Showing posts with label cotton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cotton. Show all posts
I've made all the masks I'm gonna make.
Sigh.
Hi all.
Man, what a 202o, right?
I don't know if I have much to say, other than with all things considered, I'm in a comfortable place. I've got food, my dog has food, I have internet and electricity, I live in California, and my plants are good.
Low bar, but pretty high for so many our there. Thinking about them keeps me up sometimes, and with all the ways people are trying to help, trying not to lose their homes, and not get sick, we still trudge on.
When this all started, I was inundated like I'm sure most people who sew were, "Are you making masks?" At first, I looked online for a couple of days for places or even businesses where I could donate my time. I wasn't going to make masks out of my own material because it was pointless.
I was looking, emailing, even calling to see if I could get medical materials sent to me, make them, then send them back. I felt that was one of the only ways with the limited power I have, to actually help. Because side from the theater of wearing it to make yourself or others feel good, the homemade stuff didn't really do anything.
But then things got worse, and here in California, you are required to wear a face covering or you can be refused service.
I've only been out once since that order came down last week, and I wore one of my scarves trippled over. But with all the constant talk of masks, I reached out to one of my friends who works in the medical field and asked his opinions on the entire matter.
He told me that yes, home masks don't do much, but it's better than nothing, and if you are going to make them, use three layers of a tightly woven cotton, and a nose bridge to secure a tight seal around the face.
Okay, now I had something to go on.
I was grateful for the insight, but sad too. It makes me think of all the medical personnel who wear garbage bags! Ugh, the whole thing feels like a dropped ice cream cone in sand.
So I decided to look at these masks and see if I can make it the best mask I can with what I have.
I downloaded some random pattern online which was way too large for my face. I cut it down and altered it and was ready to go.
The good thing is, since I primarily work in natural fabrics, I had a lot of remnants cotton to use.
I used a cotton novelty print for the outside, a cotton sateen for the inside, and a cotton jersey (T shirt) for the third layer. Now, I left a pocket between the jersey and the sateen so if someone wanted, they would put in some sort of filter.
The problem is, trying to breathe through all that stuff is a challenge, especially with the nose guard.
I wanted a wire that would be pliable, but bendable multiple times. I remembered I had some gardening wire that was encased in plastic, giving it softness and ease to bend.
From there I had some elastic and did a small gather at the jaw, making that seal extra-sealing.
Shoe strings for the ties for around the back of the head, and there you go.
One friend told me this was basically the Hong Kong mask, that had a blockage rate of around 60-70%. Oh, I guess my pocket for a filter was on to something.
For a problem solving exercise, this was satisfying. If I could work in the proper materials, and if it were needed, I'd totally make more.
That's it right now on my end. I've been sewing and trying to find some work. Drawing and reading and yes, more pattern making.
I hope people are doing well and taking deep breaths.
More soon.
Love ya!
Hi all.
Man, what a 202o, right?
I don't know if I have much to say, other than with all things considered, I'm in a comfortable place. I've got food, my dog has food, I have internet and electricity, I live in California, and my plants are good.
Low bar, but pretty high for so many our there. Thinking about them keeps me up sometimes, and with all the ways people are trying to help, trying not to lose their homes, and not get sick, we still trudge on.
When this all started, I was inundated like I'm sure most people who sew were, "Are you making masks?" At first, I looked online for a couple of days for places or even businesses where I could donate my time. I wasn't going to make masks out of my own material because it was pointless.
I was looking, emailing, even calling to see if I could get medical materials sent to me, make them, then send them back. I felt that was one of the only ways with the limited power I have, to actually help. Because side from the theater of wearing it to make yourself or others feel good, the homemade stuff didn't really do anything.
But then things got worse, and here in California, you are required to wear a face covering or you can be refused service.
I've only been out once since that order came down last week, and I wore one of my scarves trippled over. But with all the constant talk of masks, I reached out to one of my friends who works in the medical field and asked his opinions on the entire matter.
He told me that yes, home masks don't do much, but it's better than nothing, and if you are going to make them, use three layers of a tightly woven cotton, and a nose bridge to secure a tight seal around the face.
Okay, now I had something to go on.
I was grateful for the insight, but sad too. It makes me think of all the medical personnel who wear garbage bags! Ugh, the whole thing feels like a dropped ice cream cone in sand.
So I decided to look at these masks and see if I can make it the best mask I can with what I have.
I downloaded some random pattern online which was way too large for my face. I cut it down and altered it and was ready to go.
