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Becoming a Mercreature: Introduction

 Summer has been going strong and I personally have started swimming more. And not just any kind of swimming, but mermaiding! 

Couch Surfing at the Moment
But now that I'm used to swimming with my commercially bought tail, I've been thinking how to make my own. Again, this series doesn't necessarily include tutorials that I have made, this is more of a design primer. It will include links to tutorials when necessary. 

Anyway, I didn't want to limit my imagination to just mermaids/mermen. Because some of the concepts I want to tackle are more based on cetaceans, cephalopods and sharks. Of course much of the process will include fish tail mermaids but I wanted to encourage some variety. 


Shark boi!

Precautions

The end goal is to create a costume you can swim in. However, there's always risk involved with swimming in general. It's doubly risky while wearing a mermaid tail. Keep these basic safety guidelines in mind when swimming in your costume:

  1. Do NOT swim alone! You have no feet and your legs are smushed together. You can't even walk by yourself! Most professionals have a spotter or "mer-wrangler" with them to make sure they stay safe or if they need to be moved for part of the photoshoot. 
  2. Know how to swim. This is not a safe costume for non-swimmers or people who can't swim well. Again, because your legs are bound together and a monofin can be unwieldy, you should know some basic strokes and have some level of endurance. Knowing the Dolphin Kick is key to swimming in a mermaid tail. 
  3. Do NOT swim in hazardous conditions. This goes for whether you are swimming normally or not. You have less control and maneuverability while in your tail. 
  4. Learn how to quickly get out of your tail in case of emergencies. This is also something to keep in mind during the costume design process. A "quick-release" method is important for safety. 
Before making your first mercreature costume, it's recommended that you purchase a commercially available tail and get used to swimming with it. They range in price depending on the material used to make the tail. So, if you are a beginner, get a fabric tail. Most people's first tail is a fabric one. To be honest, most of this series is about making fabric tails! 
For US readers here are a few reputable (safe) sellers: 
Knowing how to swim in the tail is going to be a journey but here's a really good playlist: How to Swim like a Mermaid.

Now, Here is what the series will cover: 
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