Mission: Improbable

[D@n63Rn00d13_454]

My biggest weakness is that I am way too ambitious. Which is probably why I don't just start by buying a tail or making a $20 one out of some tights and a monofin. But I saw this...



And I knew that it was just perfect. To try to make. And fail miserably. I hate myself sometimes��
But, shockingly enough, I figured out how to do a jellyfish for real. Some jellies have a dangly bit that isn't the tentacles, which looks like jellyfish-colored Kleenex. (See Figure A)



I could hide my legs in there, which solves most of the issues. Including walking, if I'm clever about it. There are two problems really.

1. I'm not sure how to make the swimming motion look realistic, with an undulating bell and stuff. I came up with some concepts, but nothing that's certain to work.

B. I have no bloody idea what materials to use for this. I need something like a brightly colored rubber hoop skirt. Which of course is available at my local Pink Rubber Clothing Store on Sarcasm Boulevard.

I know the real problem is that I am the king of overachievers, but do you have any idea what needs to be done besides corrective brain surgery?

[Iryna]

I can't see pictures unfortunately!


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[Mermaid Tami]

I can't see pictures either


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[Mermaid Jaffa]

I think they forgot to post pics.

[D@n63Rn00d13_454]

I fixed the pictures. If anyone has any suggestions, PLEASE let me know...

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Tail, have this color of spandex as it blends perfectly underwater.
https://www.theremnantwarehouse.com....ycra-aqua.html

For the jellyfish either add on to the tail, or your swimsuit, or both.

For the curly bits of the jellyfish, stretch the spandex as you sew the zigzag stitch on your sewing machine. What you end up with is, a piece of fabric that wavy along the edges. It'll look like kelp.

Another way to create the wavy edges or gathering (that scrunched up look), is to sew with straight stitch, pull one thread to create that scrunchy part, then sew over it so that it holds.

For the bell of the jellyfish (that rounded part), make a circle skirt, up to you how much flare (how big and poofy), either sew it to your swimsuit or the waist of the tail.

The long tendrils (jellyfish arms), cut long pieces or make long tubes (turned inside out so you don't see the seams) with spandex.

Oh and add bling as necessary.

[D@n63Rn00d13_454]

Thanks for all the tips. It's going to be a bloody nightmare to do this without giving away the secret, but I can probably ask "Santa" for materials, and I think we have a sewing machine...

[D@n63Rn00d13_454]

P.S, YOU'RE giving ME advice about bling? I am the freakin' KING OF BLING! I'll need a few warehouses full of glitter...

[Keiris]

Sounds like a fun but daunting project. Good luck!!!

[Rett]

Sounds like it will be a unique project!

[D@n63Rn00d13_454]

Yeah, everyone just defaults to fish but there's a whole wide ocean out there: sharks, and eels, and squid, and even lobsters. I have no bloody idea how to get spandex since "Santa" (*cough* MY MOM *cough*) is done with her Christmas shopping already, but I have everything else mostly figured out and we have a sewing kit already.
One question though... How the shark am I supposed to keep up with everyone else? I'm an ok swimmer, but there's just no way to incorporate fins into this.

[Rett]

I guess this tail would be more of an art and display kind of tail as opposed to a super functional swimming tail.

[D@n63Rn00d13_454]

I guess. I'm a pretty good swimmer, but if this slows me down, I'm initiating Plan B, which might actually be a better choice of mersonas for me. No, I will not tell you what Plan B is unless I need it. Otherwise, I WILL TAKE THE SECRET TO MY GRAVE! MUAHAHAHAHAHA!

[Mermaid Mia]

I would say if you do two legs practice your breastroke kick, that will give the right bobing motion and is a pretty good kick for without fins.
Also, I did a jellyfish tail design for my mom that incorporated a more traditional tail, don't know if its something you would be interested in.



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[Rett]

Just a thought, if you don't mind not having your legs together you could almost make like designed tights underneath rather than having your legs together. It might make swimming in this particular costume easier at least.

[D@n63Rn00d13_454]

The tights thing was already sort of what I had in mind.
I had also considered the breaststroke kick. (Great minds think alike!) I had scrapped it, though, because how am I going to make the bell move along with my legs? Would twine work? I'm not concerned with it showing, I can use fishing line or something the same color as the rest of the design.

[D@n63Rn00d13_454]

I would say if you do two legs practice your breastroke kick, that will give the right bobing motion and is a pretty good kick for without fins.
Also, I did a jellyfish tail design for my mom that incorporated a more traditional tail, don't know if its something you would be interested in.



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This is really cool and was also something I had considered, just adding a non-moving skirt/bell/dinglehopper and using the legs for actual motion.

[Mermaid Mia]

This is really cool and was also something I had considered, just adding a non-moving skirt/bell/dinglehopper and using the legs for actual motion.

Yeah i really like the legs hidden in separate tentacles for free-movement idea though. Especially cause my mom LOVES jellyfish but is not the strongest swimmer...


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