How to Make A Mermaid Tail for Swimming

Make a swimmable mermaid tail in three easy steps. You'll need pattern paper, swim fabric and elastic, and a monofin.

Step 1: Trace the Pattern

Trace around the lower body from belly button level to toe tips. Use any paper large enough such as pattern paper, postal paper, or a cut-open paper bag.

Line up the monofin with the toe area and trace to complete the pattern.

Add 1 inch allowance around the trace line for a child or 2+ inches for an adult.

Step 2: Cut Out the Swim Tail

Fold the fabric front sides together. Pin the pattern to the fabric. Cut out the pattern, adding room (about 2 inches) at the top for the elastic casing.

Step 3: Sew the Swim Tail

Pin the two sides of fabric front sides together and sew around the sides and bottom edges.

Fold down the top and sew a casing for the elastic. Measure the elastic to fit snugly around the waist, insert into the casing, and finish.

Insert the monofin into the swim tail. It's ready for swimming.

Step 4: Safety Tips for Mermaid Style Swimming

Use only with adult supervision. Always attend young or inexperienced swimmers.

Use core muscles to swim like a dolphin. Practice sweeping the tail forward to place the feet on the pool bottom to regain a standing position at any time.

The tail should slide on and off easily. Make the elastic tight enough to stay on, but loose enough to easily slide down to free the legs and feet.

Step 5: Video

Here you'll see my youngest daughter using her mermaid tail with a floating ring. She's older now and more experienced with her tail. However, with responsible supervision, even very young children can have fun being a mermaid.

Comments

[hanna maaj piccio]

this idea is amazing i could do it myself anyway.


i want to make my own mermaid tail because i am totally obsessed with mermaid especially h20



ty!!

[msaraann]

Greetings everyone. I'm the one who put up this DIY mermaid tail. Similar tails are available commercially (I'm not affiliated with the company). (Check out Mermagica.com for videos of children swimming underwater mermaid-style in mermaid tails--Very cool!)

Some people allow fear to guide them, while others primarily follow joy. I try to live somewhere in between. Getting in the water with this mermaid tail (and any pool or water use, really), certainly warrants caution and care. My young daughters and I have had a lot of fun learning and experimenting with this style of swimming.

There's also a video series on Youtube, "The Secret Life of a Mermaid," which features girls wearing mermaid swimming tails. Check it out for more ideas on swimming with these tails.

[purplemermaid745]

where can you but a mermaid tail that is already made?

[msaraann]

Here are a couple of places:

http://mermaidtails.net/

http://www.mermagica.com/

[vallee33]

Also 2tails.com it's a new place $100 for adult tails with monofin

[kiara barlet]

i would love to have a tail

[vallee33]

try 2tails.com they have them for $100.00 for adults

[jessiehughes]

Can u pladvise where you get the fin from ie. the bottom bit you put your feet in. Thanks.Jessie

[msaraann]

Hi Jessie. I ordered directly from the manufacturer, FINIS http://www.finisinc.com/mermaid-fin.html. I've also seen the mermaid monofin on Amazon and other swim outlet websites.

[randomstar11]

can you do it without the monofin

[msaraann]

I've heard of similar tails using regular flippers, but it wouldn't swim quite the same way.

[esantos10]

u see when u make the tail do u take the paper or do u leave it inside?
please comment back!

[msaraann]

I remove the paper.

[esantos10]

ok thank you

[Mermaids_R_Real]

I don't think it really matters, I made one of these over the summer, and I used a sewing machine and my sisters was hand sewed. they turned out the same. Good luck!!!!

[dcontreras5]

Do we need elastic?

[msaraann]

Sorry, I missed this comment. I use elastic, because my girls are slim. If you had more curvy hips, elastic might not be necessary.

