This is just about the dullest part of your costume to make. It isn't so much a difficult matter, but a tedious one.
In my experiences, I know of three methods. Read on to find out what they are(simple, huh?).
1. This is the fluffy yarn method. In my opinion, it comes out looking pretty darn good. You will need
A piece of curtain cord long enough to go twice around your waist and tie in a bow and colored in the colors of your unitard
Skeins of yarn in the color(s) of your tail
A yarn-darner (one of those big plastic needles)
a table or desk
First, tie your curtain cord around two legs of your desk or chair. Take the darkest color of yarn that will be on your tail and measure out nine pieces of it. Each piece should be as long as the distance from your waist to your toe. (Hint: To get this measurement right, stand on one foot with the other leg held out, toe pointed and measure from your waist to your toe, as I said.)
Next, drape your yarn pieces on the curtain cord so that most of it is in the front and about an inch of it is hanging in the back. Seperate three pieces of yarn from the others and braid them together, including the parts hanging in the back. Tie off with a piece of yarn. Repeat with the six remaining pieces of yarn untill you have three braids attached to the cord. Braid these into one braid and tie off with a piece of yarn. This one shouldn't be too loose, but not too tight either.
Here comes the worse part of it. Using all your colors of yarn, cut into several pieces, each about four inches long. Do not measure these pieces though, because the uneveness gives your finished product a nice, fluffy look. (Note: You will not need to cut up the entire skein of yarn. I personally cut my pieces as I go along.) Using your yarn-darner, thread them into the braid until they ar half way in and tie the two ends together. Keep doing so until it is completely covered.
Sometime, in a galaxy far, far away, I MIGHT stop being lazy and scan pictures, but don't hold your breath.
2. This is the Cassandra-tail method, as I call it. It is also kinda boring to make, so be warned. You will need:
Skeins of yarn in the colors of your tail
A piece of curtain cord long enough to go twice around your waist and tie in a bow and colored in the colors of your unitard
a table or desk
First, tie your curtain cord around two legs of your table or desk like you did in the fluffy yarn method. Now here is the hardes part of the tail: cut seventy-five pieces of yarn that are in the colors you want and as long as the distance from your waist to your heel.Seperate them into three piles of twenty-five and drape over your curtain cord the same way as in the fluffy yarn method. Now braid and tie off. You should come out with a thick rope-like braid of yarn attached to your curtain cord.
3. The feather boa method. This is the easiest one and comes out looking pretty darn good as well. Go out and buy a feather boa that is the right length and color it with fabric markers into the colors you want. Now tie it or sew it to your curtain cord and Voila! You have a tail.
