How to Make a Mermaid Tail Easy

Do you dream of being a mermaid? With a little bit of sewing and easily obtainable materials, you can make your very own mermaid tail. You can look like a mermaid whenever you want, whether it's swimming at the local beach or pool or walking around your next Halloween party.

1. 1

   Trace around a pair of water slippers onto a sheet of poster board. Place the slippers on top of a sheet of poster paper, with the heels touching the edge. Make sure that the inner edges of slippers are touching, then trace around them with a pen.^[1]

   • Make sure that the water slippers fit you. You will be using them to secure the fin to your feet.
   • If you already have a mono fin that you'd like to use, trace it onto a sheet of poster paper, cut the tracing out, then click here to continue.

2. 2

   Fold the paper in half, then draw half of a fin shape. Fold the paper in half widthwise, so that you only see one of the traced slippers. Starting at the bottom edge of the slipper, trace a half-fin shape. The bottom edge of the fin should be 1 to 3 inches (2.54 to 7.62 centimeters) from the top of the slipper.

3. 3

   Cut the tracing out, then transfer it to a thin sheet of rubber. Cut the tracing out first, then unfold it. Place the template onto the rubber mat, then trace around it using a pen. Use a white, silver, or cold pen for dark rubber, and a black pen for light rubber.^[2]

   • Choose a thin piece of floppy rubber. A thin, flexible, rubber mat would work especially well for this.

4. 4

   Cut the rubber out with a pair of scissors. Your fin base is now complete! Save the template, however; you'll need it later on.

5. 5

   Glue the water slippers to the fin. Place the slippers onto the fin and trace around them. Coat the underside of the slippers and the inside of the tracing with a water-safe glue. Wait for the glue to get tacky, then press the slippers into place.^[3]

   • Choose a strong, flexible glue meant for sealing items under water. Glues meant for boating would work well for this.
   • Work in a well-ventilated area. Most types of glue like this can produce fumes.

6. 6

   Wait for the glue to cure. Depending on the type of glue you are using, this could take 2 to 3 days. Read the label on the glue to for specific drying and curing times. It would be a good idea to weigh the shoes down with something heavy as well.

1. 1

   Take your measurements. Measure from your waist down to your ankles. Next, measure around your waist and both of your ankles. Record each of your measurements.^[4]

   • If this is for an adult woman, measure the hips too. Note the distance between the belly button and the hips as well.

2. 2

   Buy some stretchy, mermaid-like fabric. You can find this type of fabric in the dance-wear section of a fabric store. Make sure that it is smooth, shiny, and preferably with a scale pattern.^[5]

   • You can also buy "super hero" spandex from the cosplay section of a fabric store.

3. 3

   Fold the fabric in half lengthwise, then transfer your measurements. Divide your waist measurement by 4, then make the a mark that distance from the fold. Measure down along the fold based on your waist-to-ankle measurement. Divide your ankle measurement by 4, then make another mark that distance from the fold. Leave enough space below the ankles for the fins.^[6]

   • Make sure that you are folding the fabric with the right sides facing in.
   • If your fabric has scales on it, make sure that the scales are all pointing downwards.
   • If this is for an adult woman, include the hip measurement as well. Remember to divide it by 4!

4. 4

   Connect the marks with a straight line. If you included the hip measurement, you'll need to connect the waist mark to the hip mark, then the hip mark to the ankle mark. This completes your tail body.^[7]

5. 5

   Add the fin template and trace around it. Fold the fin template in half, then place it onto the fabric. Make sure that the folded edges match up, and that the top edge of the template touches the bottom edge of the tail. Trace around the template, then pull it away.^[8]

   • For a fancier tail, add a ragged, fringy edge to the bottom of the fin.^[9]

6. 6

   Cut your fabric, including seam allowances. You will need to add 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) to all edges, including the top. When you are done, cut a second piece of fabric just like the first one. Use the already-cut piece as a guide.^[10]

   • If you added a ragged fringe to the bottom edge of your tail, you only need to add seam allowances to the outer edges of the fringe.^[11]

1. 1

   Pin the fabric together, right sides facing in. Make sure that all of the edges match up. You only need to pin the sides and bottom of the tail, not the top edge.

