Does anyone know the name of this fabric? I was hoping to make dolls of Ariel's sister's.
Title: Re: What is this mermaid fabric?
Post by: BattySparkles on Saturday 30 April 2011, 12:57 pm
I have been trying to find this fabric too! I go to school for fashion and the head of the school told me that it is a film of polyester fused to the really thin fabric underneath it. I don't know anymore than that and I don't know if maybe this kind of polyester has a special name or what. Please let me know if you find it for sale anywhere. All of the best dolls had their clothes made out of that stuff!
Title: Re: What is this mermaid fabric?
Post by: Merboy on Sunday 01 May 2011, 01:56 am
I've found things like it, but never the real fabric. Here are links to fabrics very similar to it, their really long links... [edited! - gotd]
Title: Re: What is this mermaid fabric?
Post by: BattySparkles on Sunday 01 May 2011, 09:01 am
I think the teddies in the last one are the fabric we're looking for, so it does still exist! The Skipper you posted has a little bit of texture, which I think is the only difference. Maybe we can ask the seller of the teddies if they know where to buy the fabric.
Title: Re: What is this mermaid fabric?
Post by: Ghost Of The Doll on Monday 02 May 2011, 10:47 am
There is a lot of different fabrics described as "iridescent", but maybe you'll find the right kind on eBay with a bit of searching.
Title: Re: What is this mermaid fabric?
Post by: Merboy on Tuesday 03 May 2011, 08:58 pm
I believe I've found it! It's called Angelina film or fantasy film it's a polyester that can be ironed on to fabric. Here are some links
Thank you so much BattySparkles, your tip about it being polyester film was the clue that helped me find it :)
Title: Re: What is this mermaid fabric?
Post by: BattySparkles on Wednesday 04 May 2011, 03:03 pm
YES! I'm so excited that you found it! I need to make some clothes for myself and dolls out of this stuff! I love it so much!
Title: Re: What is this mermaid fabric?
Post by: Ghost Of The Doll on Thursday 05 May 2011, 11:20 am
Angelina fibre/film is a craft material (I use it quite often). You can iron the fibres together to form a "material" which can be used in various ways, but is very delicate and not suitable for dressmaking.
Here's some Angelina fibre bonded into a sheet with sequins and glitter sandwiched in-between. The fibres are made from the same stuff the film is made from, just shredded very finely:
The shimmery fabric Merboy/BattySparkles is looking for is something a bit different. I bought a small amount of it from a fabric shop in London some year ago (it was quite expensive, hence the small amount). Have you tried taking a sample piece (or photo) into a fabric or craft shop?
Here are some images of my iridescent fabric (I photographed the backing too). I'm pretty sure its created using something like the Angelina film, but it's been bonded to the fabric in a way I don't think would be domestically achievable (or safe)!
Title: Re: What is this mermaid fabric?
Post by: Ianua on Friday 13 May 2011, 06:00 pm
Ghost is right it's used to make faerie wings but it's quite brittle i.e no flex once ironed
Title: Re: What is this mermaid fabric?
Post by: BattySparkles on Friday 13 May 2011, 07:57 pm
Aw man! I guess the search is still on! But I'm glad to have learned about Angelina Film! That stuff could make some fun things still. Would it work for doll clothes as a substitute or is it even too fragile for that?
Title: Re: What is this mermaid fabric?
Post by: Ianua on Wednesday 18 May 2011, 06:36 pm
Not really honey it's stiff and you can move it a little bit once ironed I use it to make wings for One of a kind fairies it's like the wrapping to a quality street sweet or crisp packet before it's ironed and stiff when ironed. Did you ever shrink crisp packets into keyrings in the oven as a kid like homemade shrinkie-dinks it's kinda like that.
Title: Re: What is this mermaid fabric?
Post by: Merboy on Sunday 29 May 2011, 02:18 am
After a lot more searching I'm back and I believe I've found it. It's called iridescent vinyl or lenticular iridescent vinyl. Here's the link
http://www.cosplay.com/showthread.php?t=101000
Title: Re: What is this mermaid fabric?
Post by: pranceatron on Sunday 29 May 2011, 09:22 pm
If you do find a source, please let us know. I've also been looking for this fabric forever, never seen it anywhere locally. A lot of Halloween costumes use them (bumblebee wings etc) so I've been thinking I'll have to resort to that to find enough fabric for a project :(
But I'm sure there must be a commercially available bonded-to-fabric foil stuff out there already, or even thicker mils foil/plastic would be OK in my case!