Little Mermaid Costume - Updated

It's finally here. An updated version of my little mermaid costume (with proper math this time).

Unfortunately, no adorable baby model this time.

Little Mermaid Costume Pattern and Photographs

© Courtney Wiggers September 2015

Materials:

Worsted weight yarn (coral(A), multi-coloured(B), mint(C))

                I used Loops & Threads Wool to Wash 12 Pink for the top and Red Heart Comfort 4050 Teal for the tail

4.25mm crochet hook

5mm crochet hook

Tapestry needle (for sewing and weaving in ends)

Finished Size:

6-9 months

Abbreviations:

sc - single crochet

dc - double crochet

tr - triple crochet

MC - magic circle

2sc/2dc - worked in the same stitch; increase

sc #/dc # - amount of sc or dc to be worked in following individual stitches

slst - slip stitch

Starfish Top (x2):

NOTE: You can also use worsted weight yarn and a 5mm crochet hook for the top

With A yarn and 4.25 hook

MC

R1: sc 5 in circle, slst to join (5)

R2: ch-1, *2sc* around, slst to join (10)

R3: ch-1, *sc 1, (dc, tr, dc) in next st* around, slst to join

R4: ch-1, *sc 1, hdc 1, (hdc, dc, tr, dc, hdc) in next st, hdc 1* around, slst to join

                Fasten off

Assembly:

Crochet a chain 5-6 to attach the starfishes together, then make four ties approximately 40 chains in length and attach them to your preference

Mermaid Tail:

With B yarn and 5 hook

MC, ch-2

R1: dc 12 in circle, join (12)

R2: BLO, dc 12 around (12)

R3-5: dc around (12)

R6: *2dc, dc 5* twice (14)

R7-8: dc around (14)

R9: dc 4, *2dc, dc 4* twice (16)

R10: dc around (16)

R11: *2dc, dc 3* around (20)

R12: dc around (20)

R13: *2dc, dc 4* around (24)

R14: dc around (24)

R15: *2dc, dc 3* around (30)

R16: dc around (30)

R17: *2dc, dc 2* around (40)

R18: dc around (40)

R19: 2dc, *dc 2, 2dc* around (54)

R20-40: dc around (54)

R41-42: sc around (54)

R43: *sc 2, ch-1, skip a sts, sc in next 2 sts* around (you’ll end with a ch-1)

R44-45: sc around (54)

                Fasten off

I’ve included two patterns to make the fins (they turn out looking very similar but one requires more sewing in the end and the other is maybe a higher difficulty level)

Fins (x2):

With C yarn and 5 hook

ch-23

R1: in 2^nd ch from hook, dc across (22)

R2: ch-2, dc2tog, dc across

R3: ch-2, dc across (21)

R4: ch-2, dc2tog, dc across

Fins V.1

R5: ch-2, dc across (20)

R6: ch-2, dc2tog, dc across

R7: ch-2, dc across (19)

                Fasten off

This is the original pattern for the fins (there is more sewing involved in making it this way)

Assembly:

Sew together approximately ¾ of the way down the shorter sides so that the angle of the fins create a ‘V’ shape

OR

Fins (V.2):

With C yarn and 5 hook

ch-23

R1: in 2^nd ch from hook, dc across (22)

R2: ch-2, dc2tog, dc across

R3: ch-2, dc across (21)

R4: ch-2, dc2tog, dc across

Fins V.2

R5: ch-2, dc across (20)

R6: ch-2, dc2tog, dc across

R7: ch-2, dc across (19)

R8: slst 5, sc across (14)

R9: ch-1, sc 14, ch-6 (14)

R10: in 2^nd ch from hook, dc across (19)

R11: ch-2, dc across, 2dc in last st

R12: ch-2, dc across (20)

R13: ch-2, dc across, 2dc in last st

R14: ch-2, dc across (21)

R15: ch-2, dc across, 2dc in last st

R16: ch-2, dc across (22)

                Fasten off

While there is less sewing involved in this version of the fins, they may be a little more difficult to get right (the advantage is that these fins are one-piece)

Assembly:

Make a chain long enough to form a drawstring around the waist or alternatively you can use ribbon to weave through the spaces in R43

To sew the fins onto the tail, place the bottom end of the tail in the center of the fins. Then, fold the two square corners of the fins over the end of the tail so that they form a ‘V’ shape along the front of the tail. Sew around to secure onto the tail

NOTES:

To adjust the size of the tail, there’s two main places to add or lose length. You can add or take away rows R3-5. Also, to make the tail bigger, you can add increases by repeating R16-17 after you complete R19.

To fasten off when you finish the round, skip a stitch, slip stitch in the next stitch.

