What is a mermaid tail blanket and why are knitters raving about it?

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Technically, it’s not a blanket, but more like a cocoon where you slide your feet in to keep you warm.

Mermaid tails make an excellent gift.

Mermaid blankets are popular not only because they’re gorgeous, but also because knitting one is deeply rewarding.

Remember the childhood fantasy of swimming at the bottom of the ocean to befriend sea creatures?

With the help of this tutorial, you can make your wish come true by crafting your mermaid blanket.

Materials Needed

The knitting method will be a lot easier if you use long, straight needles. The thickness should be about 6.5mm.

For the yarn, the number of skeins will vary depending on the size of the blanket.

You must also consider the length of each skein if they are long enough, and have an allowance for the tail since it’s thicker.

In estimate, about 3 skeins suffice to make a mermaid blanket for toddlers.

Of course, a blanket made for adults needs more supply of yarn. For adults, you will consume about 8 skeins of yarn, or possibly more.

To be safe rather than sorry, prepare at least 1200m of yarn, no matter how many skeins, and regardless of the brand.

Finally, you will need something to securely tie the tail. A trusted option is by using zips.

If you don’t have one, try using a thick rubber band, or a long piece of yarn flexible enough to wrap around the tail.

Below are two ways of making a mermaid blanket, either by knitting or sewing.

If you have lots of spare time and a budget for knitting materials, go for the first method.

If you’re running tight and materials are limited, go for the easier one—the sewing method.

Method #1. Sewing

Step #1. Trace your feet on a piece of cardboard. Then, fold in half to create a mirror image.

From your toenail, add the shape of a fin.

Step #2. Cut the piece of cardboard, tracing the shape of a fin, before unfolding.

This you will transfer to a rubber sheet, tracing the same shape with a maker.

Step #3. Attach the water slippers to the fin with glue and let dry.

Step #4. Finally, create the tail with a piece of fabric. Fold the fabric in two and simply trace out the shape of a mermaid tail.

After cutting the fabric, sew the two sheets together, before placing the wet slippers inside.

Method #2. Knitting

Step #1. Create the fins simultaneously with a long needle. On average, a fin will take 40 stitches to complete.

You start by casting 6 stitches on each side, creating two leads.

Step #2. For each lead, you alternate between knitting and purling, twice each time.

The outcome should be a 2×2 rib pattern for the tail.

On each subsequent row, you decrease the thickness by adding a stitch on the inside, so the tail becomes thinner moving towards the tip of each fin.

Step #3. Follow your intuition in creating the additional stitches.

Note that for each fin, the sloping pattern occurs only on one side, because the other remains straight.

When you reach the average length, discern whether the length is enough for your liking.

Step #4. Start from the fin and add 40 more stitches. This should cover the entire row for both fins.

Turn the blanket on its underside and do the same, adding another 40 stitches, before you purl the row entirely.

Step #5. In the next row, you will create a row filled with holes.

Then, start knitting the two together, doing the same over the yarn.

Repeat the series of steps for the entire row and, on the next, purl the stitches.

Step #6. Finally, you can follow the pattern you have at hand. The pattern only varies on the type of stitches used for the blanket.

In this case, a simple repeating pattern is a lot easier than fancy stitches such as feather and fan stitch.

Step #7. Knit until you’re satisfied with the length of the mermaid blanket before you seal the edges.

To finish the top edge, knit at least 10 rows or another 10 2×2 rib pattern. Once you’re done, cast off the blanket.

Step #8. Return to the holes you made earlier. Now, using a long piece of yarn, insert at the holes and proceed to tie tightly.

From the top of the row, insert a zip and pull tight as the final touch.

What is a mermaid tail blanket good for?

Typically, this youthful accessory is perfect for costume parties, whether for children or adults.

You can also use it at home if you’re feeling playful and you just wanna snuggle up on the couch.

How do I make the mermaid blanket longer?

The answer to this is a bit obvious—increase the number of stitches until you reach the desired length.

The same is true for the fins if ever you want to lengthen or widen them—you need to add further rows.

As for the fins, decide before you continue stitching the body of the tail since you cannot undo anymore to make abrupt adjustments.

Conclusion

What is a mermaid tail blanket? It’s a blanket to take with you on your ocean adventures!

Have fun creating one with this simple tutorial.