Mermaid Tail for 18″ and 14.5″ Doll

This is a FREE PATTERN for you to Enjoy!

Mermaid Blanket for 18 inch and 14.5 inch dolls.

NEW — Adjustments for 14.5 inch dolls included!

This crocheted mermaid tail is a MUST for all the little dolls in your life.  Sized to fit 18- inch dolls such as American Girl and others.  Use Read Heart Super Saver yarn, or other everyday variety, and this mermaid should better withstand most any adventure your doll may encounter!

This pattern was designed to be more of a mermaid blanket for the doll and something that can be worn up higher on the doll body. You can adjust the hook size or number of rows on the body tube if you would like to shorten the tail.

*Please Note: (Adjustments for 14.5 inch doll (such as a American Girl Wellie Wisher doll will be written in italics and enclosed in parenthesis throughout.)

MATERIALS:

  • Approximately 200 yards* Red Heart Super Saver Yarn. My favorite results are with the colors Icelandic and Wildflower. (Caron Simply soft yarn recommended for 14.5 inch doll.)
  • 1-yard Red Heart Boutique Sashay Metallic OR 1-yard ribbon in coordinated color.
  • H / 5.00 MM crochet hook (G / 4.00 MM for 14.5 inch doll)
  • Plastic Yarn needle

GAUGE: 7 sc x 7 rows = 2 inches for 18 inch doll

STITCHES:

  • ch = chain stitch
  • sc = single crochet
  • hdc = half double crochet
  • dc = double crochet
  • sl st = slip stitch
  • dc2tog = double crochet 2 together

Tail is worked in rounds beginning at the waist down to the feet.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR BODY:

Begin by making the WAISTBAND.

Round 1: Ch 54 (36), join with sl st into 1st ch to form a ring.

Mermaid Figure 1: Waistband Round 1.

Round 2: Ch 1. Sc in joining stitch. Sc in each stitch around, working in excess yarn from beginning chain. Join with sl st into top loop of beginning ch 1 of round. Total of 54 (36) sc. It is important to end up with 54 (36) sc.

Mermaid Figure 2: Beginning of Round 2.

Round 3: Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc and 1 ch), skip next sc, *dc into next sc, ch 1, skip next sc* Repeat from * to * 25 (16) more times. Join with sl st into top of ch 3. Total of 27 (18) dc and 27 (18) spaces.

Round 4: Ch 1, sc into joining stitch at top of ch 3. Sc in each ch 1 and dc around. Join with sl st into first stitch of round. Total of 54 (36) sc.

Mermaid Figure 3: Completed Waistband.

Begin working on BODY TUBE:

Round 5: Ch 1, sc into same joining stitch as ch 1, skip 2 sc, 5dc in next sc, *skip 2 sc, sc in next sc, skip 2 sc, 5dc in next sc * Repeat from * to * 7 (4) more times around ring. Join with sl st into 1st sc of round. 9 (6) shells made. Each row will have 9 (6) shells throughout pattern.

Round 6: Ch 3, TURN. 2dc in same joining stitch as ch 3, skip 2 dc, sc in next dc (the middle dc of shell), skip 2 dc, *5dc into sc, skip 2 dc, sc in next dc (the middle dc of shell), skip 2 dc*. Repeat from * to * 7 (4) more times. 2dc more in the same sc as ch 3 at beginning of round. Join with sl st in top of ch 3.

Mermaid Figure 4: Completion of Rounds 5 & 6

Rounds 7-20: Repeat Rounds 5 – 6 seven times. Count 16 shell rounds completed with 9 shells in each. (For 14.5 inch dolls, repeat Rounds 5 – 6 nine more times. Count 20 shell rounds completed with 6 shells in each. — This will sit at waist of 14.5 inch doll. If you would like a longer body tube, repeat this round to achieve desired length — Fasten off. Weave in excess yarn. Trim. Skip to “Instructions for FIN” and follow through to the end of the pattern instructions. Enjoy!)

Mermaid Figure 5: Completion of Body Round 20, showing 16 shell rounds.

Round 21: Ch 1, TURN! (Then the same shell pattern, but instead of the 5dc, do only 3dc) Sc in same stitch as ch 1, *skip 2 dc, 3 dc in sc, skip 2 dc, sc in next dc (the middle dc of shell)*. Repeat between from * to * 7 more times. Skip 2 dc, 3 dc in sc, skip 2 dc. Join with a sl st in 1st sc of round. Total of 9 shells with 3 dc each.

Round 22: Ch 3. TURN!1 dc in same stitch as ch 3, *skip 1 dc, sc in next dc (the middle dc of shell), skip 1 dc, 3 dc in next sc.  *. Repeat from * to * 7 more times. Skip 1 dc, sc in next dc (the middle dc of shell), 1 dc in same stitch as beginning ch 3 of round. Join with a sl st in top of ch 3. Total of 9 shells with 3 dc each.

