How to make a mermaid tail? You may be asking this question for at least two reasons. The first is a photo shoot and a tail as a necessary attribute for it, the second is the child asked to make a tail because it’s coming theme party. So what is needed to make a tail with your own hands?

How to make a mermaid tail - fabric

For a mermaid's tail, you need fabric that looks like scales. Look in the store for iridescent fabric - hologram or with sequins. The fabric you choose should be elastic, stretch easily and fit beautifully. The color of the fabric is any; for the look, the tail does not have to be only blue or green. Take two meters of fabric, let there be a little extra. Also stock up on threads to match the color of the fabric and elastic to make a belt.

How to make a mermaid tail - buy a fin

You can make a fin out of fabric, but it will look a little unnatural. A monofin is perfect for a good fin; it perfectly follows its curves. You can buy a monofin in a specialized store or in an online store. Choose a monofin of a neutral color so that it does not show through the fabric.

How to make a mermaid tail - pattern

You need to lie down on the paper and trace the outline of your hips and legs on it. Then cut out the tail along the outline. Place the pattern on the fabric, fold the fabric in half and trace the outlines on the inside with chalk. Be sure to allow a couple of centimeters on the seams. Now cut out what you have from the fabric. You should have two halves - back and front. The monofin also needs to be outlined and two halves cut out of the fabric, just like the tail.

How to make a mermaid tail - sewing

Using a machine or by hand, connect both halves and sew the tail, insert the monofin and cover it with fabric too. Sew an elastic band around the waist.

The mermaid tail is ready! Now it can be used for photo shoots and parties. Thanks to the monofin, you can swim in the sea and pool with a tail. As it turned out, making such an attribute is not at all difficult; it only requires a little cutting and sewing skills.

It is not surprising that the Mermaid costume remains so desirable for little princesses year after year. Each of them wants to try on a bright tail with scales and become the real queen of the school New Year tree or the holiday in honor of Neptune's Day. It is quite possible to make such a costume at home. Since he himself important detail If the tail is the tail, then it is necessary to start with it. To create a truly interesting and unique accessory, you don’t need a professional seamstress. There are a lot of ways to create the product under discussion.

DIY mermaid tail

Anyone who knows how to crochet will be able to apply this skill and make an excellent mermaid tail. As a rule, this requires blue, green or purple yarn. But you can also be original, using even red, pink or yellow threads. This costume will turn out even brighter and more original.

Various additional accessories can be easily attached to the surface of the yarn. Therefore, if in the end the product turns out to be insufficiently impressive, it can be made more interesting by decorating it with embroidery, appliqués, improvised shells and other small details.

Surely, needlewomen will also be pleased with the fact that it will not take much time to produce such an accessory. Especially if it is created for a child. It is enough to purchase large hook and thick yarn of the chosen shade to actively start working.

The tail in question is knitted in the round in stitches (two yarn overs). If you wish and have certain skills, you can use openwork technique. In the resulting model, the newly-made mermaid will be especially comfortable and comfortable, due to the fact that the yarn stretches easily. Therefore, the resulting accessory will allow you to feel free and will not hurt your skin.

Tip: “If desired, you can add more ready product frill, elastic band, lace, ribbon and other additional details. After the tail is tied almost to the end, dense plastic in the shape of a fin is tied at the very bottom at the level of the ankles. It is either left in its original form, or also tied in a circle.”

Looks great on girls openwork models, for the creation of which thin elegant threads were used. True, it will be difficult to make this version of the costume at home, so it’s worth doing it long before the holiday. This method is not suitable for emergency production of an accessory on the eve of a celebration.

DIY mermaid tail

For needlewomen who do not know how to knit, do not be discouraged either, because in this case you will be able to sew it. You can do this in different ways

First way

1. First, select the fabric suitable color and structures. A mermaid tail made of shiny or openwork material looks very impressive, but regular cotton can also be used. Moreover, there is an opportunity to effectively decorate it yourself in the future.

Experienced needlewomen note: “The ideal material for the outfit under discussion is stretch. As a result, the child will be comfortable in such a “tail.”

2. A rectangle is drawn on the fabric, the width of which will be the circumference of the hips of the future princess of the seas, multiplied by 1.5, and the height will be the length of the planned product. If desired, you can slightly round off the bottom corner with sharp scissors.

The model under discussion is sewn very easily and simply. First, it is stitched along the entire length, and then the fabric is gathered together from below and a fin made of cardboard, paper, denser fabric, ribbons and any other materials is attached to it. It could even be just a piece of cardboard.

Second way

It does not require any measurements or calculations.

