Apologies for lack of commenting- our wi-fi was so poor that I could load anybody’s photos. Happily, so far this morning things seem to have recovered. In the light of the new strain I’ve been making 3 layer face masks (polycotton outer, chiffon middle layer for its electrostatic effect, cotton inner). They are a bit more fiddly to make so I’ve had to chill out a bit and not bang them out en masse like I was with the two layer versions last year. Cutting the chiffon that is almost liquid and has a mind of its own is a challenge in itself. I’ve no idea who that old wrinkly hand belongs to....
Weather: sun attempting to break through at times followed by blustery wind.
Covid: some great news on friends and family being invited for vaccination - some quite unexpectedly but it will make a huge difference.
Good thing: broadband line to Nigel’s office just about limped through the meeting I was chairing.
Have you just picked up how to sew Judith? Wouldn’t have though in your busy high powered career you would have had time for lessons! Not just any old sewing mind, chiffon is a challenge & fancy having any chiffon in the back of the cupboard! You missed your vocation as a fashion designer ...you could be making wedding dresses instead of masks! Plus the knitting of course too.......I could go on! Look forward to seeing the finished article! Hope you have a proper sewing room that fits your status! 🤣🤣
@happypat I got the chiffon online along with about 5 different lots of polycotton only one of which is suitable. It’s annoying but the local shops don’t sell polycotton anyway - I just wish they’d give better descriptions of it because I need a dense weave. My mum was an amazing dressmaker (hence the photos in my FB post) - she learnt from her mum who the older relatives used to sigh about - and famously tacked everything she ever made! Her quilts she made after she retired are incredible. Unfortunately I only learned by seeing her beavering away at the kitchen table - never asked for a lesson which I greatly regret. I went to a couple of workshops in the days that was allowed but really I’m cobbling things together as I go along - especially chiffon which completely changes shape!
I taught both my girls when they were about 8 and 10. My mother had taught me the basics and had me learn on a Singer treadle, then let me go as I saw fit (haha). I did the same with my girls, but on an electric Singer. The older one kept jamming the machine in her distaste of all things mechanical. The younger was a duck to water, her first job was as a seamstress/alterations person for a military prep school (even I wouldn't attempt that!). She made her own prom dresses from her own patterns, and can strip a machine down and clean it and oil it practically with her eyes closed. She can even thread a serger interlock machine. Now the older one has her own machine and is whipping out masks and microwaveable rice bags for sale. A handy skill! But still calls her sister when she majorly jams the machine 🤗.
You have a crafting board too Judith . I have one from when i used to mount prints for camera club competitions. My prints were better than my mounting board cut outs . Stay safe
@bkp Adam is a master machine jammer - drives me mad! It desperately needs servicing (the instructions for maintenance are very limited) and i have to unthread everything and defluff it very regularly (usually when I’m tired and ready to finish!). Very impressed by younger daughter’s skills!
Great photo of your good works in progress. I feel your frustration - cutting chiffon is like cutting clouds.
Sounds like good news on the vaccination front. Things are going slow, but steady in our county.
Great picture of your efforts. I have always loved sewing. I buy inserts to put into a pocket of the masks that I make for the third layer. I have no idea if and how these are effective but so far we have all been able to stay away from this dreaded virus. Wishing you all the best health.
That looks like an interesting pattern. I've made over a hundred with filters that I donated, but probably would have been far less having to deal with chiffon!
Have you tried breathing through the three layer versions? I made some with t-shirting inside, interfacing inner layer and poly-cotton outer, and could only sit on the tube wearing it, forget moving around. I didn't cry when it picked up weed.
Sounds like good news on the vaccination front. Things are going slow, but steady in our county.