Saturday, November 7, 2020

I was enjoying a visit with Kathryn this morning. I was in the “room across the hall” sitting in the “new” rocking chair. My Hex-Along top was sitting on the floor as I was testing various backgrounds for the piece.

Mid-conversation I realized there was a mistake. I had two hexagons that were positioned incorrectly; no one who saw the picture I put up on an earlier post noticed the problem and neither did anyone from the Facebook group related to the hex-along.

Fortunately the error was on the outside row and was a relatively easy fix. The two hexagons just needed to be turned around but, since I’d already removed the card stock backing, it was tricky to get them torn apart and then restitched.

But it’s back together again. In some ways I think I should wait a couple of days in case there is another problem but at the same time it might be better to get it beyond the point where I can fix anything.

Did you notice the error?

Friday, November 6, 2020

I’ve had another full day of mask-making but they are done now and in the laundry. They won’t go out in the mail until Monday but I hope they won’t take too long to get to their various destinations.

I took all the photos before they went into the wash; even though I press them they never look as good as when they first come off the assembly line.

At first I counted only three for Kathryn’s crew as she always has extra masks from work. With her changing jobs in the middle of the month she’s not sure how masks will work so I added one in for her as well.

I’m out of elastic and almost out of reusable bags but I had just enough to finish off a set for Elizabeth’s family and a set for Dylan B and his girlfriend.

Even Pat and I got a mask each. Mine is a refit and only has the extra filter through the pleated section. Pat didn’t leave any of his masks behind for a refit so he got a brand new one.

Thursday, November 5, 2020

I was able to find a number of bags to cut up and use as filters in this new batch of masks. I’m hoping I will have enough elastic so each person will get at least one filtered mask. I’ll get the “old” masks back over the next while and I’ll be able to refit them and so elastic won’t be an issue.

I decided to start with the smallest mask that I make (for Taylor). It went together quite well and is not much more difficult than the original method. I worried about pressing but as long as the filter layer was between two fabric layers it didn’t melt. My quilting experience came in handy as putting the layers together was done the same as my cards, and I’ve had lots of practice with them. Pleating is a little more difficult and sewing the pleats down is a bit tough but not too much of a problem.

Test 2 involved one of my own masks that needed to have the elastic changed; when I made it I didn’t have any of the proper elastic. I was hoping to test adding a small filter to the inside of the mask without having to take it completely apart. It was more difficult to reverse sew as the masks are double seamed and the pleats are even heavier stitched. I gave up after getting the pleats taken out. In order to change the elastic the whole thing will have to be taken apart to the very first step.

Test 3 was to take apart a “good” mask and see how it could be refit. Again I think the entire mask will have to be taken apart as I don’t see a way to securely attach the filter and I’m not keen on the idea of a removable filter. The reverse stitching can be done while I watch TV at night or when I have my coffee in the morning.

I’ve worked all day and have several masks done. I have 7 more to finish before I put them in the laundry and get them sent off (hopefully tomorrow).

Wednesday, November 4, 2020

I’ve lost count of how many masks I’ve made since the pandemic started. I’ve sent them to Christy, Kathryn and Elizabeth and both Christy and Elizabeth have passed them along to friends.

Yesterday Health Canada announced that non-medical masks should now have three layers of fabric; the masks I’ve made have two layers but at least one of those layers was batik fabric which was the recommendation at the time.

I talked to a quilting friend today and she has found some re-useable grocery bags that apparently are made of the right fabric to use as the filter or middle layer. I’ll have to go through my bin of bags to see if I have anything that fits into that category.

I did more reading online and it is also said that if you don’t have the right filter fabric then a third layer of tightly-woven fabric (my batiks) will work.

I think rather than waste the elastic (the most difficult to find) I’ll make some three-layer masks, get them sent out, and then have the two-layer masks sent back. I’ll add a layer on the inside to bring them up to code; They will no longer be reversible and it won’t be pretty but it should work.