2. 2

   Sew the tail using a 1-inch (2.54-centimeter) seam allowance. Use a ballpoint needle, a matching thread color, and a stretch stitch. Start sewing at one top edge, sew around the tail body and fin, then finish sewing at the other top side. Backstitch at the start and end of your sewing, and remove the pins as you sew.

   • For extra security, sew around the tail three times.^[12]
   • If you made a fancy tail, don't sew the fringe.^[13]

3. 3

   Turn the tail right-side-out. Make sure that you push the corner of the tail fin out as well. At this point, you can try the tail on, and make any necessary adjustments.

   • If you made a fancy tail, top stitch along the top edge of the fringe. Make sure that the top stitching follows the design of your mini fin.^[14]

4. 4

   Tuck the mono fin into the tail. You ill need to bend the mono fin in order to fit it past the ankles and into the fin. Nestle the corners of the mono fin into the corners of the fin itself.

5. 5

   Hem the top edge of the tail. Fold the top edge inward twice by ½ to 1 inch (1.27 to 2.54 centimeters). Sew along the bottom, folded edge using a stretch stitch.^[15]

Add New Question

• Question

  Are there any better ways to do this?

  

  Look online for more tutorials, and pick one that best suits the resources available to you.

• Question

  How do I make scales?

  

  You could paint them, or you could cut fabric scale shapes and overlay them like fish scales.

• Question

  About how much fabric do I need?

  

  Measure the length and width of your legs. Multiply those 2 numbers to get the area of the front of your legs. Add that number to itself, so you get the area of the front and back of your legs. Add a few inches for width and stitching.

• Question

  Can I glue the fabric for my tail? Will it still be water resistant if I do?

  

  No, it would make the tail still, and it would come loose in the water.

• Question

  What if I can't buy any fabric?

  

  You can recycle old clothes you no longer wear. If you want to make a swimming tail, use an old swimsuit or dance costume instead.

• Question

  Is it possible to make a tail for both walking and swimming?

  

  Yes. When sewing the bottom of the fluke, leave the bottom open. When you take out the monofin, you can pull the tail up past your feet to walk.

• Question

  What if you don't have a monofin or swim fins?

  

  Go to a local dive or sport store and you can buy one. They are also available cheaply online and in many stores that sell swimming gear.

• Question

  I'm a kid and I don't know how to sew. What do I do?

  

  Ask an adult to help you, or you could look up a sewing tutorial on YouTube but you would need your parent's permission and guidance even then.

• Question

  How can I make this if I can't sew?

  

  You can use fabric glue, ask a parent or sibling to make it for you or have it made by a professional tailor.

• Question

  How do I make a mermaid tail that doesn't weigh me down?

  

  Use a lighter fabric, or use a different monofin. Your fin might not be buoyant.

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• Consider adding silicon to make a silicon tail.

• Cut a fancier edge along the top of your tail. You can even make it come down in a V shape at the front.

• If you make a tail out of fabric, it needs to be 100% spandex, or it will fall apart.

Things You'll Need

• Swim slippers or swim shoes
• Thin, flexible rubber
• Stretchy nylon or spandex fabric
• Poster board
• Scissors
• Water-safe glue (ie: marine glue)
• Thread
• Sewing pins
• Sewing machine

About this article

Article Summary X

To make a mermaid tail, trace a pair of water slippers onto a piece of poster board, then fold the poster board in half so that you can only see one of the slippers. Starting at the bottom edge of the slipper, outline the shape of half a fin and then cut it out. Use this shape to trace the fin onto a thin rubber sheet, and then cut it out. Glue the slippers to the rubber fin and let it dry. You can then sew a tail "body" with a snug skirt-like pattern out of stretchy fabric that will go over the bottom part of the fin. To learn how to take measurements for the mermaid tail, keep reading the article!

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Source: https://www.wikihow-fun.com/Make-a-Mermaid-Tail

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