More masks...

First of all, I'd like to say I hope you have a happy and blessed Easter - wherever you are.  And I hope you are safe and well.  

It's been a busy week.  After seeing the masks I made last week (hubs posted pictures to his FB page) one of my sisters asked me if I would make her one.  How could I refuse?    I broke out some pretty bird-print fabric and made her two! 

As I finished them up, I started contemplating making a few more for us, and thought about asking my sons if they'd each like a mask - figuring I'd probably have to talk them into the idea.

But then, on Thursday, middle son texted us a picture of a surgical mask.  His short message said they were to start wearing masks at work.  Every employee was given one, and was told it needed to last them for a week. 😧   

Thinking that just wouldn't do, I offered to make him some masks pronto - to which he replied with a hearty, "Sure!"

Still not having any "manly" fabric, I decided to dye a twin-size sheet I found early last week - a sheet we don't even have a twin bed for anymore.  

I had black, and blue liquid Rit Dye, so I figured I'd experiment a bit by combining them in different measures.  I tried some mottling (not terribly successful) and even a little tie dying.   I got a few nice shades of gray and blue from my efforts.  And I even decided to dye a pair of faded jeans while I was at it.  👍

I actually found a somewhat simpler, but same end-result pattern to make the Olson Mask this time around (and it comes in different sizes!).  Here's the link for anyone who might be interested.  

I cut out the mask pieces and started making them assembly-line style:

Not knowing how often son does laundry, I ended up making him six masks:

My plan was to make him five to get him through a work week, but he asked if I could make a pink one.  I told him I didn't have any pink fabric (which was true), but then I asked a friend if she happened to have some and she had this small piece of gorgeous hot pink in her stash.  I wish I could see his look of surprise, and hear him laugh when he opens up the box and sees a work-week's worth of masks and a hot pink one.  😄

Not knowing if son would like elastic at the ears, and how much elastic to give him, I made several different styles of fastening these on so he can decide what's best for him.

I thought the idea below pretty genius when I found it online.  The idea here is you put your head through the loop part and it sits on the back of the head, then the mask is put up against your face, and the loose ends are tied behind the neck:  

I tried it myself and it holds well.   I used a soft leather strip I had in my jewelry making supplies.  These masks have been a real exercise in using what I have!

And next up:  While I didn't get a separate picture showing the ear holders (below), I came across the idea of making "elastic" by taking a 1-inch strip of t-shirt fabric, and then pulling it taut so it curls up on itself.  You cut the strips whatever length you need to loop around the ears, feed the strip through the side casing, tie a tight knot, then hide the knot in the casing if you want.  These are super soft on the ears:

I made extra strips so he can replace them on the masks if he wants to.

And lastly, since he wears safety goggles at work, he asked for a wire across the top so he could mold it to his face.  I used this wire I found in my jewelry-making supplies:

I put a slightly softer wire (I'm guessing 22-gauge) in mine and hub's masks and they've come through the laundry just fine a couple of times, so I'm hoping this 20-gauge wire works well for son.

And that is how I spent a few days this past week.  I'm going to finish up a couple more for hubs and myself, and a few for another son who's interested in having something if/when he needs to run errands.  He's thinking he probably won't wear a mask to work, but we'll see how long he has a choice in the matter...

And then, I think I'm done mask-making for a while.  My hat is off to so many of you who've made masks for donating.  While I've been happy to make these for my family, I've found it exhausting to spend time bent over cutting out fabric pieces and then bent forward at the sewing machine for the length of the time it took to make these.  It probably doesn't help my sense of exhaustion that I spent time dying fabric, too.   As soon as I finish up the handful of masks sitting at my sewing machine still, I'm ready to reclaim my craft room for some peaceful and stress-free crocheting, knitting and/or cross stitching for a while.

~~~~~

And one last very happy note:   Yesterday morning, five of us YOPers met on Zoom for the first time.  How fun to hear voices of women I've only enjoyed through their written words up 'till now.  I hope to join in future Zoom meet-ups with any and all YOPers who can make it.  Thank you, Maria for setting it up!   It was so fun to meet up with you, Marsha, Liz, Mary-Anne, and Maria!  Maria even has a screen shot of all of us at the link that is her name! 

Have a safe and happy week, everyone!