The good thing is, since I primarily work in natural fabrics, I had a lot of remnants cotton to use.
I used a cotton novelty print for the outside, a cotton sateen for the inside, and a cotton jersey (T shirt) for the third layer. Now, I left a pocket between the jersey and the sateen so if someone wanted, they would put in some sort of filter.
The problem is, trying to breathe through all that stuff is a challenge, especially with the nose guard.
I wanted a wire that would be pliable, but bendable multiple times. I remembered I had some gardening wire that was encased in plastic, giving it softness and ease to bend.
From there I had some elastic and did a small gather at the jaw, making that seal extra-sealing.
Shoe strings for the ties for around the back of the head, and there you go.
One friend told me this was basically the Hong Kong mask, that had a blockage rate of around 60-70%. Oh, I guess my pocket for a filter was on to something.
I mailed my friend some, and gave other friends the rest.
For a problem solving exercise, this was satisfying. If I could work in the proper materials, and if it were needed, I'd totally make more.
That's it right now on my end. I've been sewing and trying to find some work. Drawing and reading and yes, more pattern making.
I hope people are doing well and taking deep breaths.
More soon.
Love ya!
1960s Wedding Dress Recreation: pt 2 Making the Dress, and that Fabric, yo!
Behold! The most expensive fabric I've ever worked with!
I believe this is a Lyon type of lace. All I know is that it's french.
This is the fabric for the sleeves and the bodice. When I discovered it, I sent a pick to my friend, and she LOVED it, until we both saw the price. It was in the glass case, after all. I should have known...
Look everybody, I made an outfit!
I made this outfit for the Vegan Oktober fest this past weekend and it was a big hit. I got a lot of compliments on it. The skirt is dyed red, with a vintage border I got at a yard sale a couple of years ago. The skirt is made from my trusty wrap dress pattern, I just closed the front.
The second satchel bag is complete - with a MONOGRAM!!
Hello lovely people.
I made the satchel again using a maroon colored denim and a light cotton plaid curtain I got from the thrift store. I felt extra special and cut the inside lining on the bias.
Finished my reworked hiking bag (with awesome pictures!).
Hello lovely people.
Brian had a playmate with his new 'sister', Brandy. She was afraid of Brian at first (naturally) but after five minutes, she was barking and trying to get big man to chase her.
You know, dog stuff!
Speaking of stuff, I have something to show you.
This was the sketch I doodled after I began working on the new hiking bag after I vomited on my old one. It was past its prime anyway, so the gaminess of its new smell just helped facilitate the transition to another bag.
Accomplishments!
Hello lovely people.
Yes, that is Brian in the middle of three dogs larger than him.
Brian was all, "sup."
They were all, "sup."
"Can I sniff your butt?"
"Cool, bro."
Day Projects: Odds and Ends
Good morning lovely people.
Brain took over the bed, as usual, so I had to get up and do stuff.
I hope you all have been well. I'm doing okay. Still busy getting work. I'm wiring on a potential freelance job that could be long term, so with me luck on that.
Day project, A-Shirts of her.
Hello lovely people.
I feel so accomplished. I can't tell you how elated I am that my sewing area is clean.
Check it, I finally got to do this!
MnM 2014: 1930s inspired pajama set
MnM 2014: Plaid pajamas completion
Hello lovely people.
How is your MnM going? Good, I hope. Mine is pretty lively, and nearly complete. I've made two side pairs of pajama pants, and now, I present to you the lovely completion for the great pink plaid pants I made.
MnM 2014: Plaid is the new relax (whatever that means)
Hello, lovely people.
MnM 2014: Gathering supplies
Hello lovely people.
Because I stay home so much I tend to sit around the house in my lounge gear. Cotton flannel pants and sometimes matching jackets/shirts because they are comfortable and appropriate enough if I need to walk the pooch down the block for walkies.
Here I am! raises hand
Hey everybody! I've been busy this month, scrambling and trying to stay in the state. I'm close, but if you can, I'd like to ask for your help.
I need to come up with $300 by the end of the week, so if you are thinking of buying anything from my etsy store, now would be the time and would really help me. As far as finding a job, I feel I'm getting close. I have a few nice commissions and have been picked up by a few places but the fruits of that are hopefully coming down the pipeline. For now, I just need to stay diligent and keep going, and I'm so close this month.
Clothing Restoration: Shirring dress final
Here it is. A finished panel. Success.
After a lot of rotten thread, rotten elastic, and thread clippings, its done.
Both are done, and I was now able to put the dress together.
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