Seakrait Tail

[Echidna]

Hey mers,
after reading a lot about it, I've decided to tackle my first tail!
It will have to be fabric because I'm totally new to this.

I'm planning a seakrait-lookalike.
(A full suit would be nice, but I'll start with the tail for now.)

Sadly, I couldn't find any lycra/spandex etc with a scale print,
so I thought about either using this
http://spandexworld.com/c3/catalog/product/7773,
or simply alternating a white and a black fabric.

The latter is probably better, since I will be able to measure the distance and width of the stripes, AND they can go all around without crisscrossing each other, however
there will be lots of seams then all over the tail, and not just at the sides.

Any ideas how to avoid this/hide the seams better?

The thread will be problematic too; if it's either white or black, it will show in the parts of the other colour (unless I find an invisible one :confused:).

As to the fluke; I plan on using a see-through one, covering only the feet and the footpocket with two stripes in the middle, and then knot it over the rim of the fin.
The only readily visible part of the fluke should then look like a snake's tail.

Reference:

[Mermaid Enhydrina]

YAY snakes! :)
Maybe doing the second one and then spray painting black or white along the seams to fade them out?

[Mermaid Allie]

That's SO cool! I'm excited keep me updated!

[Echidna]

Well so far, I'm still mulling over the materials to use
(my mother caught me browsing fabrics and threads and was like,
"TELL ME YOU'RE NOT ORDERING SOMETHING AGAIN!?!" :p).

Spandex World has lots of amazing stuff.
I'd like to use something like the first image;
however, it seems to be 100% Polyester & glitter print.

Then there's the second picture,
which is a holographic scale foil pattern, 85% Nylon, 15% Spandex, which sounds useable and has a nice scaly look, sadly the difference between the stripe colours isn't as striking as I'd hoped.

What do you think?

[Mermaid Tula]

What you could do, is get some white stretch fabric, get some black fabric paint, tape off where you want white and then paint on the black. You could do that after sewing the actual tail, so that when you paint, you go over the thread as well.

[MerEmma]

I don't think the second one is much like what you want. Isn't there just simple swimmable white & black spandex you could sew together, or is that not the effect you're looking for? Painting is another option, maybe sequins...not sure.

[Mermaid Dottie]

I know what to do about your thread problem. And I don't think the seams will show much when alternating plain black and plain white fabrics. Use both black and white threads. Wind 2 bobbins, one of each. Then just make sure that whatever color is on top is the same color as the top thread, and vice versa, and do the same for the bottom. Voila!

[Echidna]

^^ that's ingenuous!
I was contemplating the paint option, but I'm sure painted fabric won't look too great.
And yes, there are plenty plain white & black swimming suit fabrics around, but they are completely unpatterned, and I think they look too unnatural.

I'll probably do some sample tryouts with several different options, and then do the tail with the one that looks best. :)

[Mermaid Dottie]

what about this black (http://spandexworld.com/c3/catalog/product/4521) with this silver (http://spandexworld.com/c3/catalog/product/3808)?

[Echidna]

I've looked at them before :)
the black (and some others which would have been great) have the "do not soak in chlorine" instruction sadly :(

if only there were some lakes or saltwater pools around where I live...

[Mermaid Dottie]

Lame.... That's a bummer, because the texture is so nice.

[Arella]

When I first read this I though the tail was a secret and you were just trying to spell secret funny

[Mermaid Kalliope]

The bobbin idea is great! There is also invisible thread by Gutterman. I love gutterman threads. <3

My main concern with the seams is stretch. More seams=less stretch. :<

Great idea, though! ^_^ I wouldn't worry too much about scales because snakes are smoooooooth rather than the fishy scaly that, well, fish have. Haha.

Best of luck! <3

[Echidna]

The bobbin idea is great! There is also invisible thread by Gutterman. I love gutterman threads. <3

My main concern with the seams is stretch. More seams=less stretch. :<


eep. I hadn't thought of that :/

In that case I'd better use the silverwhite scale fabric only, and paint the stripes on.
The scales are needed for a realistic look I think- some snakes have smooth scales, others have keeled scales,
at any rate, they're quite noticeable if you check the reference pic in the first post :)

Now I just need a shiny black fabric paint that's ok in water.
And test whether the scale fabric (holograph spandex) holds up in chlorine :< probably not too well...mph.

If I find a good paint, the result should look something like this:

[Echidna]

found this as a second option reference; seakraits come not only in white-black banded, but blue-black, or grey-black
(there are also the pelagic ones with black upper sides and yellow bellies; those are purely sea living, the banded ones come ashore a lot)

[Mermaid Kalliope]

Awwww, so cute! I know that Tulip works well, but just make sure that the fabric is stretched when you paint it, you don't want the paint to crack. As for Painting the holographic fabric... I don't know. >< I've never worked with it. :< Sorry! Hopefully, someone else can help?

[Echidna]

Alright, the fabric is ordered.
It's white.
I'm going to paint the scales, including the greyish/bluish/black parts, depending on how the colours appear on the fabric.

