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04.14

how to make a mermaid tail skirt free pattern

Welcome to See Kate Sew! If you’re new here, sign up for my email newsletter for access to free patterns, tutorials and all the latest sewing news! Tour my sewing room HERE!

Calling all mermaids! This post will show you how to make a mermaid tail for pool season! These are so easy to make and will turn any girl into a bathing mermaid!

Mermaid Tail Sewing Pattern

These skirts are not really swimmable mermaid tails although if you use a swim fabric they can get wet. The skirt is cut pretty high above the knees on the sides so it won’t limit movement too much, however I still don’t recommend actually swimming in these. I think they are best for lounging in the shallow end or on the chaise lounge, because limiting movement in the pool makes me nervous. Be sure to supervise your child at all times.

Mermaid Tail Pattern

This mermaid tail skirt pattern has a cute little fin ruffle and an easy shape with an elastic waistband. It’s simple to sew and makes a great gift! I love it as a mermaid skirt, too! Perfect for everyday wear in the summer or to dress up for a mermaid birthday party!

Mermaid Tail Sewing Pattern |  Mermaid Skirt

Mermaid tails are easy to slip on before or after swimming. This easy DIY mermaid tail is simple to sew and really easy to pull on and off for a day at the ocean! I love these as a cover-up and they double as a great piece for a dress-up box!

Mermaid Skirt pattern

DIY Mermaid Tail Materials

  • 1-1.5 yards spandex stretch fabric
    • I’m using this printed liverpool fabric(affiliate links), which is not a swim fabric but dries quickly. I love the drape and shape of liverpool fabric for this project!
    • If you want a true swim fabric to get wet, search for mermaid or fish scale swim spandex. Here are some options:
      • 4-way stretch hologram mermaid scale fabric in 5 colors
      • Mermaid jumbo fish scale hologram nylon spandex in 6 colors
  • 1″ elastic

Kids Mermaid Tail Free Pattern

Mermaid Skirt

This free mermaid tail pattern comes in 4 kids sizes, from extra small to large. They will fit these approximate children’s sizes:

  • XS, 4-5
  • S, 6-7
  • M, 8-9
  • L, 10-12

Download the mermaid tail template and print at 100% or do not scale.

These pages will fit on regular computer paper (8.5″ by 11″) or size A4 paper. After printing, trim the edges of the paper along the dotted lines and tape the pattern together as shown below:

Mermaid Tail Skirt Layout

The pattern includes the front/back tail piece and the fin pieces.

Mermaid Tail Skirt

Waist Elastic Measurements

Use your child’s waist measurement plus 1″ as your elastic cut size or use these general measurements below:

  • XS – 22″
  • S – 23″
  • M – 24″
  • L – 25″
Sewing Tutorial

Easy DIY Mermaid Tail Instructions

Cut out 2 front/back pieces. These pieces are the same so it doesn’t matter how you cut them out, you just need two of them.

Use the fin pattern piece to cut out 4 fins. Two of the fins need to be cut mirror-image, so flip the pattern piece over to cut them or cut 2 out with the fabric folded wrong sides together twice.

Mermaid Skirt Pattern

Use a basting stitch, or a 5mm stitch length to gather the straight edge of the fin. You can do either 1 line of stitching or two, depending on how easily your fabric gathers.

How to sew a mermaid skirt

Pull the ends of the threads to gather the fabric.

Free Sewing Pattern

Pull the threads until the width of the fin matches the width of the v-shaped side of the skirt.

Pin fin in place face down on the skirt and sew to mermaid tail using a zig zag stitch.

Sewing

Repeat on the other side of the skirt to get the mermaid tail shape!

Press seam allowance away from ruffle fin and topstitch along the skirt about 1/8″ from the ruffle.

Repeat with the back of skirt.

Assemble Mermaid Skirt

Place front on top of back skirt with right sides together. Sew side seams.

Overlap the ends of the elastic about 1″ and sew together using a zig zag stitch. Go over the stitching a few times to hold the elastic well.

Turn the skirt inside out. Stretch the elastic to fit around the waist, pulling elastic as needed.

Zig zag along the top edge of the elastic and skirt.

Then flip the elastic down to the inside of the skirt and pin.

Topstitch along the top of the tail, about 7/8″ from the top fold of the mermaid tail.

And you’re done! The mermaid tail is ready to wear! The bottom of the tail does not need to be finished since the knit fabric won’t fray much.

This long skirt looks super cute with heels or sandals!

Mermaid Skirt

This pattern could also work as a fish tail costume, or maybe even a shrimp! My girls love their new skirts and I hope your little mermaids love them, too!

Similar Sewing Projects

  • Hooded towels tutorial
  • Add bra cups to a shelf lined swimsuit
  • Retro ruffled swim cap tutorial
  • The easy summer dress
  • Mermaid Tail Blanket
Mermaid Tail Skirt Sewing Pattern
Mermaid Tail Skirt Sewing Pattern
Mermaid Tail Skirt Sewing Pattern
Mermaid Tail Skirt Sewing Pattern

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My name is Kate, a twenty something fashion lover and mother of two. When I’m not chasing kids you can find me at my sewing table or daydreaming up new designs. You can read more about me here. Thank you for visiting!

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