SNUG FIT FACE MASK TUTORIAL (Anti-Fog)

FABRIC MASK TUTORIAL
Featuring Snug Fit for People Who Wear Glasses (Anti-Fog)

SUPPLIES:
focus fabric (preferably quilters cotton)
quilter's cotton fabric for layering
Elastic 1/4 inch or Fabric binding (bias or straight) ties
Staples' 2 Inch Metal Self-Adhesive Fasteners
6 Clover Wonder Clips* Optional
Thread


Choose your fabrics. You'll need 3 pieces approximately 7" x 9" for each mask plus the two 7" each elastic or four approximately 18" fabric bias or straight binding ties.

Next, you'll line your fabrics up with the middle layer on the very bottom, the face or front fabric next and your elastic strips (7" each for average adults when using thin seams) kept in place with Clover Wonder Clips *may substitute with pins or small office binding clips but these are WELL worth the investment and you'll use them constantly. I use 6 to keep everything in place as shown in these photos.

If you're using fabric ties, you'll need to attach each with your Wonder Clips and keep all the lengths as close to the center as possible to avoid sewing through them. I stand 2 clips up to catch most of it (see photos).

When you have your clips in place, add the back fabric next (that will be closest to the mouth/nose when complete) but make sure to keep the outer side facing down towards your focus fabric since you'll be turning the fabrics inside out once sewn. If you are working with directional fabrics, be sure to mark the correct up and down on this layer with a little arrow in the seam allowance.

Your fabrics should look like this sandwiched layer of goodies before taking it to the sewing machine:

 

At your machine, you'll be starting sewing near the middle of the top side of the sandwich. Once you get comfortable doing this, writing directions on the visible current top layer will not be necessary. Be sure to tack down the start to prevent issues in turning. My seams tend to be about 3/8" for the inner layer then I trim before turning.

As you make your way around the rectangle, tack the elastic/ties several times and tack down the final segment, leaving about 2 inches for turning and placing the metal nose piece. 

Trim excess fabric to about 1/4" seam. Turn your fabrics out carefully and be sure to use your pointer or finger at the corners.

Press your rectangle top (focus) fabric and backside 3rd layer flat first. Next, place 2 folds and press those as well. I reinforce the folds with Clover Wonder Clips. Next, I fold down the sharper, thinner points on the Staples' Self-Adhesive Fasteners so that it looks like this:

Turn over the fastener to remove the sticker backing, allowing the adhesive to show. Tuck the strip into the opening but make sure that it is not close to the top seam as you'll be sewing a scant 1/4" topstitch there. I place the folded points outward so they don't irritate the nose over time and after multiple washes.

Next, you'll be closing the top opening and securing the folds with a topstitch using scant 1/4" seams. You may need to guide the bulk of the folds with a seam ripper. If so, be careful not to go too far in as you'll break the needle of your machine. 

Once the topstitching is complete around the mask, loosen the adhesive side within the layers and move it up next to your scant 1/4" seam allowance. You can use the adhesive to keep it in place. I reinforce with a couple of the Clover Wonder Clips to remind me to go back and do a second line of sewing beneath it. This creates a little pocket to keep your nose piece in place after multiple washes.

Make your final row of sewing, locking the nose piece within the channel and you're finished. 

Fabric Masks

Erica Arndt's Face Mask with Fabric Ties Tutorial

After searching and playing around with a few earlier versions, I found Erica Arndt's video most helpful, easiest and best fitting for quick projects. I'm working on a tutorial to help walk you through this mask pattern with lots of photos but it may be a day or two until it's complete.

Piece,
Heather

🐣 Pastel Chicks 🐣

Pastel chick fabric from the Nana Mae II line is lovely and may be a little tough to find since IV was just released. I don't know about you, but I miss actual fabric shopping in a little mom and pop brick and mortar store. 

It's great to get mail but there's something so special about an actual shopping trip for goodies and in finding things that you wouldn't have even thought to search for online. Maybe later this summer a road trip will be in order. 

