Making a fabric tail.

[MermaidBrandie]

Ok so, my boyfriend is probably gonna get a Mahina Merfin for my birthday in april. (I'm so excited!). I'm going to be making a spandex tail for it and I have some questions. I've found a few websites that will give me fabric samples and what not, but does anyone have any favourite sites? Or fabrics? I'm wanting a dark green/black tail. I'm going to make the fluke a black with the main body being green (or ever dark blue). Also, anyone know of any stretch sequin fabric that would work? Should I double line it? Also I saw in another thread that the ring lord is making lightweight, clear, plastic scale-male scales. Anyone used these in place of sequins? How lightweight are they? Would I need to use neoprene under the spandex if I were to do that?

I've seen a few threads on other fabric tails under the how to forum thread but none of the videos linked and what not really seemed to help so I figured I would ask here, and then update this thread once I start working on the tail.

EDIT: 1/27/14

I found a Oceanika Merfin on craigslist near me and am meeting tonight to buy it! So excited!

I'm PLANNING to make a neoprene tail, and put a spandex fluke because I like the way it looks over the merfin.

Edit: 2/5/14

I LOVE my merfin, I've gone swimming in it. Next step is to make the duct tape dummy for the pattern and then order supplies. The ordering supplies bit might have to wait since I may have to make a surprise visit to texas.

Edit: 3/30/14

Got a 10$ wetsuit off of craigslist, bought some black spandex for 9$ and modyfied the crap out of it! I now have a fully swimmable mermaid tail. Next up: sequins!

[MermaidBrandie]

Here's pictures of my new fin! I modified the toe area and the top. I also got neoprene socks to wear with it. :)

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c229/Coyote-Walker/IMG_20140204_090959797-1.jpg (http://s28.photobucket.com/user/Coyote-Walker/media/IMG_20140204_090959797-1.jpg.html)

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c229/Coyote-Walker/IMG_20140204_091007336-1.jpg (http://s28.photobucket.com/user/Coyote-Walker/media/IMG_20140204_091007336-1.jpg.html)

Pics of the tail!!

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c229/Coyote-Walker/2014-03-30130839.jpg (http://s28.photobucket.com/user/Coyote-Walker/media/2014-03-30130839.jpg.html)

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c229/Coyote-Walker/2014-03-30130710.jpg (http://s28.photobucket.com/user/Coyote-Walker/media/2014-03-30130710.jpg.html)

[Mermaid Dottie]

I liked my experience with foamorder.com. I really encourage you to make a duct tape dummy of your legs for this, as neoprene has beautiful stretch to it. I made mine too big twice in a row.
When sewing it, sandwich your seams between super thin, smooth fabric, or tissue paper. Otherwise it won't move freely through your machine. Check the sharpness of your needle often, as the rubber will dull it. Since you're covering the neoprene skin with spandex, you should get some neoprene that has a lining on one side, and have the lining touching your skin. Easier to get on your body that way. I also would go with a thicker neoprene than 1.5mm, because that's what I got and it got a hole in the heel first swim out. Thicker stuff should last you a bit longer.

I should mention that all this advice comes of learning from mistakes that I made with my neoprene.

[MermaidBrandie]

Thanks! I've been wanting some advice from someone! So you think 2mm would be good? Did you need a walking foot for your machine?

[Echidna]

Those fabrics are very beautiful and shiny.
Holograph, I assume?

Because if you plan to use that tail in water/swimming, you might want to rethink using anything with holograph on it.
(I know from painful experience it comes off really quickly :p)

[Aino Revontuletar]

Lovely fabrics! They really do look like scales

[MermaidBrandie]

Uploaded more pics!

Decided not to go with the spandex fabric cover, gonna smother this thing in sequins!!

[MermaidBrandie]

Ok so despite the fact that I know the sparkly bits are going to come of, I decided to cover the fluke was holograph spandex. When it starts coming of I'll paint it. I really just hate the way sequins look on a fluke. :)

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c229/Coyote-Walker/2014-05-03125108.jpg (http://s28.photobucket.com/user/Coyote-Walker/media/2014-05-03125108.jpg.html)

I've started putting the little sequins on, they'll fade up into the bigger sequins.

[MerEmma]

That fabric is SO pretty! <3

[Mermaid Adriel]

really beautiful! <3

[Little_Orca]

Looking good. :)

[Ashe]

Liking it :)

[MermaidBrandie]

Thanks guys! I'm super excited for it. :)

[Mermaid Galene]

Gorgeous tail design! I'm planing a neoprene tail with some sequins, too. I'm curious why you went with individual sequins instead of a sequin fabric. Was that just to get the sequin color gradations you wanted?

[Mermaid Lorelei]

This is looking very nice!

Also, your inbox is full. :P

[Ashton]

looks really cool so far!

