facemasks

I have been sent about three articles/requests for face masks from around the country.  Here, use this or that pattern, we will be grateful.  I looked locally.  I am on the volunteer list with TX/RX Labs in Houston to sew medical supplies for the hospitals in Houston.  

I have not gotten those kits yet.  The patterns and templates are being finalized.  Once they are done, it will be how many washable procedure masks with disposable inner filter, replacement n95 respirator, replacement Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPR), and substitute Tyvek suits can crowd sourced sewers produce.  I have the skills

So why am I making facemasks still?  Because my family needs them.  We still have to go to the grocery store.  Bear had pneumoia this fall.  Blue is small.  Tall Short Person coughs.  All the time.  To keep us safe, I am making these.

These are not up to the same standard as a surgical mask.  They will filter out about 50% of the corona virus.  They keep the distance the virus can be projected smaller.  And they allow me to practice.

I actually have fabric that would put the rate of filter as the same as a surgical mask but they are very difficult to breathe through.  Cambridge University researches said tea towels would do that.  But tea towels were originally flour sacks and had to keep the flour in.  Their weave is very tight.  I have gone to what is recommended.  Which is a woven fabric on the outside and a jersey on the inside.  

I like the ones that are a little large so I can talk and still have my face covered.  This what is what I am doing right now.  I try to take time to stretch and write but I am not so good at that.  I have computer work to do but it is hard to concentrate.  There is a lot of food in the house so I feel like I am eating too much.  Or is that other people are wanting to have the company at meals?  I do not know the right answer.

I never thought I would ever do sewing like was done during the World Wars.  But I have the skills.  And if bread is needed, ask.

more sewing

I have been having problems focusing on words recently.  But I can focus on making.  I have been doing a lot of sewing, a bit of crocheting and spinning, and baking.  I have also done quite a bit of small human watching.

I made two more dresses.  I have a sweater that I am putting the ribbing on.  There are three loaves of bread rising and a pan of cinnamon rolls.  I created a chef roll for the boyos.  I write it down and it sounds like a lot but I do not feel motivated.  Especially about words.  There may be more simple pictures until I find words.  The world feels odd to me right now.

But I still can create.  The two dresses I made are longer and slimmer then the a-line dresses I made.  But they work for me.  I am been drawn to neutrals.  The greys and blues work for me.  And I just keep making quilt blocks.  It makes me happy.

chef rolls

My life seems to be revolving around what the boyos need for the shop.  I have been making chef rolls.  Different sizes.  Different upscaled fabrics.  I having been using a lot of coats.

Some of the coats are easier to work with then others.  This autumn leafed one was horrible!  The leather was appliquéd to fabric to get the texture and to sew through it again was difficult.  But it turned out well.  Now, whether it will sells or not is always the question.

This one has been my favorite so far.  It is waxed cotton and wool.  I have to admit that I really like working in waxed cotton and have started to go down that road of how do I make it myself.  I have a bunch of canvas around that I could play with.  Or, I could go to the thrift store and find pants that would work.  

The chef rolls are both in inventory at my Etsy shop and Serenity Knives, if anyone is interested.

The sharpening truck idea may have gotten turned on its head.  Which is okay.  I just have to figure out what is next.  It means I may need to take apart what I have already done.  And I have been asked to build a new display table since new knives have come into the shop.  I am hoping to get lumber for that so I can build on Thursday.  I am still practicing sharpening for them too.  Next year may mean more hours sharpening.

Yes, I know Thursday is Thanksgiving but it is going to be untraditional.  We are having salmon pie with salad and pumpkin pie.  I like turkey but there is no reason to go through all that trouble for two.  I have also been playing with bread recipes.  Because I can.  But that does not mean I am making rolls for Thanksgiving dinner!

Halloween for Bear

Koda Bear wanted to be Doctor Strange for Halloween.  The Tall Short Person looked at buying him a costume but they were pricey.  Most, could not even be made or delivered before Hallows.

What did I do?  I spent a lot of time researching Doctor Strange.  I am going to have to get the movie from the library again just because I researched it so much.  I really enjoyed it.

This is the under layer I created.  Doctor Strange wears a very martial arts looking outfit under his cape.  But it is blue.  Really an indigo blue.  It is a very Japanese color if you ever look at the indigo dyed there.  And yes, I have.  My hands are blue today because I did put them in my indigo pot.

I had a blue corduroy dress that had a small hole in it and two pairs of jeans with holes in them.  I made this vest.  The jeans were stretch jeans and these bindings were not fun to work with.  The denim did not wish to stay straight.  It wanted to twist even though I had cut everything as close to straight on the grain as I could.  But it turned out well.  It is shorter then what the movie character wore but Koda Bear was very happy with it.  

I also made a sash out of jean for him to wear.  Again,  denim with spandex wants to twist if is coming from a pair of preworn jeans but  I made it work.  I am a bit stubborn.  He wore this all afternoon yesterday.

The jeans I keep mending for him needed more length.  I added that length and now they look very much like the pants that Doctor Strange wore.  The character had bindings on both his forearms and calves.  This helps with the legs to look closer to what the character wore.  And I do not have to figure out how to get Koda Bear to stand still!

Not bad for an old dress and two pairs of jeans.  

There is a cape but I will not share that until after Halloween.  I am going traveling.  The timing could not be better because my Mom is under the weather.  We just have to figure out how ill she really is and what path forward she will wish to take.  All prayers and healing energy for her are gratefully accepted.

a shirt

My Beloved was looking at his work shirts and realized that he needed more.  His idea was to add shirts that were new and he could wear shirts that were wearing out.  That did not really work though because he got work shirts with the company logo and his name on it!  I have my own as well.  I use them for when I am learning to sharpen and when I do all the carpentry.

That does mean I have three shirts planned out for him.  Even though he does not really need them.  This is the first of those shirts.  The background is black which REALLY works for him.  He cannot keep anything light colored clean.  I have started overdyeing everything to make it last longer.

He had very definite requirements for the pocket so it is his design.  A place for a pen.  A button.  And he likes color so the plackets, pocket, and collar all need to be color.  The next shirt has squirrels on the colorful fabric.

I keep thinking I need to start using this pattern or something similar for myself.  I do like white but I would have to be willing to overdye my own sometime later in its life.  I am making an old white nightgown into a skirt and part of the process is overdyeing.  I keep thinking I have too many clothes but I keep repairing and changing what I already have. 

The sewing is a nice change but I have really gone down a rabbit hole with a sweater I am making.  Maybe soon it will be done!