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:
How fun! Love these quick, simple projects.
so perfecT! ava loves ariel! gonna have to whip one of these out asap! thank you so much for sharing your beautiful creations!
so nice and simple))) you – sorceress)
My daughter loves mermaids … she'll love this idea…
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.
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.
Super cute … now I just need instructions on how to sew!!
this is so adorable…what a cute idea…will save this project for when my daughter gets a little bit older
I love the tail.. I also love this doll. Where is it from????
Thanks for the mermaid tail! What a fun way to play doll dress up!
~Andrea
http://www.addicted2tutes.blogspot.com
Another great project! Thanks Ashley!
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
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.
Oh this is so cute!!
Li'l Sally looks adorable! And love Boo's special necklace for her
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
This is so cute! Where can I find that doll so I can make it exactly like it.
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!
Your tutorial is great! I linked to your tutorial over at my site. I made 2 sets of fins for my girls’ dolls.
Thanks so much!
http://addicted2tutes.blogspot.com/2011/05/mermaid-dolls.html
Did you do anything to keep the polyfill in the tail? Just wondering if it gets stuck to her feet when you pull the doll out.
These are so great. It makes old dolls new again. I’m excited to try this!
i love this idea, but i also love that doll’s crazy hair! what kind of doll is that? i saw that a few other people had asked but i don’t see an answer anywhere!
She’s a 10″ Apple Tree house doll
http://www.facebook.com/AppleTreeHouseDolls
Love the tail design, what about the doll? did you make it too? Would love a tutorial for that!