Have a wonderful day,

Heather

Packages Keep Arriving

SCORE! Polka dots are my absolute favorite basic to work with and these are so super cute with the rings of dots...they go with nearly everything! Lizzy House's Mini Pearl Bracelet line is the perfect size print for smaller scale piecing and it arrived today in a rainbow of colors. I also managed to scoop up some of the original in teal & navy. 💙 Mr. Fabulous & our mail carrier are just SO excited about all the packages arriving daily.  😆 I'm figuring the saved cost of my commute to work the past 2.5 months more than covers the online fabric spree...but I don't think everyone is a fan of this new budget math. 

Surprise Fun Mail Arrived

Not much tops Fun Mail...but Surprise Fun Mail is super fun! 30s reproduction fabrics in some bright, happy colors just for me from my mom. Thank you, this made my day. 

Browsing over the photos from the "shoe organizer", better known as the 30s repros bin around here, it looks a little shabby compared to the new cubes. A refresh is in order: a little reorganization & some serious refolding will do nicely. 

I pull from this section all the time and just took out all the yardage and bits stuck in there awaiting the arrival of the cubes. Now that the second row of cubes is dedicated to 30s prints, arranged by color (of course!) and the old Dear Jane storage cleaned out, it's time. 

This will make a decent, fairly quick project to keep me busy for the last week of school meetings and/or a break from grading this final week of school. YESSSSS my friends, it's been such a long year---and we're ready for summer like never before. 

Piece,

Heather

More Than a Minute, I Suppose...

 

A few more bits of the Aneela Hoey are arriving, slowly but surely. I can't wait to add this to the modern fabric section! Fussy cut goodness just waiting to be added to...honestly, I'm not sure yet. You may remember an old post about modern fabric goodness and some hexies. A spare bit was used for a Farmer's Wife block but munchkin claimed it immediately...and who could blame her---there's a pink hedgehog in it, after all. 

Happy Fussy Cut Goodness, 

Heather

Momma Goes Modern for a Minute

Did I really say it was impossible to find Aneela Hoey fabrics? 

 

Fun mail arrived all at once from various corners of the world today...ok, there are still a couple packages en route but we'll keep that between us. There's even a tiny bit of Sherbet Pips coming soon----oooh yes, happy dancing! For the fussy cutters among us, this is a truly spectacular find. Meanwhile, the Heather Ross is on hold until I snatch up a couple more pieces of this incredibly difficult to find fabric. Her 20th anniversarycollection is due out any moment and the refresh button is getting a workout since it was coming out "mid month". 

I'm pleased to report there are some amazing 30s reproductions still available but it requires a little digging. Twiddletails is probably the best source I've found so far other than the Fat Quarter Shop and Grandma's Attic Quilting. The local shop is back open, it's not terribly close but they may get a visit in a week or two, as well. Also, if you love Judie Rothermel's beautiful prints as much as I do, her shop is located in Ohio and it's called the Schoolhouse Quilt Shoppe. It's fantastic! Happy Fussy Cutting & Fabric Hunting!

Piece, Heather 

Over the Rainbow Jane (and IZ)

I've been spending some time thinking about the sunshine and the Over the Rainbow Jane but that's as far as it's gone. At least there's some good tunes to go with it. This is the last week for homework to be turned in (ish) so next week is grading and the very long year will finally be finished.
I am ready for summer break, even though the pool won't open until at least 7/4 this year.
Piece,
Heather

Viking Progress & update

The Viking has been calling my name. It runs smoothly, fairly quietly, and it's really nice to have a modern machine with free video tutorials available online whenever the mood strikes. I am truly looking forward to some machine piecing soon. The bobbin winding might be slightly confusing for some folks without the help of a computer to view the tutorials on. I'll be honest, my sight isn't what it used to be and trying to figure things out from my phone can be challenging under normal circumstances. However, switching to the laptop made all the difference. 

