My first fabric tail =)

[Mermaid Crystal Shimmer]

Hi all!
I'm saving up everything I can for a full silicone tail, but since I'm tail-less I'm going to make my own fabric tail so I can at least feel like a mermaid.
I bought the fabric today. It's a nice blue/teal-ish color. (on the crappy telephone pic it looks way too blue)
Once sewn together I'll add some pearls and crystals and I'm also going to try and make some side fins. ^_^
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All the progress I'll make will be posted here. (If any of you have tips I could use I'm very grateful) I've read a lot on this forum already, and I can't wait to swim with something I made myself! :D
(All I currently own is a finis foil, I'm hoping to buy a finis Rapid for the fabric tail)

[*Celine*]

oooh, i love tail threads!!! good luck and can't wait to see progress pics! have you tested if the fabric does okay under water?

[MermanZen]

cool I hope it turns out awesome

[Mermaid Crystal Shimmer]

oooh, i love tail threads!!! good luck and can't wait to see progress pics! have you tested if the fabric does okay under water?

Not yet, but I asked the seller if it was suitable for swimming, and it should be. =) Plus it is only until I get my silicone tail, so it will be used for a year, tops.

[Miyu]

Ooh pretty!!! I can't wait to see, I *love* teal :)

I pre-washed all my tail fabrics in the machine, both to shrink it and test its durability. Some of it I dried on low heat, but some I just hung up.

[Mermaid Adriel]

I wanna see it completed >w<

[Mermaid Crystal Shimmer]

Ooh pretty!!! I can't wait to see, I *love* teal :)

I pre-washed all my tail fabrics in the machine, both to shrink it and test its durability. Some of it I dried on low heat, but some I just hung up.

Oh that's a good idea to prewash it! Will do that before I start on sewing. I hope I can get my hands on a cheap rapid fin.. a mermaid on fb is selling one for 35 bucks :D (I don't mind it's been used, because it's also pre-cut and cheap ;) )

[Ariel-Starfish]

Oooh looks promising!

[Nicoseamus]

Good luck making your tail! Hope it turns out awesome!

[Aino Revontuletar]

That fabric is so pretty!

[Mermaid Tasia]

Prewash on cold, but dont throw it in the dryer! The heat breaks down the elastic and makes it brittle so it will not last as long. Hanging can stretch the elastic. I roll mine in a towel to get off as much moisture as possible and then lay it out to dry. I did my first fabric tail (in my picture) for the summer, but I have been thinking up ideas to make a new one for this summer as I am saving for a silicone. Also, I would recommend always trying it on in the bathtub to check for sheerness so you don't end up revealing more than you mean to! Good luck!

[MerEmma]

Beautiful color! :) I'm interested on how you plan to do your side fins, too.

[Mermaid Crystal Shimmer]

Prewash on cold, but dont throw it in the dryer! The heat breaks down the elastic and makes it brittle so it will not last as long. Hanging can stretch the elastic. I roll mine in a towel to get off as much moisture as possible and then lay it out to dry. I did my first fabric tail (in my picture) for the summer, but I have been thinking up ideas to make a new one for this summer as I am saving for a silicone. Also, I would recommend always trying it on in the bathtub to check for sheerness so you don't end up revealing more than you mean to! Good luck!

Thank you so much! This is really helpful.

As for the side fins, i'm going to test some stuff. I've bought a very very sheer, shimmery fabric which I'll cover with liquid latex on both sides. Then test it out in the swimming pool to see how it reacts and how durable it will be. If it works, I'll sew it in while making the tail.

[Mermaid Crystal Shimmer]

This is the fabric for the side fins :dance:

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[MerEmma]

I love the shimmer to it. <3 I look forward to seeing how you go about attaching them...I have the fabric here for a tail (although not yet the time for it) and I want to put side fins but I'm not sure how to go about sewing them. :P

[mermaidtigris]

I love the fabric for the side fins! Make sure you have holes at the bottom of your fluke so that air and water can flow through! :)

[Mermaid Crystal Shimmer]

I love the fabric for the side fins! Make sure you have holes at the bottom of your fluke so that air and water can flow through! :)

Thnx for the tip! I was planning to add velcro at the end, so I could remove the monovin if needed. (I don't want to glue it in the tail, which will probably look and fit better, but if the tail needs replacement I can easily get the monovin out.)

