pre-sequined fabrics?

[Aziara]

I'm looking at fabric with the intention of making a new tailskin in the future. I found a green leopard print 2-way stretch polyester spandex with tiny clear sequins on it.

http://www.spandexhouse.com/search-result.php?pline=&searchKye=seq-371

I love the way that the sequins catch the light, it looks like tiny scales! And no painting, yay! But why have I never seen this sort of fabric used for tails? Is there some sort of issue with using a pre-sequined fabric?

[Anahita]

Oh, it's glitter dot! That stuff gets used all the time in dance and ice skating outfits. It can work for a tail, but it won't last particularly long. The sequins will peel off quicker than the design pattern will wear off. That's probably why it doesn't get used in tails a lot/at all.

[Aziara]

Oh well. I may use it anyway because the only other similar pattern I found was stretch velvet. If the color holds up, it'll be worth it for me. I'm keeping my eyes open for other options just the same.

[Miyu]

My tail is made with spandex with some of those dots on it (not all over), and I am actually making a new tail to swim in because I'm afraid of all the neato scales peeling off my tail the first time I swim in it! -_-;

However, I think that glitter-dot fabrics can make marvelous "dry" tails! I have a small stash of silver and gold glitter dot I intend on using in tails for land-use only.

[Mermaid Fenicia]

My dark yellow/orange tail has those golden dots and is stretch velvet. I've used it very much (dry and wet) and almost all of the dot's are still there :)

[Miyu]

Hmm, that's good to know, Fenicia! I'll have to take some swatches of my patterned tail's fabric to the pool and tie them to myself as I swim so I can test it (dunno how my cheap spandex holds up to your stretch velvet) :p

[Aziara]

Found the same pattern minus the glitter dots on ebay. So no worries about anything falling or scraping off. Showed it to my hubby, and he said it looks like a muskie. So I'm a tough fishie, lol. This will be my 'yay I'm back to pre-pregnancy weight' celebratory tail, so I'll be making it sometime next spring/summer.
25960 25961

[Miyu]

Yay for fellow "tough fishie" tails! I also have one that I guess looks like a cat pattern? It looks like exotic fish pattern to me, but other people think it looks like cat-print, LOL!

[Aziara]

I really do think your leopard print tail is awesome, Miyu! That's one of the reasons I started thinking of finding some for a tail(hope you don't think I'm copying, that's why I got a very different color). Leopard/cat print has always been a favorite of mine. I had a carpet of it as a teen in my room, haha. Not to mention all my various leopard print clothes.

[Miyu]

Aww, yay! :$ I don't mind at all, I think we need more fun-patterned tails out there! I'm flattered that I was a source of inspiration for your own tail. :)

[Meronica]

I made a gold tail with this stuff for a photshoot! It was used in a bathtub with only the leg area visible, so it didn't have a monofin or anything, but it holds up great as long as you don't scrape it up on rough surfaces (just like any other tail material, lol!)