Forrest's Delve into the Deep (A Journey to Make a First Tail)

[Forrest]

Hello everyone! I recently dove in to the MerNetwork, and I am already in over my head!

Knowing the prices and problems of starting off silicone, I debated whether I should try spandex or neoprene for my first tail. Considering the fact that neoprene is difficult to work with for beginners, I finally settled on spandex.

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The colors look strange due to lighting and silly phone cameras, but the fabrics I found at Jo-Ann's are absolutely gorgeous together.

I plan on using the blue scaled fabric for the sides and having the gold scales run down the middle, with the mesh coming off in tendrils with the fluke. Probably a little too much for someone who can barely sew a straight line, but I always overestimate my skills, haha!

I plan on buying a Hydra monofin to use with the tail, going by Sasha's tailmaking video techniques. Once I get my next paycheck I am splurging on the monofin and I will be ready start!

Wish me luck, everyone! And please, if you have any tips or criticisms, let me know! I want to make this tail the best I possibly can!

[Kishiko]

Hi! And don't worry I did the same thing with my tail, I wasn't on here for very long either lol! One thing I will say about the gold, I LOVE the idea of the gold in the middle, but remember that you will have the sunny seam where the two fabrics are sewn together. If you wanted you could paint it gold so you have a nice seamless, graduated line of color! If you really wanted to make it look realistic, you could airbrush it. (: Anyway, I love your fabrics and good luck with your tail! I'll definitely be watching this thread!

[Forrest]

Updaaaate!

Fearing that my skills are not yet at the point I need them to be, I bought some more spandex to attempt a practice tail.

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Then I struggled to make a pattern for the tail following Sasha's (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtwnOQg_KH8) guide, fighting with my dogs all the while for floor space.

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The measurements are all set, now I just need to decide on a fluke style. I am considering cutting up an old yoga mat I have in the garage to fill the fluke until I get a monofin, that way it stays steady in the water and it doesn't just flop about.

I am really excited to finish it off, which I will hopefully be doing in the next hour or so!

[Kishiko]

Personally I would wait until you get a monofin. A yoga man is just going to be floppy and not propel you at all. But I'm excited to see how it looks! ^.^


Sent from my shellphone using Mertalk

[Forrest]

Update!

I finished my practice tail! I am REALLY glad I decided to do a practice, because I have a LOT I need to improve upon before I use the original spandex I bought.
I decided upon using the yoga mat, just to keep the fluke steady for now, and I am pretty happy with how it turned out.

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My dogs judge me. Ruuuuude.

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And there's an awkward picture of me trying to get a full body shot, haha. xD

My sewing skills are abysmal at best, so I am happy I had the chance to practice before I take on the real project. I just can't wait to swim in a tail!

[Forrest]

So I was offered a mermaid modeling gig with an old friend, who is now an outstanding model and photographer herself (she has a gallery going up soon omg). I need to get my tail designed and finished relatively soon. I am rather nervous. o-o

[Miyu]

Ooh, that could turn out quite lovely! Spandex is great for beginner's tails... even if it is a horrible, stretchy beast of a fabric to work with :P (I had sworn never to use synthetic stretch fabrics before getting into mermaiding, LOL).

The Hydra monofin is great, I'm a total beginner with the dolphin kick and such, and it gives me great propulsion, but also looks quite natural and fluid (plus it's translucent)... And the lack of ridges is always nice :)

I say even a beginner can make fancy spandex tails! You can do it! I went a little crazy with my first (and currently only) tail, and I think it is worth it to put in a little more work for a nice fabric tail!