Mermaid costume
Girls and women alike enjoy dressing up in mermaid costumes for Halloween. You can buy mermaid costumes in stores, but they can often be expensive. In addition to this, it may be hard to find the right size or style in a store. Fortunately, it's rather easy to make a mermaid costume tail. With basic sewing skills and common sewing supplies, anybody can make a mermaid costume tail that will not only complete the costume, but be comfortable to wear as well.
Instructions
1. Cut out a piece of fabric that is long enough to reach from the waist to the calves and wide enough to wrap around the waist and hips.
2. Fold the fabric in half (right sides together), bringing the longer edges together. Sew the long edges of the fabric together, forming a tube of fabric.
3. Fold over one of the raw edges of the tube of fabric 3/4 inch to form the waistband. Sew the fold in place, tucking the raw edge of the fabric under as you sew. Leave a 1-inch opening in the seam.
4. Cut a piece of elastic that is just long enough to wrap around the waist. Thread the elastic through the waistband, using the 1-inch opening. Gather the fabric as needed.
5. Sew both ends of the elastic together and sew the 1-inch opening closed.
6. Cut out two semicircular pieces of fabric that are each 6 inches tall in the middle and 14 inches wide at the base.
7. Fold over the curved edge of each semicircle 1/2 inch and sew the folds in place, tucking under the raw edge of the fabric as you go.
8. Sew the flat edges of the semicircles to either side of the bottom of the skirt, forming the fins of the tail.
Tags: 1-inch opening, wrap around waist, around waist, costume tail, edge fabric, enough wrap