Masks for Tyler Smith's Girls

 Lisa has been dating Tyler Smith for five months. This weekend he is introducing his two daughters to her, and she asked me if I would make them masks embroidered with their names. I hadn't done that before, but was willing to try and I am very happy with how they turned out.

Pandemic Masks for Lisa

 Lisa asked me to make her some masks for school and went through my fabric stash to select the fabric for them.

Here they are in order of least liked (top) to most liked (bottom.) No surprise the yellow fabric is the most wanted - it's her favorite color!

Oops! This fabric wasn't in the photo. It was her least liked. It was also my practice one for size. It fit me fine, but Lisa said the elastic was too tight.

So I made this one out of her next least favorite fabric and she said it fit much better.

I was able to replace the elastic in the blue and white one so that it was more comfortable, and Lisa has seven masks to us at school. (So far. Haha!)

Sarah's National Parks Apron & Mask

I found the best fabric at the Field's Fabrics (Michigan) online store. Anne Fields (no relation) mentioned on her blog that she ordered from them, so I checked it out. I was so glad that I did.

 Sarah LOVES the national parks, and this panel of fabric is perfect for her!

Not only did I make her an apron...

... but I had enough fabric left to make her a pandemic mask.

She says she loves it. I am thrilled!

More Pandemic Sewing

As the shelter in place order has continued, I have kept sewing masks. I'd run out of elastic, but Cristine Holt sent me some from her own sewing supplies.

 Sarah requested four masks for herself and her family.

Looking good!

 Craig asked for grey. (I ended up using the argyle for Cole.) This is a snakeskin patterned fabric that I use to make dinosaurs in quiet books.

I participated in an early Secret Santa swap and made one for my recipient. I love this fabric!

Then I began sewing for friends - since I now had more elastic, I could do more than just my family.

 I made a birthday present for model horse collector Nancy Falzone.  Nancy wrote,

I just received my gift from you.  What an absolutely wonderful thing for you to do!!!!!  I know that was chosen just for me, it is so beautiful, I will proudly wear it when I go out.  Thank you, Lynn, you are such a good friend. Gloomy day here, but you sure brightened it up with that lovely face mask!!!!! Thank you so much.

I made masks out of the same fabric that I used for Nancy for several other horsey friends: Liz and Sam Cory, Nancy Kelly, Jennifer Buxton, and Susan Bensema Young.

Jessica confessed (I had to push her to do so) that the masks I'd made the kids were too small.

 So, I double checked with friends who had also made kids' masks and changed my measurements and made two new ones.

I hope these work better for them.

All told, I have now sewn twenty-five masks. I still have a little elastic left, but I don't plan to make any more unless I get a specific request or see a need.

Pandemic Sewing

I am staying at home during the pandemic as asked by Indiana's governor. But even though I am retired and home quite a bit already, I have felt restless. I like to sew, I like to serve, and so what better way to do something worthwhile than to sew masks?

I looked at several online patterns and tutorials before selecting the pattern I liked best.

I have lots and lots of fabric on hand, both in the form of scraps from other projects as well as fabrics that I have bought because I liked them and knew that I could find something to make with them. (Every sewist does that, and we pile up tubs and tubs of fabrics!)

 Small prints work best for the masks and I have plenty of that in the fabrics I use to sew quiet books.

Other past sewing projects have included Christmas stockings, pillowcases, tablecloths, and pot holders. Leftover fabrics from those work well.

 The adult masks aren't hard to make, but the children's masks are so tiny and more difficult. This set is for Jessica and her family in Utah.

Since people around the world are sewing masks, too, there is a real shortage of 1/4 inch elastic, and I have had to get creative since I ran out of my supply yesterday.

I had some colorful rolled elastic and tried that in the masks for Julie, Kate, and Susie in Nashville.

Their mama is getting this fabric (one of my favorite fabrics ever!) and I am still working on Cole's plain black one. He gets my last two pieces of elastic.

Lisa asked for orange fabric, and Craig requested argyle.

I still need to hear from Sarah, Kyle, and Curt if they need masks, too, and I need one as well. I will choose something horsey, of course.

I love all three of these and have enough to make pot holders, tablecloths, and aprons out of them, but I think I can spare an 8 x 14 inch rectangle to make my own mask.

Now I wait on more 1/4 inch elastic. Everywhere in town is sold out as are the online sewing places I shop. Amazon has it, but it comes from China and there is a two week to one month wait to get it here. I'll either have to use the rolled elastic for myself or keep digging and see if I can find another source.

In the meantime, it has felt good to use my sewing skills to help out my family. And if I am able to get more elastic, I'd like to make some for the two local hospitals as well.