[dcontreras5]

Hi I was wondering if we had to use something certain like if we had to use a sewing machine or sew by hand. Please Reply Back. Thank you

[msaraann]

I used my sewing machine. You'll want a good strong stitch since it's a tight-fitting stretchy garment, but you can do that by hand or machine.

[craftycat721]

I really want one now! i watched H2O so i really want one! did you use the spandex fabric or the regular swim/ dance fabric because i want to make one as soon as i can!

[msaraann]

I used two different types of swim fabric that I got off eBay. Both worked well. Stretchier is better if you have curves. Any stretchy spandex-like fabric would work.

[tpickett]

Thank you soooo much for posting this information. My girls want Mermaid Tails for Christmas, which I didn't even think was possible until I came across Mermagica.com, but I really can't pay $100+ dollars each. I CAN however buy a $25 monofin and sew. Yah!! My questions are, how well do you feel like your monofin is holding up? Do your girls do a lot of swimming? Was the fin you bought good quality do you think? Would the fin work well swimming in a full sized pool? Thank you again sooo much for the info. You're awesome!

[msaraann]

Hi. My girls have been using their mermaid tails for two summers in a row, so they are holding up really well. They swim a lot, as well as squirm around on the ground in their tails, so they really are sturdy. The FINIS monofins seem to be good quality and the mermaid tail model is shaped just perfectly.

[tpickett]

Thanks so much. Sounds like they're doing VERY well. And did you use bathsuit material?

[msaraann]

Yes. I ordered regular swimsuit material off eBay.

[MethylPox]

I love it, you are a fun mom!

[sharris16]

COOL

[stgross]

Hi! The tail is so cute. I was wondering if it would be cost-effective to have about 10 to 15 made as "treats" for the little girl guests at my daughter's 7th mermaid swim party coming up in June? The girls could swim in them and pretend to be real mermaids.

I would purchase the fabric, but would have to find someone to sew them.

Thank you! Cute idea!

[msaraann]

It really doesn't take much fabric for these tails (I purchased scraps at discount on ebay), but the monofin is a bit more expensive. If I remember, I paid about $25 each for mine (FINIS Mermaid Swim Fin). The sewing is super easy. It's just seams up the sides. I'm not an experienced sewer and didn't have any trouble.

[mermaidyannix]

i like to make a real tail-look with scales on it.but i like that also.i really love it................

[irshika]

hi. great idea thanks for sharing. have been trying to find a site to buy them from for my daughter and was amazed at the price - starting at $100. my question is where do you get the monofin from and how much was it? do they have different sizes? i'm in australia so would have to either order online or call and have it shipped.

[msaraann]

I got kid-sized monofins from a company called FINIS, http://www.finisinc.com. They have adult sizes, too. I may have ordered via Amazon.com. I paid about $25 for it.

[brynnthemermaid]

well said

[strikeswiftly]

my pal bubble gum 56 would love to be a mermaid their all swish swish, swish swish

[bubbelgum56]

i have always wanted a mermaid tail and this is finally my chance to get one!!!!!

[jed.watkins]

Definitely deserving of the Grand Prize. Well done and bonus points for getting the young'uns involved!

[msaraann]

Thanks. It was totally their idea!

[ds2]

that mermaid tail is awesome =) i would love to have a mermaid tail like that

[SarahMichelle]

Holy Moly! I highly doubt by the look of the family photo, that She would EVER leave her children in any body of water large or small without being there. I swim with all limbs and can swim with and without the mono fin, as well as without legs ( because my parents were worried about any weird car accident into rivers, lakes and etc. just in case if my legs were ever compramised I would be able to get out.) So while my parents were paranoid, THEY always wanted me to have fun while I was a child, and my Father was ALWAYS around me and my sister, when any body of water was involved. I guess I have AWESOME paranoid parents. :) WIth that being said. I am sure the Mother is there, and if anything Heaven forbid happen, she would get her girls out quick fast and in a hurry. Thumbs up for the little mermaids! :)

[kiara barlet]

i would love to have a tail