here tuesday! YAYYY!

[Carolina Mermaid]

Yay!

[Ashe]

The green and emerald idea sounds lovely! I can't wait to see :) Good luck!

[Mermaid Allie]

Thanks guys! Ill keep you updated!

[Mermaid Allie]

Emerald tail design: I'm not sure about the scale patterns, I drew two of them and i put the second one on the tail, but i still can't decide on the pattern! haha. The scales will probably be smaller on the tail if I choose pattern two, but I'm not sure yet. I'm gonna draw a tail with pattern one as well. I need your advice guys! haha (also the tail base is lime green, the camera made it lighter haha)
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[Mermaid Allie]

heres the other pattern: note that the scales would be smaller
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[Spindrift]

I really like the first emerald green design (if you were looking to choose between them) :)

[Mermaid Allie]

Yes I am! I can't decide! haha

[Carolina Mermaid]

I really like pattern 1, it might make the scales look 3-dimensional.

[Mermaid Allie]

I also like pattern one... I think when I get everything I will paint both as tests then decide!

[Mermaid Allie]

MY MONOFIN IS HERE OMG OMG OMG YESSSSSSSSSS
ITS EVEN BIGGER THAN I EXPECTED COMING FROM SOMEONE WHO HAS A MERMAID MONOFIN THATS TINY
currently im studying for my ap with it on my feet lol11242

[Mermaid Dottie]

I know! They seem enormous when you first get them.

[Carolina Mermaid]

Cute photo! And yay!

[Mermaid Allie]

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FABRIC IS HERE!!! Monofin extension should begin this week!! Instead of the zip ties which I thought I was going to do, my dad told me that my grandpa has tons of plastic sheets in his basement with all different thicknesses and flexibilities. My dad agreed to help me fasten more plastic in my pattern shape on the bottom of my fin! YAYYYY! I'm picking up the plastic tomorrow!

[Mermaid Allie]

Got the plastic!

[Mermaid Allie]

My dads going to help me have it done before he leaves for europe, so it will probably be finished by like next friday or earlier!

[telzey.amberdon]

Father's day is coming, don't forget.

[Mermaid Allie]

Already got him something! Thanks for the reminder tho!

[Mermaid Allie]

Almost finished! We just need to get pop-rivets and gorilla glue on it tomorrow!!

[Carolina Mermaid]

Yay!

[MerMarla]

Almost finished! We just need to get pop-rivets and gorilla glue on it tomorrow!!

Any pix of the process? what kind of plastic sheet did you use? how thick? Looks good from your layout pix!

[Mermaid Allie]

Ill post pictures when I get home today! We used plastic that was about the thickness of my monofin.

[Mermaid Allie]

Well, my dad put way too many pop rivets in the fin, and now the added piece is too stiff. Also, there is glue all over it. My dad decided to do it in a rush 5 minutes before he left for london. It was a very nice effort, but if I tried to swim with it, I would drown. Also, one of the plastic sheets was too brittle and cracked. I'm gonna have to order a new monofin, and then idk what i'm going to do to extend it, because i'm really upset about this.

[Mermaid Allie]

I think i'm just going to duct tape craft foam or something simple on the bottom of this one. I'm so upset.

[Mermaid Dottie]

Oh, sweetie, I'm so sorry. That was nice of your dad to want to help, but a little more research into monofins, and the type of plastic would have been better...

[Mermaid Allie]

Yeah :/ like my mom said haste means waste. meh. Its okay, the next one I decided that i'm not doing anything permanent/risky. What I am going to do actually is duct tape a bit of my old plastic planner to the ends of my fin, so that there is no way the fin gets ruined, like this time.

[Jadestone]

Oh no :( Is the monofin not salvageable? Even if you took off the plastic? Even if there's small holes in it it could still be fine, though I'm sorry to hear things went hard.

I've extended a monofin using zip ties/duct tape and recently made a temporary one out of craft foam and duct tape, so if you have any questions about either I'd be happy to help. I think the plastic planner idea would work well though!

[Mermaid Allie]

There are at least 30 rivets in it, so the fin would be wrought with holes if by some chance we could get it detatched from the gorilla glue we put on it. I don't think Its fixable :((( My mum was really understanding, and she bought me a new fin, so its alright. Thanks Jadestone :) I think ill try the planner first, but thank you for your help!

[Mermaid Allie]

Alright so my new fin came today! I already extended it using an old plastic binder and lots of duct tape. I really hope it stays! lol. I'm thinking that it will stay, but if it starts to come off, I think i'll get some power tape. Hopefully it will be ok! Watch out image overload coming up!!