This pattern is copyrighted and provided with understanding that you may NOT sell, alter, or share the pattern.

Also, if you intend to sell items made from this pattern, I simply request that you link back to my shop or to this pattern.

That’s it! I’d love to see your finished products and I hope you enjoy this pattern as much as I do!

If you have questions, don’t hesitate to email me:
Courtney17_17@hotmail.com

Mermaid update!

As anyone who really knows me knows, I am the worst procrastinator when it comes to literally anything. I've been known to put off writing a single paragraph for an assignment by writing two page family newsletters about the proper way to grow pumpkins and watermelons. Currently I am procrastinating getting ready to go back to school. Honestly, I really should get on it seeing as I'm pretty much back to school next Tuesday but as I've already mentioned, #1 procrastinator right here.

The newest means of escape I have is actually something I've been meaning to do for the last few years anyways; update my Mermaid costume pattern!

My Mermaid costume was the first pattern I ever made so I know it has some flaws but I also don't necessarily like revisiting patters once I've finished them, so it was put on the back burner. For one, I know the stitch counts and increases are terrible but when I made it I honestly wasn't too worried about re-making it so to me it didn't matter (I didn't even write down the pattern). I actually had to wait months before I could get the costume back from my aunt to count my stitches and try to remember what exactly I'd done.

Seeing as how popular the pattern has become though, I wanted to try to update it and create a better pattern to follow and also include ways to increase the size. I'm not going to be redoing the Starfish top as I haven't had any complaints about it but I've definitely been reshaping the tail and making more even increases. I'm actually about 3/4 of the way through the tail so I'm going to promise to have the new pattern up at the very most in two weeks.

After this I'm going to be low on crochet pattern ideas; is there anything you guys would like to see me make? Anything I need to fix on my old patterns? Let me know!

~* Courtney

Mermaid Costume Pattern

Mermaid Costume Pattern

I made this costume for my cousin Brynn last Halloween.

NOTE: I put a lot of time into creating this so that I wouldn't have to pay for it, so I'd really appreciate if you didn't sell what you make from it. Personal use only, please!

Size H hook
Worsted weight yarn
       This makes a size 9-12 months approximately. If you're looking to make it smaller, try using baby yarn and a G hook. To make it bigger, chunkier yarn and an I or J hook.

Starfish Top:

Mc

R1: sc 5 times in mc, sl st to join (5)

R2: ch 1, 2 around, sl st to join (10)

R3: ch 1, sc in same st, dc, tr, dc in next st, *sc in next st, dc, tr, dc in next st* around, sl st to join

R4: ch 1, sc in same st, hdc in next st, hdc, dc, tr, dc, hdc in next st, hdc in next st, *sc in next st, hdc in next st, hdc, dc, tr, dc, hdc in next st, hdc in next st* around, sl st to join

                Fasten off

Make four ties approximately 35 chains in length and attach them to your preference

Mermaid Tail:

(This is made by joining at the beginning of each row and ch 2 (this does NOT count as a stitch!). You can also try making it without joining it, but at the time that I made this pattern, I wasn't really comfortable with marking stitches, but have at 'er!)

Mc

R1: 12 dc in circle (12)

R2: Blo, dc 12 around (12)

R3-9: dc 12 round (12)

R10: dc 1 in next 3 st, dc 2 in next st* around (15)

R11: dc 1 in next 2 st, dc 2 in next st* around (20)

R12: Dc around (20)

R13: Dc 1 in next 2 st, dc 2 in next st* around (28)

R14-17: Dc around (28)

R18-19: Dc 1 in next 2 st, dc 2 in next st* around

                For optional increase, repeat R13 (48)

R20-45: dc around

R46-47: sc around

R48: sc in next 2 st, ch 1, skip a st, sc in next 2 st* around

R49-50: sc around

                Fasten off

Make a chain long enough to form a drawstring around the waist (you’ll weave this through the spaces in R48)

Fins (make 2):

Ch 23

R1: Dc across

R2: Ch 2, dc2tog, dc across

R3: Ch 2, dc across

R4: Ch 2, dc2tog, dc across

R5: Ch 2, dc across

R6: Ch 2, dc2tog, dc across

R7: ch 2, dc across

                Fasten off

If the fins are confusing, you can try using these:

You should only sew the fins together about three-quarters of the way

Fold the corners over and sew the corners to the end of the tail (sew around; make sure it's connected)

And there you have it!

For everyone who was waiting a really long time for this pattern, I'm sorry, but I didn't have access to the costume for the longest time so I couldn't try and write it down. 

This pattern hasn't been tested except for by me, so any feedback or revisions would be appreciated. If something's unclear, feel free to ask me about it. The beading and sequins wasn't done by me, it was done by my aunt.