In this case, you will not have to make any measurements or calculations.

1. First, a straight skirt is simply sewn from a piece of fabric. It is best to take care of the wedge in the back seam, which will allow the wearer of the suit to move easily in it.
2. The fin is attached directly to the wedge. It is best to start by drawing it on the selected fabric, then cut out two identical parts, sew them together and stuff them like pillows. The main thing is that such a tail does not turn out to be too heavy. This is especially important if the child is small. It is convenient to attach the fin after the suit has been put on by its owner.
3. The very interesting and light bottom of the product is made of foam rubber, which is covered with fabric on top in a color or a contrasting shade. The main thing is that it does not reach the ground, otherwise it will be extremely uncomfortable to walk in such a suit, constantly stepping on the tail.

Product with imitation scales

If you have time to create a Mermaid costume, you can try to make an imitation of scales on its surface. This will turn the outfit into a more impressive, original and believable one. There are several options on how to do this.

First, it’s worth talking about the simplest of them - the use of ordinary beads, beads, sequins and other details. You can buy them at any craft store. True, you will have to tinker with your creation, sewing crystals or beads over its entire surface. But the result will justify all the work. The little mermaid will probably be the brightest and most beautiful at the whole holiday.

In addition, you can use small pieces of polyethylene to imitate the real thing. fish tail. To do this, pieces are cut out of a single sheet of material, similar in shape to scales, but bigger size. It is best to pre-draw them on polyethylene. They will look like ovals, cut evenly on one side. On the fabric, these decorations are arranged in dense rows close to each other. The cut part of each “scale” is directed upward.

You should start from the very first bottom row, and then work your way up to the very end of the selected piece of fabric. In order for the product to come out beautiful and neat, it will be necessary to deviate slightly from the cuts each time. The oval edges of the second seam should cover the seam. This is how the future mermaid tail is stitched row by row.

If time is limited, and you really want to create scales on the resulting accessory for a themed party, then you can turn to paints or even felt-tip pens for help. Painted scales will look no less bright and interesting. It is best to choose the boldest and brightest shades for her.

Another material for quickly creating the outfit in question at home is foil. True, in this case you will need a lot of it.

Tip: “Today you can buy foil in different colors in stores. Gold, silver and dark green materials look great in this suit.”

You just need to wrap large pieces of foil around the legs of the future mermaid, leaving space underneath so she can walk comfortably. The fin is also made from the same material. The foil in several layers turns out to be very dense, so you can attach it loosely, and not end-to-end, so that the child can move his legs comfortably.

Sometimes you really want to add a little fairy tale to your everyday life.

If you and your daughter like a fairy-tale-sea theme, then we suggest making a little mermaid costume in which you can take interesting photographs and also amaze everyone on the beach or in the pool. And of course, mermaid tails can also be used for swimming, both for adults and children - the meaning is the same as for flippers.

How to sew a real mermaid tail with your own hands?

Everyone knows what a mermaid's tail looks like - these are legs covered in tight-fitting scales, with one large fin at the end.

You will need:

• elastic, good stretch fabric for a mermaid tail, the color depends only on your imagination. If you want everything to look as realistic as possible, then choose an iridescent blue-green fabric;
• threads of the same shade as the material;
• linen elastic;
• pattern paper;
• waterproof glue;
• slates suitable in size for the future little mermaid;
• thin flexible plastic for the fin (can be bought in construction departments), or a ready-made fin (if you look hard enough, you can find it in children's or sports departments).

Let's get started:

1. Making a mermaid tail pattern. To do this, simply place the person for whom this tail is being sewn on paper. Have your model spread her legs out to the side a little, just a little. This is done so that there is an opportunity to then move the legs in the tail. Now trace the outline, from the waist to the feet. Before cutting, add a little extra for seam allowances. That's it, the pattern is ready.
2. Place the pattern on the fabric and cut out your little mermaid tail.
3. In order for the ponytail to fit well on the figure, we will sew rings of underwear elastic inside. To do this, we measure the hips, knees and calves brought together. Using these measurements, we cut the elastic and carefully, so that it is not noticeable, we sew it with a slight stretch inside the tail. You can try another option. Instead of elastic bands, sew elastic tights inside the tail. Choose what you like best.
4. Let's move on to the fin. You also need to make a pattern for it. Just now you don’t have to bother with paper, you can immediately draw on plastic.
5. Glue slippers to one side of the cut out fin.
6. The resulting fin (or a ready-made one purchased) must be sheathed with fabric. Don't forget to leave the foot connector. For convenience, you can sew a zipper in the place where the fin will connect to the tail. If you are ready to experiment, then try choosing the fabric for the fin several shades darker than the tail itself.
7. Well, that's basically it. The fake mermaid tail is almost ready. Now all that remains is to decorate it. You can use anything for decoration: beads, sequins, rhinestones, ribbons, lace - the list is huge.