[MermaidBrandie]

Gorgeous tail design! I'm planing a neoprene tail with some sequins, too. I'm curious why you went with individual sequins instead of a sequin fabric. Was that just to get the sequin color gradations you wanted?
I was informed all the sequin fabric would be to heavy once wet. Plus this way I can get that gradient and I'm going to be putting a design into the tail. Turquise fading to silver on the belly with black stripes. :)

[MermaidBrandie]

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c229/Coyote-Walker/e1beff5a-43dd-4747-824d-17277eecc86a.jpg (http://s28.photobucket.com/user/Coyote-Walker/media/e1beff5a-43dd-4747-824d-17277eecc86a.jpg.html)
Getting more sequins done!!

[MermaidBrandie]

Got the dorsal fin on!! And more sequins! I've started on the shell sequins and even tho they don't go over my ankle yet, I'm still really happy. :)

In progress fin:
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c229/Coyote-Walker/2014-07-10172252.jpg (http://s28.photobucket.com/user/Coyote-Walker/media/2014-07-10172252.jpg.html)

Finished fin:
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c229/Coyote-Walker/2014-07-10222430.jpg (http://s28.photobucket.com/user/Coyote-Walker/media/2014-07-10222430.jpg.html)

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c229/Coyote-Walker/2014-07-10223733.jpg (http://s28.photobucket.com/user/Coyote-Walker/media/2014-07-10223733.jpg.html)

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c229/Coyote-Walker/2014-07-10223307.jpg (http://s28.photobucket.com/user/Coyote-Walker/media/2014-07-10223307.jpg.html)

[Vela]

I love your idea for you tail and how it is coming out! I cannot wait to see more updates! Makes me want to start my tail!

[Odette]

WOOO! That's gorgeous!

[Seatan]

LOVELOVELOVELOVELOVE so far!

[Raayvhen]

Is your puppy a toy fox terrier? Looks a lot like my River.

[Mermaid Galene]

Really beautiful use of color!

[Esmai]

Hi im new here. I love how you made your own tail. Hope i can make one also in the future. :) hope you post a finished product of it

[Mermaid Adriel]

JUST AMAZING!

[MermaidBrandie]

At Raayvhen:
He's a rat terrier, but they're very closely related. :) His name is Judge!

Thanks so much everybody!! I'm really happy with my tail so far! I've finally got the sequins to the ankle, which means I've started on the first black stripe! :)

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c229/Coyote-Walker/10518978_752854598071226_5088869630370693582_n.jpg (http://s28.photobucket.com/user/Coyote-Walker/media/10518978_752854598071226_5088869630370693582_n.jpg .html)

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c229/Coyote-Walker/934744_752854574737895_3131620427197892068_n.jpg (http://s28.photobucket.com/user/Coyote-Walker/media/934744_752854574737895_3131620427197892068_n.jpg.h tml)

[Mermaid Isabel]

At Raayvhen:
He's a rat terrier, but they're very closely related. :) His name is Judge!

Thanks so much everybody!! I'm really happy with my tail so far! I've finally got the sequins to the ankle, which means I've started on the first black stripe! :)

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c229/Coyote-Walker/10518978_752854598071226_5088869630370693582_n.jpg (http://s28.photobucket.com/user/Coyote-Walker/media/10518978_752854598071226_5088869630370693582_n.jpg .html)

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c229/Coyote-Walker/934744_752854574737895_3131620427197892068_n.jpg (http://s28.photobucket.com/user/Coyote-Walker/media/934744_752854574737895_3131620427197892068_n.jpg.h tml)
omg!!!! you have so much patience!!!! after a while I won't be able to continue!!!

[MermaidBrandie]

I have days where I just admire it and swear I'll never touch sequins again....then I take it swimming and see them in the water and go "oh now I have to finish it! they look sooooo good!!" lol. Last time I worked on it, I serious sewed for like 5 hours.... O.o ....I got a blister on my finger from the needle and am still waiting for that to go away so I can start up again. :) A few rows at a time, these sequins are so tiny!

[MermaidBrandie]

Got more sequins done!!

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c229/Coyote-Walker/10544352_758295250860494_877236088762558125_n.jpg (http://s28.photobucket.com/user/Coyote-Walker/media/10544352_758295250860494_877236088762558125_n.jpg. html)

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c229/Coyote-Walker/10341563_758295247527161_6850164446120728008_n.jpg (http://s28.photobucket.com/user/Coyote-Walker/media/10341563_758295247527161_6850164446120728008_n.jpg .html)

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c229/Coyote-Walker/10247290_758756910814328_973107600672175381_n.jpg (http://s28.photobucket.com/user/Coyote-Walker/media/10247290_758756910814328_973107600672175381_n.jpg. html)



The pic of the one with my hand in it is for sequin size referance. :)


:phew:I should have a quick vid up soon as well, I'll post it up here.

[*Celine*]

YAY, another sequin tail!!! very nice!!!

[MermaidBrandie]

http://youtu.be/PP29rEIf2Zg

Video!!

[Mermaid Wesley]

Wow!

[Ilyena]

Pretty!!!!

