How Mermaid Syrenia Earned Her Tail

[Syrenia]

So the past couple days have been really good ones. I ordered my airbrush, and it arrived really quickly,
I have all my paints, the caulk (which I feel like I should be using silicone...), the monofin, and
as of yesterday, I have my 6 yards of neoprene. Not the turquoise color like I wanted, but I'm
sure it will do. So my tailmaking journey is going to be starting very shortly. Now I just need to
find a place to make it!
But before I start, I have a couple questions; measurement. My last tail (which ended up looking
gorgeous) was entirely too small, and I decided it was because I had no idea how to measure
myself. So please, how do all of you measure yourself? And what kind of materials do you use
to make realistic tails? The caulking flakes a bit, so I was thinking of using caulk, painting it,
then putting pure silicone on top of it. From your guy's experience, what works best?
Pictures of my progress with be coming soon. :)

[AniaR]

I suggest doing your measurements twice, once standing, and once sitting. Then compare- so it wont be too small.

I dont really agree with the "ankle, knee, hip" kinda way. Instead, (if Andrew doesnt mind me sharing a technique :P) I'd start at the bottom of your heel with a measuring tape and mark off every 2 inches all the way up to just above your hips. Then at every mark you've made measure around your body. You may want to put "knee, ankle" etc next to certain measurements so you know, but I think this way is better.

In the end I think it's safer to have a tail that is too long that you can trim back as opposed to too short.

[Syrenia]

M'kay. Thank you for all the help you've given me, Ania. I'm gonna have to have my sister or mer-sis measure me.

[Maple]

I agree with Raina as well - when we made my master pattern we actually put the fin on and measured every 2 inches starting at my heels and ending at my navel. Made for a very well-fitting tail.

[malinghi]

Yeah, I got help from my brother for measuring.

[taom]

I would also suggest making a paper patter before you cut the fabric. The first time I went to make my tail, I measured completely wrong. The tail would have been several sizes too big for me. Luckily, I made a patter first and was able to see my mistake.

Another tip I would give you is to give yourself several inches extra at the top of the tail. That way you can cut it so it covers all of you and gets rid of the possibility of it being too small (when I cut mine, I did it higher in the back and lower in the front so my bum would remain covered when I moved and bent.)

To measure, I did basically what Raina said to do, except with tape. I marked off the two inches on a long piece of masking tape, stuck it to the side of my leg, and measured at each mark, writing them down as I went along. Then, I laid the piece of tape on a large piece of paper (constructed from cut open paper bags that were taped together). Then, you simply divide your measurement by 4, measure that distance from your tape, and place a mark. Do this all the way down the tape on one side. Connect the dots. You can either do this to the other side of the tape or fold the paper in half so you can see the outline you drew and cut out the shape, going through both layers of paper. That way, when done, the halves will be identical.

[Syrenia]

That is perfect! But divide by 4? I thought it was divide by 2? But whatever you guys say, I will do. I'm still learning here! :D

[Syrenia]

Just finished my headpiece! Will post pictures soon enough.
I'll be caulking my tail tomorrow, and the day after that? PAINTING! :D

[Mermaid Photine]

Divide by four-

Each pattern piece is 1/2 the tail. Down this piece is a line of symmetry. On a straight edge of the paper, mark out and draw each of your 1/4 measurements spaced as required. Cut it out. You have one quarter of your tail. Trace this quarter onto another sheet of paper (I use newspaper because it is easy to find and a good size- only need to tape a few together compared to printer paper) and cut that out as well. tape the two quarters together along the line of symmetry and you have your half-tail pattern piece!

This keeps your pattern (and tail) even and not lopsided.

Hope that helps.

[Syrenia]

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt158/Sunflowersnthesun/IMAG0123.jpg

The headpiece. All the stuff was bought from Michaels Arts and Crafts for less than $15.
I feel like I should be adding more to it, but I'm proud as is. :D

[Odette]

yay! ^^

[Mermaid Star]

This is how I learned to measure mine. It will give you a visual to go off of.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtwnOQg_KH8

[Mermaid Star]

P.S. I really like your head piece! It is super cute. I was thinking of something like that for my self but haven't gotten around to it. I want to add that kind of a think to my mer top on the shoulders as well. :)

[Anaria]

Love your headpiece! Really pretty : )

Useful tips for accurate measurements too - I know I don't want to ruin good fabric when I start to work on mine :)

[Mermaid Saphira]

Did you ever finish the tail?