Example for decorating a tail

You will need:

• wire;
• good durable glue;
• pieces of tulle;
• Polish for hair;
• sparkles, beads and other beautiful little things.

Let's get started:

1. We draw our scales on a file or transparent cellophane bag with a marker; it is not necessary to take a regular one standard form, show your imagination.
2. Using these blanks we cut out the wire. We give it the shape of the intended scales, gluing it with glue, or simply twisting it.
3. Apply glue to the wire and put tulle on it to make it more interesting, do it on both sides.
4. Using a soldering iron, or a hot knitting needle or a nail, we make holes in the tulle.
5. Cover the edges of the tulle with a thick layer of glue.
6. To make the contours more colorful, you can outline them with acrylic or gouache.
7. After spraying the workpiece with hairspray, sprinkle it with glitter.
8. Now all that remains is to add some beads and rhinestones. That's it, the tail decorations are ready.

Based on the described method, you can try to make unusual and beautiful scales for the tail, just keep in mind that this decoration method will be more of a decorative option, well suited for sushi. In water, everything can disintegrate and flow.

Many girls love to dress up as princesses. But what to do if your beloved princess does not wear fluffy ball gowns, combs her hair with a fork and lives at the bottom of the ocean? Yes, we are talking about the beautiful little mermaid Ariel. And this master class is about how to make a mermaid tail at home.

The little mermaid costume is suitable for a costume party, for a photo shoot, you can also make such a costume for swimming, but here you will have to spend a little more effort. And of course, you can make a mermaid tail for your favorite Barbie doll!

Making a mermaid tail is very simple, you just need time and patience. First you need to decide what kind of tail you should get in the end. This could be a mermaid tail style skirt:

Or a tail with a monofin (special flippers that require both legs to move at the same time). You can buy a monofin at a sports store and sew it into your future tail, or you can make it yourself. In our master class we will look at making a mermaid tail with a ready-made monofin with our own hands.

Or will it be a tail without a monofin:

When you have decided on the choice of tail, it’s time to collect the necessary materials.

Necessary materials

• Sewing machine;
• Elastic fabric that stretches well. This is very important, because although the tail should fit the silhouette, it should not restrict movement too much. If the tail is planned to be used for swimming, you can choose a special fabric (nylon, polyamide or lycra);
• If we talk about color, then it all depends on your imagination. However, as a rule, mermaid tails are bright and iridescent. In terms of the amount of fabric, it is better to take more, about two meters;
• Synthetic threads are the same color as the fabric, or at least very close in tone;
• Flexible lightweight plastic and flip flops (or shoes) or a ready-made monofin (if the choice of tail type fell on a tail with one). This type of tail is suitable for swimming, as it contains for a long time on land or being photographed is quite inconvenient;
• An elastic band to keep the ponytail at the waist;
• Paper for patterns;
• Pencil and scissors;
• Durable adhesive, resistant to water.

Let's get started

First of all, you need to make a pattern. To do this, you can simply sit on pattern paper (you can use tracing paper) and trace the silhouette from the waist to the feet, and then add a fin to it according to the size of the monofin (just trace the monofin).

Then you need to fold the fabric in half, right side down, and carefully trace the pattern.

Let us remind you that all work is carried out from the wrong side.

The bottom of the tail should not be sewn together before the monofin is inserted. By the way, it is best to first glue it with waterproof glue to the back of the fin, and only then sew the lower parts. It is also necessary to sew an elastic band to the waist so that the tail does not slip when swimming or walking. After this, turn the product right side out.

If necessary, you can decorate the tail with sequins, beads or rhinestones. And now our DIY mermaid tail for swimming is ready. Together with it, you can make a top from the same fabric or decorate a ready-made swimsuit bodice in the same style as the tail.

Paper tail

If you don’t want to bother with fabric, you can make a mermaid tail at home from paper. To make it you will need:

1. Durable thick paper;
2. Glue;
3. Pencil;
4. Scissors.

First you need to take measurements or simply trace the silhouette of your body from the waist to the feet on thick paper and draw a fin. Let's cut out the workpiece twice - for the front and back sides, and also prepare paper for the side parts. As you can see, we will need a lot of paper.

It is best to glue the tail so that the model is as comfortable as possible in it, because the paper is not elastic and moving in such a tail will be quite problematic.

