Help with fins!

[Mermaid Ixa]

So I have recently decided to add a dorsal fin to my fabric spandex tail. How do I do it? I looked for videos and I looked around this forum and couldn't find anything. :( Any help?

Thanks

[Deepsea merman]

I think you can sew the dorsal fin in your spandex tail.

[Echidna]

Dorsal fins are tricky.
I've never seen a tail with a stable, upright dorsal so far.
(Does someone have one?)

Many tails do have a "dorsal crest" on it- shorter than a single dorsal, and along the length of the tail, but all of these tend to be flattened to the side instead of being upright, which looks rather unnatural and not really good imo.
I'd rather have no crest than that.

Because it's so tricky to make a fin or crest to stand up in the right place, is probably why nobody has done it yet.
There would be ways for a single dorsal, looking like a shark's or orca's fin, but such tails don't seem to be very popular.

[Mermaid Catkid]

Make spines with like hot glue or silicone and it should stand up, like PearlieMae's.

[Fun123joker]

Make spines with like hot glue or silicone and it should stand up, like PearlieMae's.
Omg why didn't I think of that! Well not for a dorsal but for the fluke in away.

[Mermaid Ixa]

Thanks guys! Also to sew fins on the side seams I would just take a little of the sewing out and re do it-that would work right?

[Kishiko]

If you have already stitched your tail on the side, use a seam ripper and pull the stitches where the fin will go. Try to keep as close to the measurement of the fin as possible. **MAKE SURE you back stitch on both ends of the new seam a few times, and be sure you stitch over the original seam when you back stitch this is crucial to make sure the seam won't unravel! Best of luck, I am also doing the same thing!!! Have fun!(:

[Mermaid Catkid]

I might just add some side fins to my two tails.;)

[Mermaid Tula]

The way I did mine was I made several 'spines'/ triangles that curve to make a shark fin looking style. I split the fabric, and hand sewed them in. Out of water, they don't stand up by themselves, but when I move, they stand pretty well.

[MerEmma]

I'm confused though on HOW you sew a dorsal. Do you just cut extra and then fold it to one side and sew down it? I've been trying to find a visual on here for a while but no such luck yet.

[Kishiko]

Emma: basically you mark out where you want the dorsal on the back panel of tail fabric, cut a slit and sew the dorsal into the slit forming a new seam.

[Mermaid Adriel]

LittleOrca's tutorial could be really helpful :)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XARgUycggk

[Mermaid Ixa]

Emma: basically you mark out where you want the dorsal on the back panel of tail fabric, cut a slit and sew the dorsal into the slit forming a new seam.

Thanks that is really helpful! I now get it :)