Sewing Project - Fitted Face Mask 2

I made another fitted face mask this week.  I chose to put elastics on this one which is how this one was designed.

I followed the free pattern provided from Sustain My Craft Habit Fitted Mask.

I used navy 100% cotton fabric from a men's shirt on the outside.  The inside is 100% Egyptian Cotton in a embossed yellow. These are heavy cotton fabrics which are recommended.

The mask also allows me to add a filter to the mask if I chose.  Today I ready that a non woven filter material similar to

your re-usable grocery bags could be used in it.  That is a great idea. It should be removed when washing the mask.  The material breaks down every time it is washed.  I would just soak it in boiling hot water to sterilize then reinsert into the washed mask.

I put in the piece of terry cloth fabric in this one also which helps to capture the moisture from your breath and not to fog your glasses.

Another check mark on the sewing ToDo list.

I bought small dollar store gloves the other day as I had lost at least one pair and this gives me a cushion.  I don't leave the house without gloves on.

It ensures at least 1 load of laundry a week in hot water.

Sylvia Simple Shots

Cold drinks are an absolute must in these temperatures.   We had 30C yesterday which is way too hot for me. 

Just ice balls with soda water in a double walled glass so it will stay as cold as possible!

I created a low key image to have the yellows stand out!

Staying hydrated in this weather is important and I don't need extra sugar so this works well for me.

I had 4 extra glasses of water yesterday. 

My African Violet is blooming!

I have such poor luck with plants so I am stoked to see blooms. As you can see they are a gorgeous deep purple color and there will be many it seems!

Yeah! Yeah!

The north window is working so well.  Now that it is hanging just above the sewing machine, it is great. I have plants in a couple of places in my home!

I believe this is a thistle bloom.   I love the jagged edges of the petals.

It has not rained in about a week here so I generally always carry my spray bottle to give my photos a bit of something extra when needed.

I love this shot!



I found a Lady Bug Hatchery! There was a lot of them in different stages of development.

The bug on the right is a Lady Bug Larvae becoming and developing it's wings.  Very cool!  It is interesting that the body under the hard wings looks very similar to the larvae but we hardly ever see it because it's flying when the body is exposed!

I worked on making more face masks. I tried a fitted one this time.  I like it.  Still hot in these temperatures but less fabric.

The features of this face mask are a draw string tie so you just pull to tighten.  I had found someone on line recommending putting a kleenex on the nose piece to help with glasses fog.  I decided to put a permanent layer of terry cloth which fills in the spaces around the nose and absorbs the moisture from your breath.  Works quite well.

This one also allows me to put a filter on the inside if I want to.  Never know what options I will need before this is all over.

Flickr Macro Monday challenge this week is Chocolate! Well I love this one!  I bought 5 different kinds because I wanted options for a good photo. Photographing chocolate up close is challenging because some of it is not pretty.  Do we really look at it before we put it into our mouths, I would suggest not!  I have Chocolate Chips here and check out my photostream SMDPics for the image I submitted.

I am sharing with Angie who hosts Mosaic Monday #91
and
Mersad who hosts Through My Lens #251           Have a safe week!

Sewing Project - Face Mask Two

I made my self a second face mask for going out on grocery shopping trips.

I chose the same Egyptian 100% cotton fabric for the front with a high thread count.

I used twill tape for the ties which was wider than the bias tape I used on the first one.

I created the 2 side pieces from the same fabric which covers the raw edges once the pleats had been sewed down.

On this one I created a channel in the center on the inside where the nose is to insert a plastic tin tie so I can form the mask to my face.  This helps to ensure the mask is tight and my glasses don't fog up.

I sewed the channel to the 2 inside layers before I added the twill tape across to top of the mask.  This makes so the zigzag seam does not show up on the front. I used the same fabric as the front. The tie is removed when washing the mask after every use.

These are the ties I have used.  They go on a bag a the top then you roll the bag down and fold over the ends over the fold to keep the bag closed.  It allows keeping the product fresh while accessing what you need. 

Mine came when I bought loose tea and were used with plasticized paper bags. It is 1/4 in wide, it moulds nicely to the nose and stiff enough to be removed.

I skipped the flannelette layer on this mask but created a pocket on the inside where a filter could be inserted.  I used the same tone on tone caramel fabric on the inside.  I cut the pieces the same size as the front, laid them onto each other, placed a seam to the right and left of the center leaving the center open.  Once I ironed the layers up and down to expose the slit I top stitched the edges.  The slit is in one of the folds so it will stay closed fairly easily.

I am not sure what I will use for a filter.


With the highest quality fabric I had at my disposal and within the guidelines recommended I have 3 layers of cotton on each mask. 

I am ready when I head out for groceries. 

Sewing Project - Face Mask

I made myself a face mask to where when I go grocery shopping next time.

I chose fabric from an Egyptian Cotton pillow case with a brocade pattern.   The middle layer is a piece of white flannelette.  The back piece is a piece of tone on tone 100% cotton in caramel.  I chose Egyptian cotton because it's thread count is on average 500 versus quilting cotton at 60.  The tone on tone cotton sheet averages 250.  The flannelette was new and nice and fluffy.

I cut the pieces 7 x 9 inches.  I sewed the pleats on both ends first.  I then added brown wide bias tape over the raw ends.  I then sewed narrow bias tape in brown measuring 44 inches long along the top and bottom edges centered then finished into ties on both sides.   The ties may be too long but I guess it was designed to accommodate a bunch of different users.

I will give it a test run tomorrow in the house so I am ready for the trip out later this month.

I chose all cotton fabric because it can be boiled for disinfecting it.  Laundering them is in the regular laundry run.  I have been washing my gloves when I return from a trip out for groceries.  I will have several pairs and use a clean pair each time I go out

I will be making another once I have test run this one. 

Note: 
After washing for the mask the first time the narrow bias tape had to be undone and resewed in several places.  Single fold bias tape is too narrow my opinion.  I used it to make the ties skinny but would not do it again. 

I have retrofitted a nose piece channel on this one as well.  You can check my 2nd face mask post.