After gluing the mermaid's tail from paper, you need to let it dry. After complete drying, the tail can be decorated in any way: paint it with pearlescent paint, cover it with sequins or rhinestones, and so on, everything will depend only on your imagination! And when all the preparations are completed, the tail will be glued and decorated, you can carefully put it on and conduct a photo shoot. Let us remind you once again that paper is not an elastic material at all, especially thick paper that has been glued and painted, so be careful and attentive!

A mermaid tail for a Barbie doll is made in the same way as a tail for a live model: you need to attach the doll to the pattern paper and trace its silhouette from the waist to the feet, as shown in the photo, and you also need to draw a fin.

The pattern is then transferred to the fabric, cut in two parts (front and back) with seam allowances, and stitched.

Despite the fact that about 30 years have passed since the release of the children's cartoon "The Little Mermaid", many are still fans of the main character. While Ariel dreamed of the human world and dreamed of walking on land, like them, little fans of the cartoon dreamed of their own tail and underwater life. Our article is intended specifically for those who still cherish this dream, so we will tell you how to make a beautiful mermaid tail yourself quickly and easily at home.

How to make a mermaid tail at home for swimming

When it comes to making a tail for swimming, the task seems impossible. In fact, it is much easier to do than it might initially seem.

To make such a tail you will need:

1) Pattern paper, pencil and scissors;

2) Elastic fabric;

3) Threads, pins, needles;

4) Linen elastic;

5) Flexible plastic or ready-made fin (you can use a monofin);

6) Shales (in the absence of a finished fin);

7) Waterproof glue.

First of all, you need to make a pattern; for this, the person on whom the tail is being sewn must lie on the paper, after which a contour is drawn from the waist to the feet, taking into account seam allowances.

After this, the pattern is transferred to the fabric. To do this, a paper pattern is pinned onto previously prepared fabric and outlined with chalk, after which it is cut out. Elastic bands are sewn inside so that the tail stays better on the legs of the future little mermaid.

The slates are glued to the pre-prepared fin, and then the entire structure is covered with fabric. The last step is to sew the fin to the tail, forming a single structure. To make the fin removable, you can sew in a zipper. This is where your DIY mermaid tail is ready.

Also, the tail and fin can be decorated with sequins, rhinestones, beads and other decorations, which will allow you to make a unique and realistic mermaid tail.

In fact, a homemade mermaid tail, when used, will serve as a flipper, so it is better to first practice using it at shallow depths, and only then conquer the underwater depths.

Making a beautiful Little Mermaid from Barbie in a master class

It would seem that we have figured out how to make a mermaid tail for a person. Now you should think about how to transform your favorite Barbie doll and make her a mermaid.

To make a tail for a Barbie doll you will need fabric, paper, a piece of foam rubber, a needle and thread. If desired, the finished tail can be covered with sparkles, rhinestones, and decorated with ribbons and beads.

First of all, when starting to make a pattern, you need to put the doll on a sheet of paper and trace along the contour from the waist to the feet. A sketch of the shape of the tail is made on a sheet folded in half, after which it is transferred to the pattern, making it complete. Based on this sketch, a fin is cut out of rubber with an indentation of a few millimeters at the top; in the future it will be attached to the tail.

On the finished pattern, a few millimeters are added around the entire perimeter for allowances. After this, the pattern can be transferred to the fabric by cutting out two identical parts. Both parts, placed with the outer side facing each other, are sewn together, leaving a distance between the tops of the fin (exactly as shown in the photo).

Now that the base itself is ready, we return to the tail fin. In its upper part we glue pieces of elastic that will secure the doll’s legs:

Now that the doll has the base of the tail fitted and the fin attached to the feet, you can lower the base onto it. This will make dressing the doll much easier than sewing the tail between the tops of the fin.

By the way, the fact that rubber is used for the fin itself will allow the tail to be used in real water. After this, you just need to dry it.

If we are talking about paper dolls, then the tail for them needs to be made of paper.

To do this, it is enough to trace the outline of the doll on paper, mark where the waist will be, finish drawing the fin and mark where the valves will be so that the tail will be held. Then the tail can be cut out and painted, drawing scales with glue and glitter, or simply decorate the tail as you please.

In addition to making such a tail at home, you can already use ready-made diagrams like this:

Video on the topic of the article

It is much easier to understand how to do something by watching a video. That is why we decided to make a selection of materials to make it easier for our readers to understand the manufacturing process itself and gain some interesting ideas.

Therefore, to understand how to make a real mermaid tail for yourself or your child, just watch the first video, and the second one discusses in detail the process of making a tail for a Barbie doll.