Also any idea's on what to use to cover the top side of the monovin so those harsh lines aren't visible? Neopreen is a bit expensive and hard to get here.
I'm going to test out some stuff which is used in filters in the hood in the kitchen (above the place where you cook, don't know if there's a word in English for that hahah) which is really cheap and easy to get. =)

[Jessica]

Hi marijke!

the fabric is so pretty!! I used fabric like the kind you have for your side fins on a tail before! It's very pretty in the water, but will fray if you don't finish the edges! I actually used fire to melt the edges of the fabric so it wouldn't fray. It works well, but you have to be careful that you don't burn holes in the fabric! :)

i can't wait to see your progress! :)

[Aino Revontuletar]

I love that fabric you got for the side fins! I have been looking around my local fabric shop for good tail making fabrics lately and I saw one that was similar that I am thinking of using on my neoprene tail

[MermaidStormy]

This is really exciting love this :D cant wait to see the finish product

[Mermaid Dottie]

I wanted to let you know that I've had poor experience when I tried to use velcro in a tail of mine. It wouldn't stick to itself in the water. I recommend small plastic snaps and a reinforcement layer or a plastic zipper instead, but that's just me.

[Aino Revontuletar]

I was planning to use Velcro in my neoprene tail. This is good to know. I was worried that using a zipper might be problematic because it wouldn't leave space for water to drain. Snaps could work, but the only ones I have ever seen are metal and would probably have a problem with rust.

[Mermaid Dottie]

I'm sure there are plastic snaps out there, because they have them on some cloth diapering systems I've seen. My kiddo also had a little shirt with them on it, so I know they exist. When I have access to the desktop computer, I'll see if I can find them for you. :)

[Aino Revontuletar]

Awesome that would be great :) Also I wasn't aware that they needed reinforcing. What do you use to reinforce them? I suppose if I couldn't find them using buttons would also be an option too.

[Jessica]

You can find plastic snaps really cheap on amazon!

I used industrial strength Velcro on my spandex/sequin tail and I'm really not happy with it! It doesn't work well and doesn't stay stuck to the spandex....I bought the kind with sticky backs. I'm either going to just sew it shut or buy some snaps :)

[Mermaid Dottie]

The reinforcement is more for the fabric than any thing else, just so you don't rip it or stretch it out too much while trying to undo the snaps.

[Mermaid Fenicia]

I use plastic zippers in my flukes to add/remove my monofin, no problem with bulking up in the water, as the zippers let the water pas ;)

[Ilyena]

Fenicia is right, zips have small gaps in them which can allow water to pass through. Though I must be the only one who has had velcro work on spandex (glued with E6000, it lasted for 3 swims before one part came off), but sewed on stays quite well. I have a zip and velcro in my neoprene tail. Back to the topic. Love the fabric you have chosen :D

[mermaidtigris]

I wanted to let you know that I've had poor experience when I tried to use velcro in a tail of mine. It wouldn't stick to itself in the water. I recommend small plastic snaps and a reinforcement layer or a plastic zipper instead, but that's just me.
Same thing happened to me! I had made a monofin out of a hanger and some folders and then I tried putting velcro at the fluke of my spandex tail, it stayed on the tail but the velcro stuck for only a few seconds.

[WavyMermaidy]

Fenicia is right, zips have small gaps in them which can allow water to pass through. Though I must be the only one who has had velcro work on spandex (glued with E6000, it lasted for 3 swims before one part came off), but sewed on stays quite well. I have a zip and velcro in my neoprene tail. Back to the topic. Love the fabric you have chosen :D

I sewed Velcro on my spandex tail at the fluke and I've never had a problem with it not staying stuck together...so you're not the only one :)

[Little_Orca]

Strange to hear about the velcro. I got some for my purple tail and I have it at the fluke so I can take out my fin if needed (for tail cleaning or when I just want to exercise in the fin alone.) I've never had a problem with it coming undone or not wanting to stick in the water.

[Mermaid Dottie]

What velcro are you guys all using that sticks so well? or maybe it's the fin or fabric type?

[mermaidtigris]

i think its the velcro type, after i used mine it was all matted and felted together

[Mermaid Fenicia]

Also does the loop-side of velcro tear up Lycra :(

[Mermaid Crystal Shimmer]

My design for the side fins:

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[Ilyena]

Ohh. I like those :D

[Mermaid Caspiana]

You never really see on depth fabric tail threads. Excited to see how this turns out. :)

[Mermaid Crystal Shimmer]

Haven't done much lately. Still need to finish the side fins. But I can order the mono fin within the next few days and order the neoprene. I decided to make the base with neoprene and on top of that the fabric. This way the tail is a bit thicker and you won't see every itty bitty detail. (and just in case the fabric is a bit see through)
Hoping to post progress pics within the next couple of weeks =D

[Kishiko]

Where did you get your teal fabric? The stuff I ordered for mine JUST arrived and it's very similar! (I have the same problem with the bluefish pictures lol!) good luck!
And I love your fin designs by the way!

