Make A Mermaid Tail

How To Make A Mermaid Tail

So you have decided to make your own mermaid tail. Making your own mermaid tail has its advantages – you can choose whatever color you want and make it so it fits your body perfectly. Let’s be honest, the common sizes don’t fit anyone absolutely perfectly. May be you are too short or too tall, too skinny or fleshy – the homemade mermaid tail is right for you.

We assure you it is not as hard as it seems – just follow our guide and you will do great.

What you need for your mermaid tail:

-         2-3 yards of nylon-lycra fabric

-         A monofin or regular swim fins

-         Heavy duty matching thread

-         Swimming elastic

-         A plastic zipper

-         Pattern paper

-         Measuring tape

The first step in making a tail is to design it.

For your mermaid tail we highly recommend the monofin. A pair of regular swim fins will do the job but the monofin creates the illusion of a realistic mermaid tail.

When choosing the fabric you will want a nylon-lycra mix that is used for swimsuits. You will need at least 2 yards for a basic tail and if you want long flukes you’d better buy 3 yards.

We recommend picking up something that is pleasing to the eye but thick. Thickness will prevent the tail from being transparent and will ensure longer life.

The zipper will make it easier for you to remove the monofin and clean your mermaid tail after use.

You will need some pattern paper or a large poster board to draw the pattern. Prepare your measuring tape as well.

Here are the measurements that you will need for your pattern:

Waist to ankles

Waist to knees

Hips

Thighs together

Knees together

Calves together

Ankles together

Then divide those measurements by half – the result will be the inches to use for your pattern. Place the measurements on the paper and connect the dots in a mermaid tail shape. Don’t forget to draw in  the monofin too. In your pattern you will also want to include any flukes that you desire.

*Be sure to paint, attach and sew the flukes to the tail before you sew the two large pieces together.

Now you have your very own mermaid tail designed.

To add in your fins you need to slice a hole in the fabric where you’ve predetermined you want them to be. After sawing your fins together and painting them you stick them through the hole, you pin it together and put that through the sewing machine.

Before you sew your tail make sure that the two pieces are put together with the right side in and then pin along the edges. The two cuts need to line up perfectly. When sewing your tail you may want to remove the pins but it is not necessary.
For inserting the zipper we recommend a great tutorial on YouTube  Zipper Tutorial
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb_I1vkqPK4&feature=related

Attention – do not  iron flat (as they show in the video) your mermaid tail fabric because the heat will ruin it.

When you have finished the sewing turn your mermaid tail the right side out. It is ready to swim in.

We wish you happy mermaiding.

We hope you have enjoyed reading and following our guide “How to make a mermaid tail”. Feel free to send us photos and videos of your homemade mermaid tails.

Tagged as: make a mermaid tail, mermaid tail