Crochet tail!!!

[mijomuffins]

I think I may be off my rocker with this project...however, I have made myself many crochet cotton bathingsuits in the past. It would not be too off base to create a crocheted mermaid tail....Now the fun thing with this, is that I can do lacey fins, and this stitch for the actual tail:

http://catherinehirst.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/img_6283.jpg

Perfect, right?

Plus I can easily crochet in beads for sparkles, and even have flounces and other things made of delicate lace to hang off of it, plus crochet in boning to keep the shape of the fin better.

I will post it here when I am done with it...in like 3 years...lol.

But what do you think? Good project for after Xmas??

[PearlieMae]

In theory, sounds like a great project! It has been my experience that crocheted bathing suits tend to warp way out of shape in the water, much less an entire tail! I fell in a pool with a crocheted skirt once and nearly drowned trying to get out!

I'd crochet some test swatches to see how they behave underwater, and that dragon scale stitch is gonna hold a LOT of water!

[mijomuffins]

I agree. I haven't had trouble with the bathing suits I have made so far, as long as I make it nice and tight...but yeah, I am concerned about weight, and also about the yarn stretching with it holding the water and showing off my terribly pasty legs.
I make test swatches in washcloth form and use them to wash my dishes afterwards.
OOHH another terrible idea...mermaid dishcloth to wash your dishes with. I would totally use that.

Anyway, will let you know how the swatch hold up. Worse comes to worse, it will be a "sitting" tail and not a swimming one.

[Echidna]

I love crocheting, and I thought about this after crocheting a tailbag as tall as myself xD
While it could look nice, I fear it wouldn't be very swimmable.

Even a tail made from thin bathing suit fabric takes in a lot of water and creates drag.
But if you want to give it a try regardless, please do tell how it goes!

[Echinacea]

One of my aunts knits dishcloths! I think that would be really neat, to have a 'mermaid scale' one! Though I use the dishcloths she has made me as doilies or hot pads, more than dishcloths! So, maybe a mermaid scale doily or hot pad, for the fashionable mer table! :D

[Mermaid Kassandra]

So Amazing!

[mijomuffins]

I have made a few fabric swimmable ones, and luckily I am a fairly strong mermaid swimmer...although I would assume with the amount of yarn it would take to make the tail, I would drown quite nicely.
Actually...without my tail or anything on, I still try to swim like a mermaid, and I swear I look ridiculous.

Anyhow, I will see if I can whip up a "mermaidscale" dishcloth. I sell my regular ones on etsy, so if I make one, and you guys want one, I will post it online. :D

[PearlieMae]

That mermaidscale stitch eats up a LOT of yarn! I tried it on a small project...wow!

[Miyu]

Reminds me of this: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-targaryen-dragon-scale-bikini-top

I was considering making a top like that for mermaiding, in case I don't feel like wearing my shell bra. Now that I'm smaller maybe I can actually it in one of those types of tops...

[mijomuffins]

Luckily I hoard yarn. Like seriously...it's bad.
The top would be cool...although, what I really want is scared looking starfish stuck to my boobs. :D

[PearlieMae]

I'm a fabric junkie. I have MILES of fabric!

"scared looking starfish stuck to my boobs" :lol:

[Echidna]

I hoard yarn too.
When cleaning up the attic, I found 5 big bags full of yarn hoard xD

And I keep every fabric scrap unless they're smaller than my nails :p
Stitched together a whole fluke from tiny scraps lol.

I've given this another mulling over, and thinking just how much weight this particular pattern would produce in a tail...
maybe if I made one, I wouldn't need my 12 pound weight belt anymore?!!

That would be great! It looks too bulky imo.
I might just try this!
Unless I spend money on yarn though (not a good option), this is going to be a very multi-coloured tail :lol:

[mijomuffins]

I also have the fabric issue...well...not issue...it's like my safety net...of fabric...tons of it.
I have my own little studio FILLED with fabric and yarn. It's awesome. :D

[Mermaid Fenicia]

I've made a tail for my SD-boy using that technique ;)
http://mernetwork.com/index/attachment.php?attachmentid=6719&d=1348679098
http://mernetwork.com/index/attachment.php?attachmentid=6718&d=1348679088

[Mermaid Adriel]

I've made a tail for my SD-boy using that technique ;)
http://mernetwork.com/index/attachment.php?attachmentid=6719&d=1348679098
http://mernetwork.com/index/attachment.php?attachmentid=6718&d=1348679088


how cute >w<

[mijomuffins]

I made a few dolls, but not with that pattern yet...
And ugh, my netbook wont allow me to upload a photo of the doll.

[Echidna]

looks awesome! *goes off in search of crocheted stuff to unravel to gather more yarn*

[Merman Dan]

I want to see someone try to make a tail with a Rainbow Loom (http://www.rainbowloom.com) ;)

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g240/lizcoolmompicks/CMP_13/triple-single-rainbow-loom-bracelet-mommyscraftbox_zpsa99ed637.jpg

[Mer_Adella]

I am actually making a scarf right now using the "crocodile" stitch (that is what it is called) it is very easy once you get the hang of it. You just have to take the time once your done and either carefully iron the scales flat or use your hands and go through each scale and flatten them out. they tend to curl as you work up each row. I will post a picture. I have pink and gold yarn to do one to match my mermaid tail persona.

[Echidna]

Please do.
I've tried out the croc stitch for the first time, and I thought I was doing it wrong since all the scales were somehow crooked and curled into each other :P

As for a tail, it would be very itchy though, unless sewn onto a thin fabric or such.

[Mermaid Fenicia]

you need to sew it to some fabric as the stitches have holes between them ;)

[PearlieMae]

Itchiness, weight and multicolors aside, the drag on a tail like this would be MASSIVE.

I'd recommend it for dry events only!

[SINicallyTwisted]

All I can think of is Mer tail cozies for us New Englanders! :p