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[Mermaid Allie]

Heres more! Lol

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[MerEmma]

Looks good! Also, you're very pretty. :P

[Mermaid Allie]

haha thanks Emma!

[Mermaid Allie]

Exams and everything has been so crazy busy! I finally finished my pattern and ill cut fabric tomorrow and hopefully sew and paint this weekend. Also, anyone know anything about tulip fabric paint? I found some in my paint drawer but idk how it does in water...

[Mermaid Dottie]

Tulip is nice, though it fades fairly quickly, in my experiences with chlorine.

[Mermaid Allie]

Thanks Dottie ill wait for my lumiere!

[Mermaid Allie]

Alright so its all cut out and ready to be sewn. My lumiere came yesterday :D and the colour looks beautiful in the bottle, but when I painted it on my swatch, it turned out greyish and not exactly "emerald" as described. Could it be because my fabric is lime green...? Or do I just have to wait for it to dry and it will be lighter? EEERGHH! Could I maybe mix in some regular white acryllic to make it a bit lighter...? Anyone have ideas?
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[shimmygoddess]

Alright so its all cut out and ready to be sewn. My lumiere came yesterday :D and the colour looks beautiful in the bottle, but when I painted it on my swatch, it turned out greyish and not exactly "emerald" as described. Could it be because my fabric is lime green...? Or do I just have to wait for it to dry and it will be lighter? EEERGHH! Could I maybe mix in some regular white acryllic to make it a bit lighter...? Anyone have ideas?
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I would assume its b/c of the color your painting it on. White makes it show up the most accurate. The color will not be the same if the fabric has color

[Mermaid Allie]

ohhhkay thanks!

[Echidna]

I have been pillaging the internet for fabric that looks like scales but is NOT made of holograph because of my terrible experiences with it in chlorine.

Just found this thread, glad I did before I've ordered a beautiful, shiny scales HOLOGRAPH lol.
It's a pain really.
This would've been so pretty :( 11751

[Mermaid Allie]

I know Catluna I was totally looking at that but I just can't go with holograph after what happened with my first tail :(

[Echidna]

:<
So how bad was it?
Did all the foil finish come off?

Because I'm still tempted by that pretty scale thing.
I've looked through the complete spandex world *sigh*
Most fabrics just have the "test in chlorine before using"-warning, that could mean all or nothing.

I noticed, though, that only a handful of all the fabrics have "swimwear" listed in their usage label.
I bet that's a bad sign :(

[Mermaid Allie]

I picked one with a swimwear label, milliskin shiny! It's beautiful and super good quality. Catluna I will upload a picture later I'm on my phone now

[Mermaid Allie]

Alright so I finished sewing the base of the tail, but I still haven't sewn the velcro at the bottom or the elastic waistband at the top, which I will do soon! Here is me in the tail so far :)
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Also, for catluna here is what happened to the holograph on my gold tail after 3 swims in chlorinated water (approx 3 hours) the damage was mostly on the heels, but keep in mind that I didn't stand on them or anything and was super careful.

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closeup of heel damage

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[Echidna]

Eeep!
Shame, it's such a pretty tail!
You could try painting the damage over, and then only use the tail in lakes and the sea perhaps?

And I'll probably have to find some other option for my scale fabric :(

[Mermaid Allie]

Catluna i'll be painting scales on my fabric with lumiere, I'll let you know how it holds up! And there is really no sea near me and the lakes are cold most of the year :(

[Echidna]

great! keep us updated please!

and I have the same problem with cold, far-away lakes and no accessible ocean :(
doesn't help that I'm a tropical kinda person.
You won't see me sweat, not even in the midday heat of a desert with no shade, or in the middle of a rainforest (tried out both :D );
on the flipside, water colder than 26° makes me jump out right away unless I'm wearing my wimpsuit lol.

[Mermaid Allie]

Its annoying isn't it catluna :(( I have big dreams of living on the beach in north carolina with an epic indoor/outdoor pool design that has like a mad tunnel in between pools and getting a merbellas AND a mertailor and swimming after work as an orthodonist then hanging out with my pet kinkajou. Oops tangent. Haha when you said 26 my american self was like FARENHIET OHMYGOD SHE CAN SWIM THROUGH ICE?!?! LOL i'm the same way tho anything cooler than like 75 farenheit GET ME OUT.

[Mermaid Kalliope]

Haha It's like saying "I'm comfortable in 80 degree water" and a metric mer going "OH MY GOD THAT'S ALMOST BOILING!!"

[Mermaid Allie]

Hahaha kailani yep us Americans our skin is made of tungsten! Lol the metric system actually makes much more sense than ours I wish we used it.

