Making my first tail! Sequins!

[Aubrey]

So I have gotten the approval from my parents to start making a tail! My aunt manages a local thrift store and gets half off everything, so she's going to pick me up a cheap wetsuit I can cut up and use as a base to paint and sew sequins to. I also got help offers from my two favorite mer-minions to help sew the sequins! I haven't decided on a website to buy the sequins from yet, but i do know i want at least 20mm sequins, bigger would also be great (less sewing!). I also haven't chosen if I want shell shaped sequins or just circular ones. If anyone can recommend websites and if shells or circles are better that'd be much appreciated! I'm looking to make a ballet shoe colored tail, so i'd need those colored sequins. I'll attach the color and my design later, but this thread will show my progress throughout the journey!

[Aquos Savar]

Hey, Aubrey. That there is one big project for yourself. Good luck. As for sequins, you need to make sure about what you buy, as some can lose color overtime being submerged in a body of water.

Good luck

[AniaR]

there's some great links here in the tail making reference guide. It should be the first place you check I think most stuff is listed there and compiled that we already know on the forum ;)

[Aubrey]

there's some great links here in the tail making reference guide. It should be the first place you check I think most stuff is listed there and compiled that we already know on the forum ;)

I've checked out most of them, but I am VERY indecisive and I need a second opinion before I do anything. I've narrowed down most decisions from seeing other threads, but I just can't seem to choose for the sequins!


I'm just a mermaid who got lost in between the ocean and the dance studio.

[Aubrey]

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/07/27/u5anyded.jpg this is the color scheme for the tail, a light pink to silver is what I'm aiming for.


I'm just a mermaid who got lost in between the ocean and the dance studio.

[AniaR]

Yup and in those links sequins and opinions of them are discussed at length. Its good to check because a lot of people who used em aren't active on the forum anymore

[Mermaid Galene]

That's going to be beautiful, Aubrey! I made a sequin top using Cartwright's 20mm crystal iris paillettes (round), and I was very pleased with the outcome. (There's a photo of it in the Show Off Your Tops thread.) The round pailletes were really easy to sew on with a sewing machine right across the top of each sequin. Cartwright also has 30mm paillettes.

[Aubrey]

That's going to be beautiful, Aubrey! I made a sequin top using Cartwright's 20mm crystal iris paillettes (round), and I was very pleased with the outcome. (There's a photo of it in the Show Off Your Tops thread.) The round pailletes were really easy to sew on with a sewing machine right across the top of each sequin. Cartwright also has 30mm paillettes.

I absolutely adore your top! [emoji7]
I really like how the iris paillettes look, and the fact I don't have to hand sew is wonderful(I hate hand sewing with a passion, I made matching mother and daughter tutus for a relative while my machine was broken. Thankfully the fabric was red because I am horrible at hand sewing.) I'm still deciding on colors but i think these are the sequins!


I'm just a mermaid who got lost in between the ocean and the dance studio.

[Aubrey]

I've decided on these http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/07/27/u7ugy7yb.jpg for the main color andhttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/07/27/y4u2apy9.jpg these for accents. I'm going to start with about 2,000 of each and buy more when I need them.


I'm just a mermaid who got lost in between the ocean and the dance studio.

[Mermaid Galene]

Those sequins will be perfect for your color scheme. You'll be pleased with how quickly you can make progress on a sewing machine. I look forward to following your project! I love ballerina black and pink, ever since I took ballet years ago.

[Aubrey]

I just finished drawing out the tail design and top design. Pretty simple but I am in love with it! http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/07/27/7ave4e8u.jpg
The back piece(I'm not really sure exactly what it's going to look like so I just put something there) will cover the zipper so it's an easy transition from tail to no tail in case I get claustrophobic. The fluke will be a cheap homemade duct tape monofin covered in silicone and then it will be hand painted. The silver sequins will accent the middle of the front part of the tail, and also the side fins. It only took me four tries, and 3 hours to color it how I wanted.*sarcasm* 1 am rolled around quick! And to end on a good note, I will be ordering sequins on Monday!


I'm just a mermaid who got lost in between the ocean and the dance studio.

[Mermaid Galene]

I love your design, too! I'm getting ready to order my sequins for my lemon & chocolate tail. I really think sequined tails rock!

[Aubrey]

Galene, I think my favorite thing about sequin tails is them in the sun. Your lemon & chocolate tail is going to turn out gorgeous! I'm excited to see how yours turns out!


I'm just a mermaid who got lost in between the ocean and the dance studio.

[Lostariel Telrunya]

That looks like an awesome design! I would highly suggest, if you are starting out with a duct tape monofin, to keep that as a temporary solution. It looks like you are putting a lot of energy into the tail (which is great!), and it would be sad to have the effect possibly dampened by a lower quality monofin. If you are on a tight budget, get a stiff mat, or make one with some lexan. It will really improve confidence in the water, and give a more realistic flow to the tail. :)

[Aubrey]

I think I'll do that instead of duct tape! I like the lexan idea, thank you!


I'm just a mermaid who got lost in between the ocean and the dance studio.

[Lostariel Telrunya]

Trust me, out of all of the homemade monofins I've seen, lexan gives you the most freedom for the thickness and overall propulsion/fishy-swishyness (it's a term). I'm actually super excited for this!

[Aubrey]

It's settled! A lexan monofin! I'm so excited for this mini project!


I'm just a mermaid who got lost in between the ocean and the dance studio.

[Lostariel Telrunya]

Oh my goodness, now you've got me all excited. Why the heck do I get more excited for other peoples' tails than my own??? Post pictures :)

[Aubrey]

I get really excited about other peoples and then I realize "oh wait, I can't do the exact same thing." I promise I will post a ton!


I'm just a mermaid who got lost in between the ocean and the dance studio.

[MermaidBrandie]

Be sure to look at Pealie's thread when you go to make your monofin. :)

[Aubrey]

After a solid three weeks of debate with my very crafty father we have came to an agreement that making a neoprene/latex tail would be a better decision, and it'd be done quicker because he wont help me sew sequins on, but he would help with latex casting and painting. School starts for me September 3rd, but it's junior year so nothing really happens towards the beginning. And i might be having surgery in three months (I'd be out for dance competition season :cry:) so i'd be out of school for almost 2 full months so i could easily make a tail in that time! A zipper will also be put into the design because dancer butts are struggles sometimes. So change of plans, but in a good way! It'll be done hopefully before our trip to the grand canyon in october(any mers out there? I'd loooove to meet another mer!) I'll attempt to keep this thread updated!

[Raayvhen]

I just had surgery, so I'm curious what kind of surgery you might be having?

[Aubrey]

They're just pulling my jaw forward and doing something to the roof of my mouth. I've had the bottom jaw pulled forward already so hopefully recovery is easier than three months of pudding.

[Aubrey]

I just finished making my lexan monofin! It was only around $15 total and it works wonderfully, I'll post pictures soon!

[Aubrey]

I know I haven't been updating everyone on my tail progress, and there's a simple excuse, I've made no progress really. It's been a tough two months, I've had three of my closest friends pass away in the past two months, two of which were in the past week. I set the tail bin aside as my dance team did tribute posters and notes to the friends and family of these boys nearly every day. I hope to use the tail to get my mind off of it, but here are the lexan monofin pictures as promised. 24751 24752