Measuring neoprene?

[NixieOona]

So I've been going through the forum and have not found a thread about this. I was wondering how to best do the measurements for a neoprene tail ? I was planning on laying down tracing my legs +monofin and then leaving a sewing seam. But now my mom is making me insecure telling me that that will make it to tight ? Is that the case or can I do it the way I planned should I do a different method if yes which one?

[Gem Stone]

that's the way I am doing mine. I've done it before and that's the best way to get a nice tight fitting tail. it won't be too tight, but you can't have your tail falling off either. I haven't sewn my neoprene yet though.

[Ilyena]

I don't think tracing will work too well as it doesn't account for the curve of your legs and therefore won't wrap around enough. There is a tutorial in the tail making index which shows how to measure and is how most mers here have. A couple of links of how to measure ^_^ Good luck

http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?4157
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtwnOQg_KH8

[Seatan]

I don't think tracing will work too well as it doesn't account for the curve of your legs and therefore won't wrap around enough. There is a tutorial in the tail making index which shows how to measure and is how most mers here have. A couple of links of how to measure ^_^ Good luck.

Tracing will work in the instance of neoprene because it is stretchy enough to account for the curve of your legs. If you build in that curve, it won't hug your body. Just like wetsuits seem like they are WAY too small to fit your body until you force them on, making the tail to the pattern of your traced legs allows it to hug you nice and tight. You might need a little more allowance with 5mm or 7mm neoprene, but for thinner neoprene tracing will work fine.

[Ilyena]

Well it worked that way for me (neoprene is 3mm thick though), I can't have much stretch because of the paint work. But if it worked that way for you, awesome :) trial first before final though just in case (like with most things)^_^