Sunday, April 3, 2011

A Mermaid Tail for a Doll (with Pattern Download)

Boo's favorite princess is Cinderella.....but Ariel is a close second. Her doll Li'l Sally has a Cinderella dress we made for her but Li'l Sally needed a mermaid outfit too! Here's how we made the mermaid tail and you can even download the pattern template at the bottom of the post. This is a super simple project.....even if you've never sewn before!



Step 1: Download and print out the template and use it to cut out two pieces for the front and the back of the tail:


The template will work for several types of dolls. For skinnier dolls you might need to reduce the width slightly...just check that the doll looks like a reasonable fit:


Step 2: Place your tail pieces right sides together and sew the sides and bottom closed using a 3/8" seam.



Step 3: Place the tail on the doll and fold the waist down to the correct length (so the top of the tail hits the lower chest):


Step 4: Sew 3/4" down from the top of the tail, leaving a 1" gap, wide enough to thread elastic through:


Step 5: Cut a 1/2" piece of elastic long enough to fit around the doll's waist....


....and use a safety pin to thread it through the casing:


Sew the elastic closed at the two ends and then sew the casing closed:



Step 6: Stuff the tail with poly fil....


....so it's nice and plump:



A finished mermaid tail!


We made Li'l Sally a simple bandeau top with a strip of knit fabric and cinched in in the center with another scrap. Boo made the little miniature shell necklace for her:



"I love Li'l Sally as a mermaid! Can we make one for ME now?"



at

18 comments:

  1. Katie LewisApril 3, 2011 at 7:21 PM

    How fun! Love these quick, simple projects. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. amandanboApril 3, 2011 at 7:35 PM

    so perfecT! ava loves ariel! gonna have to whip one of these out asap! thank you so much for sharing your beautiful creations!

    ReplyDelete
  3. BelichekApril 3, 2011 at 11:38 PM

    so nice and simple))) you - sorceress)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Atelier do FeltroApril 4, 2011 at 1:15 AM

    My daughter loves mermaids ... she'll love this idea...

    ReplyDelete
  5. Cole's CornerApril 4, 2011 at 6:32 AM

    How cute Ashley! Ariel is and has been my Boo's favorite doll since birth. Every picture we have of her has Ariel in it.

    ReplyDelete
  6. CBHApril 4, 2011 at 7:18 AM

    Thank you so much for this post. I want to let you know that I posted a link to your blog in CBH Digital Scrapbooking Freebies, under the Page 3 post on Apr. 04, 2011. Thanks again.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Paint the Moon PhotographyApril 4, 2011 at 9:48 AM

    Super cute ... now I just need instructions on how to sew!! :D

    ReplyDelete
  8. Last Minute MelApril 4, 2011 at 2:03 PM

    this is so adorable...what a cute idea...will save this project for when my daughter gets a little bit older :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Bumble BaybeesApril 4, 2011 at 4:56 PM

    I love the tail.. I also love this doll. Where is it from????

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousApril 4, 2011 at 6:22 PM

    Thanks for the mermaid tail! What a fun way to play doll dress up!

    ~Andrea
    www.addicted2tutes.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. lrlincksApril 4, 2011 at 7:37 PM

    Another great project! Thanks Ashley!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Bless by ToneApril 5, 2011 at 12:54 AM

    This is really cute - my girl is named Arielle - and of course her favorite princess has been Ariel - so I made her a mermaid costume - I made a tail and stuffed the finn and made a slit so it looks like a skirt, with a tail - they both love being mermads. Tone

    ReplyDelete
  13. Rachel@oneprettything.comApril 5, 2011 at 2:01 PM

    That is such a cute idea- I love this! When The Little Mermaid came out my sister and I fought over who could name their Barbie Ariel for a solid year. =) Thanks tons for the darling pattern, I'll be spreading the word.

    ReplyDelete
  14. LisaApril 6, 2011 at 7:24 AM

    Oh this is so cute!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. DebraApril 7, 2011 at 8:20 PM

    Li'l Sally looks adorable! And love Boo's special necklace for her :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. AnneApril 14, 2011 at 6:27 AM

    Mer-dollies!!! This looks like so much fun! I linked to your tutorial on Craft Gossip Sewing:
    http://sewing.craftgossip.com/free-pattern-dolly-mermaid-tail/2011/04/14/

    --Anne

    ReplyDelete
  17. LauraApril 15, 2011 at 5:46 PM

    This is so cute! Where can I find that doll so I can make it exactly like it.

    ReplyDelete
  18. AmyApril 17, 2011 at 10:47 AM

    So cute! My 6 year old and I just made one out of sparkly green fabric for her ModKid rag doll that she also made. Thanks for the fun project!

    ReplyDelete

I love comments....they help me figure out what you enjoy reading! I read and appreciate every single one but I receive so much email that it is impossible for me to reply to everyone! Please email me directly if you have a specific question and please leave your email if it isn't published on your profile.... otherwise I don't have the means to contact you!