(no subject)

[ironymaiden]

i made masks today. it started well - i cut out fabric and straps for four two-layer masks, chain-pieced the first seam for all of them, and then finished the first one, complete with a pocket for a folded twist-tie to make for a better fit over the nose.

looked good, fit me well.

didn't fit C at all. dude just has a big head. also, he didn't like the springy stretch-knit ties.

regraded pattern, cut and sewed pieces for a larger mask for C. found some ribbon for ties.* had to reattach a ribbon almost immediately because i had failed to secure the end from fraying.

wore masks out to walk the dog. C fussed and fretted with his the entire time trying to keep his glasses from fogging which made me increasingly miserable. meanwhile i realized that the metal molded over my nose was digging in. got home, confirmed that i had a lovely red divot in my nose from the lumpy twist-tie.

tried a theory that a band of stretch knit on the top edge might cling tighter and feel better than the metal structure. made one for me pretty quickly since i had three more masks worth of cut fabric left, tested on my face, had C try the feel. probable success.

made another for C with a few tweaks based on feedback. we now each have a comfy mask for tomorrow morning. but one or both of us are out several times a day due to the dog, so i need to get at it and make more.

when i started this afternoon i was feeling all ambitious about making extras and saving the everything, but right now i'm tired. dreading having to go back to the sewing machine tomorrow and balking at the idea of having to make another ten or so just to keep us from running a tiny load of laundry every night.

i'm sure i'll feel better once i've rested. right? right.




* i don't have elastic in the house, JoAnn's has finally closed, and no fucking way am i going to make and finish 6 feet of bias tape per mask.

Comments

[promethia_tenk]

I've only made myself one mask and I'm washing it out in the shower after I come in: lather it up with lots of soap at the beginning, letting it marinade while I shower, and then rinsing it out a the end and hanging it to drip dry. If what they're telling us about the powers of soap against this thing is true, I figure that should be adequate sanitation?

I don't even have a sewing machine, so there's no way I'm making a bunch of these.

[yourlibrarian]

Re: the lack of elastic, is there a Wal-Mart in the area? Ours has a grocery so it's open and they have a sewing section.

[ironymaiden]

none inside the city limits. IIRC the nearest one is about a 30 minute drive (and i don't have a car). i'm currently looking at an alternative design that uses ponytail holders as earpieces. those i should be able to get at the drugstore.

[buhrger]

speaking as a large-headed person proximate to a person who may be making masks in the near future, we may be asking for pointers?

[ironymaiden]

my notes so far

i think there may be some more refinement on the headband to come. and i should take some pictures.