Measure your child’s waist then double that for the length of fabric you will need. One yard per child should be enough fabric.

Lay your fabric on a table or floor horizontally.

Measure the length of your child from waist to the floor for the length. Subtract that from the width of the fabric. For example if your child’s measurement from waist to floor is 35” and the fabric is 50” wide, you will measure 15” up to trim from the bottom of the fabric to start cutting the shape. The mermaid fin will be cut from that extra 15 inches.

Measure beginning from the bottom right end of the fabric, begin to cut the fabric straight across towards the left side until you get close to the middle of the fabric. Now you want to cut a mermaid fin shape in the bottom middle of the fabric. (See photo example)

After cutting out the mermaid fin, continue cutting straight across the other side of the fabric and curve your cut to the top left corner.

You don’t want the mermaid fin too long where kids will trip over it. A 8”-15” long fin is about perfect.

Next wrap the fabric around your child’s waist where the mermaid tail hangs directly in back of them. Mark a spot to the left side of their waist (your right side). This is where you will cut a small hole.

Place the fabric back down flat and trim a small hole where you marked the spot.

Wrap the fabric around your child's waist and use the velcro to hold the curved side of the fabric together. If they are tiny, the velcro might end up on their back and not the side. It's okay.

On the other side of the waist, push the corner of the opposite side of the fabric through the hole, bring the fabric up over the top edge and tie it in a loose knot.

Now with both sides held together (one with the velcro and one with the knot), the entire skirt will stay on the child's waist.

Cut a large square of sparkly tulle fabric and tie a knot in the middle. Fold down the knot and hot glue the knot to the blue fabric at the top of the fin. This will make the fabric poof out over the fin.

Hot glue the edges to the rest of the fin and trim the fabric around the fin’s shape.

Now your little mermaid tail is ready to wear!