FaeryTail
08-15-2014, 03:06 PM
Well, since I've officially started, I thought I'd also start an official thread!
To begin I took my measurements for the neoprene base and plotted them on interfacing (with a 1-inch grid printed on, handy dandy!). Secondly, I determined the best places to put back-seam darts (widest points of darts going where the smallest circumferences of the body were), then made sure to add that width to the side seams (because in sewing you have to add back what you take away). Connected all the dots with my french curve, sewed up the side seams and darts, and voila! A fabric mer-me!
23416
Then, to test some ideas on how I want to rubber-ize the exterior, I made a mini-mer-me and stuffed it with grocery bags.
23417
I've got some leftover craft foam strips and wanted to see if wrapping it like a mummy would work. Looks like it's feasible, but I'll need to attach the strips from the outside with the form stuffed to get the right look (versus turning it inside out and sewing it). No pics since the adhesives I have don't like either the interfacing or the craft foam :(
Next Steps:
When we get a little wiggle room in our bank account, I'm gonna get a chunk of wood for my kickplate (or a better material if something else occurs to me) and some PVC pipe so I can add that to my measurements. Right now my pattern stops at my ankles. After that it's time to practice sewing scraps of neoprene. All that, and I'll be ordering a Finis Wave ASAP to start swim practice and after deconstruct it to use as a base for the fluke.
Thanks for following! :)
To begin I took my measurements for the neoprene base and plotted them on interfacing (with a 1-inch grid printed on, handy dandy!). Secondly, I determined the best places to put back-seam darts (widest points of darts going where the smallest circumferences of the body were), then made sure to add that width to the side seams (because in sewing you have to add back what you take away). Connected all the dots with my french curve, sewed up the side seams and darts, and voila! A fabric mer-me!
23416
Then, to test some ideas on how I want to rubber-ize the exterior, I made a mini-mer-me and stuffed it with grocery bags.
23417
I've got some leftover craft foam strips and wanted to see if wrapping it like a mummy would work. Looks like it's feasible, but I'll need to attach the strips from the outside with the form stuffed to get the right look (versus turning it inside out and sewing it). No pics since the adhesives I have don't like either the interfacing or the craft foam :(
Next Steps:
When we get a little wiggle room in our bank account, I'm gonna get a chunk of wood for my kickplate (or a better material if something else occurs to me) and some PVC pipe so I can add that to my measurements. Right now my pattern stops at my ankles. After that it's time to practice sewing scraps of neoprene. All that, and I'll be ordering a Finis Wave ASAP to start swim practice and after deconstruct it to use as a base for the fluke.
Thanks for following! :)