Round 23 – 30: Repeat Rounds 21 – 22 four more times.

Round 31: Ch 1, TURN! Sc in same stitch as ch 1. *Skip 1 dc, (hdc, dc, hdc) in next sc. Skip 1 dc, sc in next dc*.  Repeat from * to * 7 more times. Skip Skip 1 dc, (hdc, dc, hdc) in next sc. Skip 1 dc. Join with a sl st into 1st sc of round.  Fasten off. Weave in excess yarn. Trim.

Count 10 shell rounds (with 3 dc in each shell) completed. Total number of shell rounds from top to bottom is 26.

Mermaid Figure 6: Completion of Body Tube, showing waistband and all 26 shell rows.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR FIN:

How to do a dc2tog stitch: YO, insert hook into next stitch, YO, pull through stitch, YO, pull through 2 loops on hook, YO, insert hook into next stitch, YO, pull through stitch, YO, pull through 2 loops on hook, YO, pull through last 3 loops on hook.

For the first half of the fin, you will decrease the number of stitches with each row completed.

Row 1: Ch 23. Dc in fourth ch from hook and dc in next 17 ch across. Total of 19 dc, counting first ch 3. Dc2tog over last two ch stitches.

Row 2: Ch 3, TURN! Dc2tog over next 2 stitches. Dc in each dc across and in top of ch 3. Total of 17 dc.

Row 3: Ch 3. TURN!  Dc in next 15 dc across — Total of 16 dc, counting first ch 3. Dc2tog over last dc and dc2tog.

Mermaid Figure 7: Beginning of Fin Row 4.

Row 4: Ch 3, TURN! Dc2tog over next 2 stitches. Dc in each dc across and in top of ch 3. Total of 14 dc.

Row 5: Ch 3. TURN! Dc in nest 12 dc across. Total of 13 dc, counting first ch 3. Dc2tog over last dc and dc2tog.

Row 6: Ch 3, TURN! Dc2tog over next 2 stitches. Dc in each dc across and in top of ch 3. Total of 11 dc.

Row 7: Ch 3. TURN! Dc in next 9 dc across. Total of 10 dc, counting first ch 3. Dc2tog over last dc and dc2tog.

Row 8: Ch 3, TURN! Dc2tog over next 2 stitches. Dc in each dc across and in top of ch 3. Total of 8 dc.

Row 9: Ch 3. TURN! Dc in next 6 dc across. Total of 7 dc, counting first ch 3. Dc2tog over last dc and dc2tog.

For the second half of the fin, you will increase the number of stitches with each row completed.

Row 10: Ch 3 (counts as dc), TURN! 2 dc in same stitch at bottom of ch 3, dc in each dc across.

Row 11: Ch 3 (count as dc). TURN! dc in each dc. 3 dc in top of ch 3 of previous row.

Rows 12 – 17: Repeat Rows 10 and 11 three times.

Row 18: Ch 3. TURN! 2 dc in same stitch as ch 3, dc in each dc across. Continue to next section — Preparing and Attaching FIN to BODY.

Mermaid Figure 8: Completion of Fin Row 18; Sew a Running stitch along the straight edge.

Figure Preparing and Attaching FIN to BODY:
Ch 1, Cut yarn leaving long tail of approximately 1-yard excess yarn. Pull through the ch 1 to secure.  Thread excess yarn through plastic yarn needle. Using needle and excess thread, sew a running stitch along the outer crochet stitches at the top, straight edge of fin. Gently pull to gather the fin

Mermaid Figure 9: Gently pull to gather the fin.

Turn body inside out. Place fin inside of body with gathered edge aligned with narrow edge of body. Adjust gathers of fin to be equally distributed and the same width as the body opening. Continue using plastic yarn needle and excess yarn to hand sew fin securely to body using a whip stitch. Be sure to sew through all layers.

Mermaid Figure 10: Position Fin inside Body tube. Sew through all layers.

Turn right side out to double check that everything is sewn correctly before you fasten off. Fasten off. Weave in any excess yarn. Trim.

Mermaid Figure 11: Completed Fin Attachment.

Cut 1 yard of Red Heart Boutique Washy Metallic OR ribbon or cording. Knot ends. Lace through openings at waistband so that tie will be at the front. Dress doll in mermaid tail and tighten drawstring waistband to fit doll. Tie in a bow. Enjoy your mermaid doll!

Mermaid Figure 12: Lace drawstring through completed waistband.

(c) 2017 to Present Patricia J Angus of Granny’s Crochet Shoppe.
Revised May 2018. All rights reserved. Pattern and photos may not be reproduced or distributed in any manner. 

Make as many doll mermaid tails as you desire to sell in your shops and for fundraisers! Please include a link to http://grannyscrochetshoppe.com when possible. THANK YOU!