If the faux-snaketail tip will look realistic enough over the invisible fluke, I'm going to make more snaketail costumes
(I already have most of the material for a dark green Medusa outfit).

[Mermaid Tula]

So pretty! I can't wait to see your tail!

[deepblue]

This is a very cool tail idea. Can't wait to see the outcome.

[Echidna]

Alright, here's a teaser.
Almost half is done (theoretically; the sewing has been a nightmare lol.
I measured six or seven times, but somehow it came out all crooked where the curves should be. Arrggh.)

12398

[Mermaid Dottie]

What did you use? it looks so cool!

[Mermaid Oshun]

Alright, here's a teaser.
Almost half is done (theoretically; the sewing has been a nightmare lol.
I measured six or seven times, but somehow it came out all crooked where the curves should be. Arrggh.)

12398
That looks amazing Caltuna!!! I LOVE it!
I am floored by that scale pattern on the white/ silver portion. That looks just like a fish! How did you do that?

[tealmermaid]

n/a

[Echidna]

Thank you :)
I'm a bit worried about the monofin part.
I can probably make it look alright, but not sure about the swimmability in the end.
(I want it to look like a genuine snake's tail tip)

For those who asked how I made it; I was lucky to find a white fabric with a nice pattern already on it.
The internet wasn't very helpful in that regard, but one could probably paint such scales on too with the right method.

I wasn't very happy with painting the grey/black parts, so I made "sequins" from a grey cloth and sew them on.
So it might take awhile to finish. I'll post pictures once it's done.

[Mermaid Dottie]

Do post progress pics, though! It looks so neat!

[Toxotes]

caltuna, how about a transparent monofin with a longer tail? Let's say just 20-30 centimeters over the end of the fin?

[Echidna]

^^yep, that's exactly how it's planned, and how I made my previous snake tails!

The tricky part is to hold the tail together over the fin without showing the footpocket.
And then I haven't been able to find a good monofin that's really transparent.

The one I'm using now is polypropylene, and while it fits nicely and is almost invisible, the propulsion is meh.
(Well, one can't have everything I guess :D )

[Nashoba]

I'm loving the design of your tail, Caltuna. So very cool for snakes!

[Toxotes]

Allright, somehow I missed that you mentioned that in your first post.
But what's about your "previous snake tails"? :thinks:
You did not mention anything like that...

That polypropylene monofin, is it a Hydra or a similar one?

[Echidna]

Well, I've experimented with swimmable snaketails for awhile, but they were made from plain bathing suit fabric so far
(I wanted to avoid anything like paint or glue on my tails for water cleanliless), maybe I touch them up a bit and then post pics.
The monofin is not a Hydra sadly, I might check those out before making more tails, because I love a good propulsion.

Alright, I disliked how the tail was turning out with fabric bits sewed on, so I removed them and went back to my original idea.
Sadly I screwed up on some spots (and the more I tried to make it look better, the worse it got lol), so it's not finished by a long shot, but the tail tip is done and holds up fine so far
12734

A close-up
12735

Would like to know whether it's "shark-proof" :p

[Mermaid Oshun]

that is very unique!!! you're a snake! :lol:
Would you show me the link for that fabric please. I really like it

[Mermaid Dottie]

I like it!

[Echidna]

Would you show me the link for that fabric please. I really like it

I didn't buy it on the net.
I searched high on low and couldn't find much (except on Spandexworld, and the shipping would have ruined me!),
so I checked all stores nearby, and one of them had a small rest supply of that fabric.

I bought it all to have enough for several tails.
One can never have enough tails :D

[Mermaid Allie]

Thats SO COOL! Is it swimmable?

[Echidna]

Thats SO COOL! Is it swimmable?

Hey! Were you on vacation? Haven't seen you in a while!

Of course it's swimmable :D
I won't win a race with it though, since the monofin is floppy, but it's the only completely translucent one I know of.
When it's lying around without a tail, you don't see it except for the footpocket!

I'd love to use a Hydra instead, but there's the logo right over the rim which would destroy the illusion.
The Hydra also has the black stabilizing ridges along its sides, therefore I think I'll have to stick with my polypropylene fin for now.

[Mermaid Melanie]

the fabric looks the same as the pattern on the magic tail kinda looks photoshopped ?

[Echidna]

Well, thanks I guess! :eek:

I'll load up a swimming video when I can.
Wanted to make several videos for all my snake tails for a while now, but I've been stuck at home with a summer flu and still have a temperature.

[Mermaid Allie]

Yeah Catluna I was on vacation :D that's awesome I can't even see the fin!

[Echidna]

Right, here's a short vid swimming.
Had to make a google/youtube account first. Man I hate those sites, like...really.
Icky sharey-facebooky-stuff. Yuck.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAidlnb5nBE&amp;feature=youtu.be

[Miyu]

That looks awesome Caltuna! Great snake tail! I like the swimming video :)