[Mermaid Crystal Shimmer]

at the local fabric store. ^_^ It's such a lovely shade!

[Kishiko]

It is! I'm so excited to make mine! And if I remember right, you're buying a monofin? I'm going to make mine out of lexan, because the first fin I tried using rubber, well it didn't turn out great lol! Can't wait to see your tail!

[Mermaid Crystal Shimmer]

Yeah, I'll buy the Finis Rapid and cut it into shape. Too bad the rapid are really expensive here. Instead of 80 dollars, it's 80 euro's here =(
I'm curious how your tail turns out! ^_^

[Kishiko]

Well maybe you could consider looking into lexan! From the research I've done, it's fairly simple to work with if you have a jigsaw. You can also use poly zap to secure the fins or whatever is used to the lexan and it'll stay secured even when swimming! I've priced mine out at about $50 for everything and it's bewigged than the rapid! (:

[Mermaid Crystal Shimmer]

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My mono fin arrived! Here it is compared to my current one I use for regular fin swimming. I can now start on making the tail!

[Mermaid Adriel]

YAY! I can't wait to see!

[Mermaid Crystal Shimmer]

So the side fins I was making for my fabric tail are a complete failure. XD
Decided to skip it and concentrate on other things.
Might use the fabric for other things.

[Mermaid Ellowyn]

What happened to them?

[Mermaid Crystal Shimmer]

@Harley: Just didn't worked out as planned.

Today I've cut my mono fin into shape:

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[Carolina Mermaid]

Looks awesome!

[Mermaid Ellowyn]

Love the shape.

[MerEmma]

The shape looks great. :)

[Mermaid Crystal Shimmer]

Progress. It's a shame I couldn't go any further. I'm using neoprene as a base because the fabric is so thin. But I think I need a different needle and thread. Regular and leather needle don't work with the sewing machine. :(

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[Mermaid Crystal Shimmer]

The sewing is done! I'm so proud to have made this myself! I've had lots of help with pinning the fabric down, but I did all the sewing. It's neoprene with lycra fabric. The fabric is soooo pretty <3 (It's blue with a silver shimmer, and with a but yellowish light the fabric turns green)

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I only need to add and finish the waist with elastic and the fluke needs velcro. I'll also add pearls to the fluke.

[Mermaid Adriel]

Congrats! *^*

[Mermaid Crystal Shimmer]

I took it for a swim yesterday! Here's the video: http://youtu.be/7b0JIllrFgA
It was quite heavy in the water but I am sooooo proud that I created the whole thing myself :D (Including the top)

[PearlieMae]

Wonderful! And the orange in your top are the perfect compliment!

[Mermaid Saphira]

I love your tail and the color is beautiful! You did a wonderful job! ;)

[Mermaid Wesley]

*applause*

[Mermaid Dottie]

Lovely! Nicely done.

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[Mermaid Crystal Shimmer]

Thanks all, it's still undecorated though.. Once I get my pearls and crystals I will add lots of bling ;)

[Merman Arion]

Thanks all, it's still undecorated though.. Once I get my pearls and crystals I will add lots of bling ;)

Nice! I loved it! :)

Your nose plug looked quite nice! Do they work well?

[Mermaid Crystal Shimmer]

They work very well, yes. It does leave a mark once removed because it's really tight. But it makes swimming easier and I can concentrate more on the dolphin kick technique of which I still need to learn a lot.

[Merman Arion]

They work very well, yes. It does leave a mark once removed because it's really tight. But it makes swimming easier and I can concentrate more on the dolphin kick technique of which I still need to learn a lot.

Can I purchase one like yours online? I like the transparent look. They are not really noticeable :)


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[Mermaid Crystal Shimmer]

I got it from a local sport store. Maybe there's something similar where you live?
http://www.perrysport.nl/spee-universal-noseclip_100012051.html

[Mermaid Crystal Shimmer]

20270
Added lots of pearls and crystals. Only need to add it to the back and my tail is all finished!

[Mermaid Adriel]

Amazing! :swoon:

[Ariel-Starfish]

I always love how u place the pearls on everything! :D

[Mermaid Crystal Shimmer]

This is mainly done to hide the stitching =) (And because I love pearls, and shiny stuff)

[Vela]

I really like your tail design! I am hoping to get started on my first tail soon!!! I love the idea of using Pearls as a decoration! I just might have to look into that!! Great Tail! :)