Back in the day when we could actually leave our homes and travel, I traveled A LOT for work (averaging 2 weeks in every month.) Traveling between Thanksgiving and New Years was THE BEST because the offices I visited would have at least one baker who LOVED to share their Christmas creations!
Aren't Christmas Cookies the best part of Christmas?
I have a few Suzie-Homemaker type friends (Susan, Robin and Cheryl to name a few) who like nothing better than spending hours in the kitchen whipping up culinary delights, but that is so not me. I like the idea of spending the day making delicious Christmas treats, but truth-be-told I'd rather have a root canal. (Maybe not THAT extreme.) I cook because I have to eat to stay alive and the microwave is my best friend.
The one exception when I enjoy working in the kitchen is with my g-sons. (I'll admit this picture is a couple years old.... He has grown so much he no longer needs the step stool! But, isn't he the cutest scrambling eggs in his jammies?)
So rather than whip up a fresh batch of cookies, I've whipped up a fresh batch of masks. Because nothing says "I love you" Christmas of 2020 more then a nice, new MASK, right?
This third batch of masks would be the third style I've tried. First we had the flat, pleated method. See April 19, 2020 for instructions and a link to a YouTube tutorial. This mask has an opening in the back for a filter. Truthfully, I have no idea what kind of filter they are referring to but, hey, who am I to question? This was a good pattern back in the beginning when there weren't any masks to be found and not many more instruction videos. AND, you couldn't trade your first born for elastic!
I used pony tail elastics from the Dollar Tree. I made more than 200 of this type for friends and family across the country.
The second type is more fitted and has one long piece of elastic (now that elastic is plentiful) that loops through the mask. This makes the mask more adjustable. For this method see July 28, 2020 with links to YouTube. This was my favorite between the two methods until recently.
This third method is my new favorite as it has no seam down the center. It is nice and fitted and a bit roomier in the front. Here is the YouTube video. But, this tutorial has the old style ear loop and I like the long-piece-of-elastic style. So, this third batch is a combination of methods two and three.
This is a good pattern when you don't want a seam down the middle of your fabric messing up your cute pattern.
None of these have the nose piece, but there are plenty of YouTube videos for making masks, nose piece included. Lots of choices. Just like Burger King's old slogan "Have it Your Way."
A few sewing hacks: To make the template for the mask pattern I used Dollar Tree plastic kitchen food prep chopping mats. They are a bargain at $1 (plus tax) and there are two in a package. Here is a YouTube video.
To thread the elastic through the mask I have this tool.
It came in a package of extra-long shoe laces purchased from Amazon. I
used these laces as an alternative to the pony tail elastics way back in the beginning, again when you could not find
elastic. Amazon link.
You probably wouldn't want to buy a bunch of long shoe laces just to
get this tool, but you might be able to find something like it or a
bodkin.
Finally, to thread the elastic adjusters onto the ear loops click HERE. I used all six strands of embroidery floss. It was easier to pull it through the opening without hurting my hands.
Now, if there isn't enough YouTube in this post to get you through a Safer-At-Home evening, pour yourself a glass of wine and fire up the 'ol PC then check out the sewing videos by Just Get It Done Quilts. She is fun to watch and has a lot of good ideas, including sewing hacks from the Dollar Tree.
Spread the Love this Christmas Season.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.