Difficulty: Beginner
Mermaids are in right now. I’m not sure why. The Disney movie The Little Mermaid came out over 25 years ago, but as a Disney princess Ariel is still going strong. Plus there are some mermaid tv shows, so maybe that’s adding to it, but whatever the reason, mermaids are a big hit with a lot of girls.
This year my niece had a mermaid birthday party for her 4th birthday and I decided the perfect gift was a mermaid tail blanket. I had made a mermaid tail blanket for my daughter a couple years ago, but the actual tail flipper part didn’t turn out that great, because I didn’t have enough fabric. This time around I knew how to avoid the mistakes and end up with a better looking tail.
This project is a good beginner project. It doesn’t require any difficult techniques and the hardest part is the free hand cutting of the tail shape, but that’s really pretty easy too. You could even sew this blanket by hand if you wanted, but it would take a long time, because it is pretty big.
If you want to try making this mermaid tail blanket check out the supplies list and follow as I show you step by step how to put it together. It will make a great gift for the little mermaid in your life!
Supplies
1 ½ yards fleece fabric (any type, any print)
Sharp scissors
A 14 or 16 sewing machine needle
Coordinating thread
Fold fabric in half length wise and cut off a half yard from one end. Then trim the selvages(the uncut edges that may have words printed on them, they curl in and have little pin holes along the whole length of the fabric) from the fabric. With the larger piece folded in half length wise cut down the length of the fold to create two pieces of fabric.
Take the half yard piece and cut it into two pieces the same way that you did the larger piece. Then fold in half so that you will be cutting through four layers of fabric. Start your cut about 4″-5″ from the folded edge and cut in a curved line ending at the corner diagonal from where you started. Then starting from the corner where you just ended your cut, cut in a curved line toward the fold ending 3”-4” below the top edge of fabric. After you have completed this cut open up the fabric and you should have a flipper shape.
Take the larger pieces of fabric and fold the two layers of fabric in half length wise to cut the tail shape.
Start at the bottom line up the folded edge of the flipper fabric with the folded edge of the tail fabric.
Start the tail cut at the edge of the flipper cut cutting through four layers curving out as you get to the top.
When you are done cutting unfold and you should have a tail shape.
Match one flipper straight edge to one tail bottom edge with right sides together. Pin and then stitch together using the seam allowance of your choice. Repeat with the second tail and flipper piece.
Take both tail halves and put them right sides together. Line up the edges, then pin and stitch in place.
Clip the points of the flippers and cut into the “v” of the flipper just to the stitching without cutting through the stitching. Turn right side out. Turn the top edge down 1” and stitch in place. On the flipper portion top stitch around the entire flipper 5/8”-1” from the finished edge.
Stand back and admire your new mermaid tail. This tail is big enough for a 6 year old to get completely inside of and use almost like a sleeping bag. It fits an adult from the mid section down to their feet.
Don’t mind my table. This is what happens when you chalk paint your dining room table and you have 4 kids. Not exactly durable.
Try this project to make a quick and easy blanket and let me know how it goes.