It's easy peasy once you practice once...12 full bobbins later, I've got this. I'm still putzing around with masks and may make another tweak or two this weekend to finalize the pattern. Those of you on FB may have already seen the preview version and my glasses are still not fogging up, super excited about that. This week munchkin and I ventured out to the local big box craft store (local quilt shop is closed through the 19th) and had a very long wait for some basic supplies and a piece of Indiana University fabric for a couple family members. Purdue fabric is so much cuter (GO BOILERMAKERS!), but to each his own. It looks like a mask making weekend during breaks from grading and answering student emails. Next week is the last full week for students to turn in assignments (YAY!!!!).

In our spare time, the hubs and I personalized graduation signs for our seniors using the Cricut and some blue vinyl. It was some much needed and appreciated nice quality time together. One of these days, I'll have to learn the other functions of that machine (Explore Air 2) and get crafty with it. Do you Cricut and if so, what machine are you using?

Piece,

Heather

30s FQs Plus Organization Before Photos ( Cube & Shoe Box)

I'm SO excited!!! The big Fat Quarter box finally arrived today (one of two) and the 30s are starting to look like they've been replenished...not that that will keep me from purchasing a few more pieces, mind you.  

I ooohed and ahhhhed over the Alice in Wonderland. I'd been searching for those since purchasing one thin precut strip while attending the Chicago Quilt Show years ago.

I've also been looking at all of the modern fabrics that escaped my stash during the hiatus and was disappointed to find out Heather Ross is hard to come by and Aneela Hoey next to impossible.  SO---those have moved up my list and the hunt is on. 

There's some Kaffe Fassett, I know that's not every follower's favorite but I was collecting his mostly cool prints for a quilt for my grandmother. She has since passed but truly would have loved the fabrics, I just know it. Many of the pieces are done for the Farmer's Wife but my heart just isn't into that project like it was...too soon I think. I'll get back to it at some point and may purchase a piece or two every once in a while to help inspire me. 

 I hope you're finding inspiration, getting things done for fun, and making the most of being at home.

Piece,
Heather

Fat Quarter "Shoe Organizer" BEFORE (part I)

Fat Eighths & Some Fat Quarters "Cube" BEFORE (part II)

30s Fabrics Galore!

The sets of strips and 2" charms were also from my little Etsy spree at LancTradFabrics. As Pip suggested, the Fat Quarter Shop has some beautiful prints but I ordered a while ago and still haven't received anything. Several businesses have delayed shipping right now due to high internet orders and low stock since the shut downs for COVID-19. Our state opened more shops but not all the counties in the state were included in the plan. The county of my school district is supposed to reopen next week if numbers of newly infected cases stabilize but schools cannot reopen for classes until at least June 30 regardless of the numbers.

The moving of classes and all the hands on demonstrations that usually take place this time of year to the online environment has been challenging, to say the least. For those of you assisting your children at home with assignments, I know it has been a next level experience, thank you for your patience and grace as we muddle through this difficult time. For those of you teaching (and some of us also helping our kiddos) we're in this together, hang in there...May won't feel as long as April, my friends.

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week, thank you for sharing your passions no matter how wide the audience. Whether you teach individuals as a volunteer or you create private lessons for a little pocket money, videotape your lessons for artisans to share freely, if you formally teach Pre-K through university courses, thank you for all you do to share your knowledge and ignite the fires of imagination and intellect for generations. You ROCK and this is your week!

Piece,

Heather

A Little Etsy Shopping Spree

A little Etsy shopping goes a long way! Thrilled to see more black and red 30s prints in the mix. The lovely fat eighth bundles are courtesy of LancTradFabrics (Lancaster Traditional Fabrics) on Etsy. I don't know about you, but these darker hues have really grown on me lately. I still love all the pastels, for sure, but it's nice to have a larger range of colors.

I'm on the hunt for more red, white & blue 30s prints for an upcoming project....a fabulous excuse to continue shopping when the mood strikes, don't you think?

More goodies were in the box, but I'm still working on photos. Ooooooh I miss 30s fabrics!
Hopefully, I can get a little time in the sewing room this evening or sometime this week (fingers crossed). It's been incredibly busy lately as I have a couple guys feeling under the weather. I hope that you're having a wonderful day.

Piece,
Heather