Have you made your kids Halloween costumes yet? Are you at lost for ideas and looking for a quick sew. Celina from the Sewing Rabbit team has just what you need! An easy and super cute mermaid costume, something your kids will love and play with for hours… Nothing like a great last minute project, right?
DIY Mermaid Costume
You will need some organza in 5 different shades to create the mermaid tail and a tiny bit of jersey for the bikini top. Best part? It should take you about 1 hour and half from cutting to sewing and dressing up!
I’ve created an animated video for the tutorial… just a few steps and you’ll be done in a jiffy. Yay!
You might need to adjust a little ( more fabric for your fish scales) if you are making this in a bigger size than a 4T, but all in all you will get the idea.
1, 2, 3… easy enough even for a beginner. The shine and transparency of the organza adds a lot to the design. However you could do this with some felt and even skip adding the extra fabric layer…
Add a few elements from your closet, such as tights & a leotard. Have a little fun with a wig too…
My daughter loves Ariel from The Little Mermaid, so I matched the colors to resemble hers.
Happy Halloween!!! Thanks so much for stopping by, and until next time…
Happy Sewing!
What a great tutorial! E is obsessed with mermaids at the moment and has zero dress ups… It’s a sign!!
ah thanks tasha. You’ll be able to do this with your eyes closed… can’t wait to see your cutie with her mermaid tail!
Oh my goodness!! love!
thank you Jane. So happy you like it and always happy to have you cheer me on 😉 You are the best!
BLOWN AWAY!
So are you going as a mermaid this halloween? xxx
beautiful! my daughter will flip, when i make her this!!
Ohhhh! I want to see! Please. Happy you like it 🙂
Awesome costume!!! The shimmery scales are so pretty!! I’ve linked to your tutorial over at Craft Gossip:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-little-girls-mermaid-costume-for-halloween-or-dress-up/2013/10/25/
–Anne
OMG, this is incredibly cute and I only wish that we really celebrated Halloween in the UK so I had an excuse to make this little mermaid costume. Adorable!
http://asaucystitch.blogspot.co.uk
Love this project! And the video tutorial is so great! 🙂
Thanks Erin! The video was easier for me to do than take photos… happy you enjoyed it. Yay!!!
So cute…. I’m sure that my oldest daughter will love one of her own!
Wow great costume! I love the fish tail and how you added the scales, they are beautiful!
Thanks again for this tutorial. I made it for myself and it was a big hit on Halloween!
Thanks a million, i have done it…just in time for Carnaval, thanks for this great tutorial!
Thank you so much for posting this tutorial. I’m sharing the link with our children’s performance arts troupe, hoping to inspire their creativity, as we approach the summer season in the North Country. Northern New York is a splendid place to live; but, we NEED more mermaids. 😀
I wanted to know how fabric did you buy for the costume?
I’m so excited to make a couple of these for my daughters. any tips for dealing with the edges of the organza used for the scales? I’m thinking fray check, but I just don’t know!
You can use fray check – or even a lighter to very carefully and gently ‘burn’ the edges! Just BE CAREFUL. A lot of people swear by this method, but of course…you are playing with fire. So use this method wisely, and away from kids. But I have to say, it does work.
Love the mermaid tail. Where did you get the tights? They MAKE the outfit.
I would love to know where you got the tights!!!
Love it! I would also love to know where I could find those tights! Thanks!
We used this to make a tail but since I don’t have a sewing machine I just glued the scales on. It worked out great!
Thank you!
Thanks so much for this tutorial! It came out great – loved the video instructions! I made a small version for a matching trick or treat bag for my grand daughter Emily!
I couldn’t find comparable tights online – where did you find them?
I’m wondering where you found the tights, they are darling? When the two fabric pieces are sewn together, are the scales on the inside? I was a little confused from the tutorial? Do you leave the opening at the top to turn it inside out?
Also, is there a template on the website for the tail?
Thank you for the tutorial! My daughter wants to be Arista (Ariel’s sister lol) for Halloween. It looks amazing-she is so happy.
My three year old son has been cast as a mermaid in his Christmas play! He is delighted as he spends much of his day twirling around, being a princess. So going to attempt this tail and have crocheted a yellow crown. Will also make a trident so he can be a merman or mermaid. Might leave out the bikini top! I have never made a costume before so no idea how it will turn out…wish me luck!
This is so adorable!!!’
I was wondering what type of material did you use for the base layer of the tail? Also, will the organza fray when cut?
Thanks for sharing this tutorial! My daughter loves her new tail?
Found your tutorial throuh pinterest. I have just made my granddaughter a mermaid costume thanks to you. Love the look and the description was very clear. Thank you so mch!
Just made this as my daughter’s Halloween costume! I’m not great at sewing but your tutorial made it possible. Thank you!
Any recommendations on other easy to sew, shimmery fabrics? I can’t find the organza anywhere, but I would love to make this for my daughter. Thanks!
I am new to sewing. Is there an easy way to figure out how many yards of fabric I should buy to make this? I watched the tutorial, but still unsure how to order the fabric. Thanks!