[1] Lay your doll down flat and draw an outline around your doll starting at the bellybutton and around her feet up to the other side.

 

[2] Now add at least an inch all around the traced line of your doll. Also add more length to the bottom and make it more pointy. I did not add in the fins for this tutorial even though I actually drew them in.

 

[3] You will make a cocoon of sorts to slip the legs in. This cocoon will also keep your doll from being stained by your mermaid tail fabric and will give you the freedom to use any fabric that you want. You can use the cocoon again for any tail as well. I would recommend using a stretchy lightweight knit for your cocoon fabric.

Cut it out, leaving about a 1/4" width all the way around. Now sew all the way around and turn your tail to the right side out.

[4] Now slip your cocoon tail onto your doll.. Because you used a knit fabric, it should just slide on with no problems. This is the time you can take to adjust the cocoon tail if needed. If it's too big, turn it right side in and sew it up smaller. If it's too little, then you'll have to start over.

 

[5] I used a pleather fabric for this mermaid tail. I also did not want the mermaid tail to meet at the top - I wanted a slit on the sides. You'll see where this is going in a minute. Because I wanted this look, I made the tail at the top narrower. I traced my outline just a bit bigger.

 

[6] I sewed it all the way around but I started my stitch around the thighs and I ended my stitch on the other side at the same place. I also did not need to line this tail since I made the cocoon earlier. I have taped a hem - it's pleather and pleather hates needles. I topstitched the hem over. You will not be able to see the hem back from the front so don't worry about how messy it looks. You can fix that later.

 

[7] Now slip this pleather tail onto your doll OVER the cocoon tail that you made earlier. Notice that it wants to fall off because the sides are open. Don't worry, we'll fix that in a bit.

 

[8] Get out your eyelets. I buy my eyelets from a Canadian store at http://www.ortonage.com/ I purchase eyelets that are used for scrapbooking. These are shorter 1/8 eyelets and require an eyelet washer to hold them on. I also purchased the eyelet setting tool. I even found this tiny little girly hammer at Wal-Mart. You'll need an x-acto knife to cut through the pleather for eyelet placement.. Usually I'm not allowed to have sharp objects (emergency room, stitches, you get the picture) but I've kept this one hidden for awhile.

[9] These eyelets just happen to be little red lips. See the washers in the background? They go on the back of the eyelets to keep them from tearing your fabrics.

 

[10] You will need to measure out how many eyelets you want. Make sure they are more or less even on both sides. Now slit a tiny hole being very careful not to cut the hole too big. Put the eyelet in the hole. The design should be facing the front and the washer will be on the wrong side of the fabric. You are making a pleather mermaid tail with lacing up the sides? Did you figure that out yet?

 

[11] See the washer over the eyelet?

 

[12] Use your setting tool and put in on the back side of the eyelet. Now tap with your hammer until the eyelet is set.

 

[13] Now lace the eyelets with a tiny black ribbon. And slip the pleather mermaid tail back on the doll. I made the slit on the side a bit wider than I normally would because I needed to dramatize the lacing a bit and show you what it looks like.. It's very hard to get the point across in photos unless they are dramatic.

 

Can you see the mermaid tail cocoon underneath the pleather tail in this photo? If you use the same tone as your doll, the cocoon will be almost invisible. I found a tiny black cord to use as my lacing but narrow ribbon works just fine as well.

 

I used a 60cm Obitsu doll for my model. The head is actually the stock head with a wonderful fun faceup by Bev at Vanillashine. The Obitsu dolls have magnets in their feet and come with a round metal stand. They are able to stand on their own with this stand. And with this mermaid tail, I was able to get the doll to stand on the magnetic stand while wearing it.

 

You should be able to pose the doll with knees bent in this tail as well. This style has alot of give at the top and allows for more movement. Besides, who doesn't like a gothic mermaid?

 

See the great poses. Pleather has a little bit of give and the tail cocoon is knit so it has alot of give. I used a sheer black fabric for the bottom fin. You can go as elaborate or as simple with the bottom fins too.

I used a basic bodice for my top. You could use a shell bra if you wanted. You can embellish the tail more (add chains perhaps).