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Mercreature Costume: Tentacle Swim Dress

Octopus Dress Idea

This is a side-step from all things mermaid tail related. I wanted to give a chance to all kinds of sea creatures when developing this series of blog posts. So if you're feeling more of a cephalopod or jellyfish vibe for your costume, read on! 

You may want to get a swim dress or swim skirt pattern to help. I really like Simplicity 8139. The concept is to create a panel skirt of sorts but shape the panels into tentacles. 

On a side note, you can also just create a skirt of tentacles that you wear over a swimsuit. That is a slightly easier option and what I ended up doing. 

Tentacle Skirt

For 8 tentacles, you'll cut 16 panels. One for the internal side and one for the outer.  (Note: If you count your legs as a pair of tentacles, you only need 12 panels.) The total number of tentacles is up to you. 


For each panel or tentacle, pin the inner and outer fabric with the right sides together. Sew along the bottom edge for each tentacle. 

Align the sides of the tentacle panel. Sew the outer fabric sides with the right sides together. Then do the same for the inner fabric sides. Everything should close into a ring. 

Turn the tentacles right side out. 

Optionally, you can add some pebbles, sand, water weights, plastic pellets, EVA foam, or dry beans to the ends of the tentacles to weigh them down slightly. 

Close the top of the skirt by sewing the top of the panels. You may choose to encase elastic in a waistband, use an exposed elastic waistband, or you could attach the skirt to the top your swim bottoms or the bottom of your swim top. (Did that make sense?)

That is at least the gist of how to make the skirt. The width of the top of each panel should be adjusted for your waist circumference or close to it. This Instructables tutorial for a Sunflower Skirt has some better tips on measurements. (Math and I are not on speaking terms sadly. LOL.)

Stuffing the Tentacles?

You want 3D looking tentacles to swim in? This does present a bit of a challenge because using quilt batting or regular stuffing is not advisable. That stuff gets weighed down when wet and can be difficult to clean. You could consider using rubber tubing or fishing line with a series of plastic discs. 
This is the idea of connected discs to make a tube.
You may also be able to use corset boning (plastic ones) to make a slight cage. 

The quick and dirty way would be to use pool noodles, but those have a tendency to float. (But you could ride your suit in the water. 

In my estimation, to make a water-proof 3D tail would take some internal structure, not just stuffing. Although...you could probably stuff it with scraps of spandex or nylon fabric from sewing. 🤷 Honestly, that would probably work. So disregard previous statements, you can stuff the legs/tentacles with something. 

Tendrils

For more of a Jellyfish vibe, You'll want to find tulle or organza fabric or ribbon. If not already done so, you'll need to sew along the edges. Some tutorials suggest using fishing line and sewing that in for a lovely curl effect. See this DIY Seaweed Armband tutorial for step by step instructions. 

Suckers

Some ideas for adding suckers to the inside of the skirt are: 

  • Pre-printed on the fabric
  • Fabric paint
  • 3D Puff Paint
  • Hot Glue
  • Silicone 
  • Embroidery
  • Plushie
  • Iron-On Vinyl/Infusible Ink
I am currently in the process of sewing a new pair of swimsuits which will both have skirts. One will be more of the octopus tentacles and the other more of a flame motif. (Still kind of tentacle-ish). 
Various design doodles. 

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