[MermaidBrandie]

Took a break from working on it, went to the Rocky Mountian Furry Convention and had a blast. I took my tail with me and may have started a thing! lol
I also got another friend hooked on the whole mermaid thing, so I made me, her and my other friend already into it matching bracelets. :)

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c229/Coyote-Walker/79fd673b-795b-42a7-b7a7-377246629b86.jpg (http://s28.photobucket.com/user/Coyote-Walker/media/79fd673b-795b-42a7-b7a7-377246629b86.jpg.html)

[MermaidBrandie]

For anyone paying attention to this thread, I've been sick with pneumonia and haven't been able to work on my tail at all. D: So no updates for a little while longer.

[MermaidBrandie]

So i'm taking the sequins off my tail and starting over. I'm not happy with the way the stripe looks, so I'm gonna nix the stripes and just bunch all the sequins together. I did paint part of the fluke today!

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c229/Coyote-Walker/fluke1.jpg (http://s28.photobucket.com/user/Coyote-Walker/media/fluke1.jpg.html)

I need to put another coat on, and I'm going to blend the white and the blue together better, but I ran out of paint. lol

[The Harlem Mermaid]

Great job! I also want to get a mahina fin, didnt know they would advertise on craig list what did you put in search fo it? going to go check now :) i plan to make a neoprene fabric tail and have it painted with scales.. your came out so lovely CoyoteWalker (http://mernetwork.com/index/member.php?2252-CoyoteWalker)

[MermaidBrandie]

I just searched merfin and it popped up. I've also typed in monofin and mermaid, but i found mine under merfin. I think it was a fluke (HAHA) to be honest.

I've taken all the sequins off this and will be restarting. I'm considering taking the spandex off the fluke as well and starting fresh there too but i'm not sure.

[Mermaid Isabel]

good job!!! everything looks gorgeous so far!!! keep going like that! :D

[MermaidBrandie]

I have awful news and good news.
The awful:
I've taken apart the tail I started. I just wasn't satisfied with it so I pulled the merfin out, and took all the sequins off to reuse and am starting a new tail.

The good:
I'm really really happy with the new tail I have started!! It's spandex with a powermesh lining and I'll be sewing the sequins on that one instead! I've very eager to get the sequins started, but I still have to put in the elastic waistband and the zipper at the bottom of the fluke before I can start that! Pics as soon as I get them!

[PearlieMae]

Sometimes you just know when something isn't going to work, no matter how hard you push. Good luck with the new one!

[MermaidBrandie]

Thanks, Pearlie. :)
My boyfriend got me monster maker clay for Christmas (it came early, just like him - ba dum tss. Sorry! Haha) so I'm going to be starting a fluke sculpt once all the Christmas stuff is done. Any advice?


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[MermaidBrandie]

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/01/14/4ab381c6de6705d55fe43a49009db29d.jpghttp://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/01/14/456415841399660449f41697b31ff7c3.jpg
Scratched the sequin idea and made a spandex tail. My friend is a makeup artist and cosplayer, she put down the base coat tonight with SPRAY PAINT. We did some stretch tests and water tests and it seems to be fine. I won't be swimming in it until after an upcoming photoshoot. My friend will also be doing hand painting details and she's pretty excited to add a mermaid tail to her portfolio.


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[Yulia]

What type of spray paint did you use?

[MermaidBrandie]

I don't know the brand but it's from the hardware store.


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[courtneymermaid]

Wow! What an amazing adventure in tail making so far! I look forward to seeing even more progress! Also, I've done exactly that too, where you start a tail and then restart. It's all part of the fun and learning process! Keep up the awesome work! ^_^

[Mary Marine]

I love the air brushing on the tail. The color pallet makes it looks so natural! But I was wondering how the is the tail sewn around the fluke. Is there an opening to take the monofin out from the bottom? Are there drainage holes? I have a Merfin too and am about to sew my spandex, so I've been looking to see what other people have tried.

[MermaidBrandie]

There's a heavy duty zipper in the bottom. :)


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[mollythemermaid]

If you already bought the sequin fabric and have some left over, I just made a post of all the different things you can do with mermaid sequin fabric. There was more than I thought! Enjoy!

MERMAID SEQUIN FABRIC (http://www.everythingmermaid.com/mermaid-sequin-fabric/)

42529

[Ashton]

I love sequin fabric.

[mollythemermaid]

I love sequin fabric.

Right? It could be a form of therapy :)

[Ashton]

Yes, I wish in a way there was more of it. But I also know how it hurts the environment and sequins don't break down very fast (much like glitter).

[MermaidAuquita]

At Raayvhen:
He's a rat terrier, but they're very closely related. :) His name is Judge!

Thanks so much everybody!! I'm really happy with my tail so far! I've finally got the sequins to the ankle, which means I've started on the first black stripe! :)

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c229/Coyote-Walker/10518978_752854598071226_5088869630370693582_n.jpg (http://s28.photobucket.com/user/Coyote-Walker/media/10518978_752854598071226_5088869630370693582_n.jpg .html)

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c229/Coyote-Walker/934744_752854574737895_3131620427197892068_n.jpg (http://s28.photobucket.com/user/Coyote-Walker/media/934744_752854574737895_3131620427197892068_n.jpg.h tml)

Omg there sooooo pretty


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