Fancy dress emergency.

[DuffyFluckling]

The advice of calm, clever, crafty Mumsnetters would be appreciated.

On Monday dd is having an under the sea party, the WHOLE PURPOSE OF WHICH is for her to dress as a mermaid.

Having seen mermaid costumes in various toyshops I figured I'd pop out today and pick one up.

But NO. Every single mermaid costume in the entire city is sold out. I know. Believe me, I've checked.

So, I need to make a mermaid costume.

I have very little time to do this.
I will mostly be amusing my 12-month-old ds while I make it.
I don't have a sewing machine.
I am not particularly nifty with a needle and thread, but willing to give it my best shot.

I am thinking:
Bikini top
Necklaces
Flower in hair
Tail skirt thing??????? How?

[Panic]

can you buy a really cheap tube skirt? maybe adult size so you could take it in, then sew on (or stick some cut out card) a fishtail

My mum made me a mermaids tail from bin bags.

Cut strips with one edge wavy, stary with one whole bin bag round her waist and build up the scaley layers from the bottom, a nice grey/ silver bag would give a good effect. Think I had no top on but was 4 and had very long hair.

Tube skirt? What is a tube skirt?

Yes I agree. Make/adjust a long skirt to have a tail cut on the end at the back.

it's a skirt, tube shaped , you didn't have one in the 80s then?

Aww how cute.

Adjusting a skirt is a good idea though. I have googled tube skirts.

I can't picture the binbag idea.

Ahaa ha ha ha haaaa.

Argh. Distracted. Must concentrate.

I wouldn't worry too much about the tail bit. She does have to be able to walk and enjoy her party in it. Concentrate on the top half and for the bottom half buy some shiny tights, aqua green would be ideal, but shiny blue, silver or even white would do.
Then use a ballet tutu and attach thin strips of material (again use what you can find, shiny, metallic, just sea/fish like) all the way round, different lengths. She will look fab and swishy when she walks.
That's what I would do anyway.

I do remember o tbeing able to walk all that well, but it was a quick parade then judging. Don't think Mum worried about the walking about bit as I remember a great tin man costume she made my brother except he had several cuts on his arms and legs form the tins oops mum