[Merman Arion]

@ Mermaid Allie.. so far, it looks good on your legs but i'm skeptical about the fluke. to be honest, something is bothering me a little. isn't the shape of your monofin too obvious through the fabric?? :(

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[Mermaid Fenicia]

That's the reason I'm using a Triton now in my fabric tails, as it hasn't got those lines. ;)

[Taylor is a Mermaid]

I have the same issue in my fabric tail, but I don't think it's a big deal. To me it just looks like fish bones!

[Ilonka]

You can sew or glue vinyl into your fluke to cover the monofin, it also helps maintain the fluke shape.

[Mermaid Allie]

Yeah you can definitely see the lines, but I'm ok with it and also ill be using fabric paint near there so it's less visible!

[MerEmma]

I don't mind the lines myself either. It's just a fabric tail, really, just something to general enjoy and have fun in. If it were a high-performance-expensive silicone then maybe I'd be disappointed but otherwise meh. I LOVE the color on you, Allie, omg! It's so pretty on you. And you're very pretty yourself. Excited to see where it goes!

[Echidna]

I think the lines are a plus!
A fish's fluke HAS lines alongside it.
If they weren't already there, you'd have to paint them on :D

[Mermaid Allie]

Hahaha good point catluna!

[Mermaid Allie]

We sewed half the velcro today! I know the lines are a bit annoying, but I'm going to paint like right over them so you'll barely notice them!

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[Mermaid Allie]

I finished all the velcro and put tatters on the edges. I think its looking rad!! I'm super excited to paint!!!!!!!!!

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[Mermaid Lorelei]

Looking good. :thumbs-up:

[Mermaid Allie]

Thanks Lorelei! I painted both sides of my tail fluke and I'm really happy with how it turned out. Ill post pictures and swimming video as soon as my Internet is fixed. (I'm on my phone now). Unfortunately, I don't have enough time or paint to do scales on my tail. I think I'll just keep the fluke paint for now and then if I have more time ill order more paint and do scales.

[Mermaid Allie]

Fluke paint and a few swimming shots! In these pics only half my fluke is painted but now its finished! I LOVE this tail! I'm currently uploading video to youtube (sorry its on my iphone but whatevs)
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[Mermaid Allie]

Swimming video! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMJASVFQ4pk

[Echidna]

It's a very nice apple green :)
Gratz!
The pool looks inviting. Is it your own?

[Mermaid Allie]

Thank you Catluna! It's my friends pool! I'm obsessed with her pool! Her dad puts like not too much chlorine in It and I can keep my eyes open the entire time and they don't hurt at all afterwords! It's a bit shallow though.

[Echidna]

Nice!
Private pools are the best, since you won't need that much chlorine.
There's even the possibility to run it as a saltwater pool, or disinfect the water with oxygen.

That's why I wanted my family to build our own pool so badly, and I had them all convinced, but our municipality didn't allow it :(
(apparently they buried some unwholesome stuff beneath our house + garden before construction and don't want us to dig it up :rolleyes:)

[Carolina Mermaid]

Lookin good Allie!

[Mermaid Allie]

Thanks Carolina mermaid! And actually Catluna are you allowed above ground pools? This is my friends above ground pool and maybe you could even get a deeper one!

[Echidna]

And actually Catluna are you allowed above ground pools? This is my friends above ground pool and maybe you could even get a deeper one!

That's a great idea!
We hadn't looked too much into that, because it'd be so much more expensive than just digging a hole and putting a membrane sheet in.
I'm sure we'd also need a building permission still (because it rests on the ground :rolleyes:), but it might be possible.

Gonna research that asap (summer's only started! :D )

[Mermaid Allie]

Above ground is a great option! Pretty low maintenance from what I've heard too! And not expensive :)

[Mermaid Allie]

The problem with putting a membrane sheet would probably be leakage and cracking in the winter. I mean idk much about pools but like all my neighbors even basic drop-in inground pools cost like 10k.

[Echidna]

Ye, you're right.
With the digging and concrete pouring, the in-grounds are more expensive.
You can make them a bit deeper though.
Because of statics, there don't seem to be any above pools with water deeper than 4ft.

I'd love one anyway, but my parents don't seem inclined :p

[Mermaid Allie]

Darn! My friends is about 4 ft but its actually great fun still. you just cant do back flips in your tail lol don't try!

[Mermaid Allie]

Yeah 54' is basically the max.

[Echidna]

Darn! My friends is about 4 ft but its actually great fun still. you just cant do back flips in your tail lol don't try!
lol, that'd hurt I guess!
And having a private pool, even if really shallow, is STILL ages better than having to drive to an overcrowded public one.