Quarantine KnitAlong

I’ve been participating in Arne and Carlos’ Quarantine KnitAlong. Initially I wanted to challenge myself and double knit three squares. They were nice and squishy and were great for helping me get my double knitting mojo back. But then I wondered what I would do with them. I could have made a pillow but the other side of each square wouldn’t have shown so I abandoned them for a week or so. Also each one took so long to knit, it would take a long time before I had enough to do anything with them.

I finally decided to rip them out and just knit stranded blocks with only take about 1.5h each. I’m using random worsted weight yarn from my stash and 4mm needles.

Over the last couple of days I have knit 7 of them.

Sunflower

Golden Pothos

 Flower

Knit

Home Sweet Home

Flowers

Hug Me Later

I broke down the other day and opened up a jigsaw puzzle that I’ve had but never done in several years - possibly 15 years.

It took me three days. 1000 pieces - Knitting Basket

I used a card table with my yoga mat over it but it barely fit. I had to add another table beside the card table and segregate the different colours onto cookie tins and board place mats to work on the separately. I can see how people become quite obsessed with doing them.

I prefer creating something by stitching, sewing, or knitting but doing the puzzle was a nice change. I’m meeting a couple of stitching friends at a dollar store parking lot today and will be swapping this puzzle for another one with my stitching friend, Siobhan. I will be checking the dollar store to see if they have any pipe cleaners that I can use for nose pieces for masks.

I have several masks that have the crappy elastic. I’m going to pick out the stitches and swap out t-shirt strips for the crappy elastic.

I am STILL waiting for my big order from Teresa and the kit she wants me to stitch for her. Still no updates since April 7. I’m really bummed out because I think she would like to release the pattern in June. If I do get it soon, I’m going to stitch like a fiend to get it to her in time. I also really want the patterns that she also shipped me that are in the same parcel. I have had such problems with mail. I didn’t get a couple of thins that were sent to me in TX. And some of the stuff I ordered in early April wasn’t scheduled to arrive until late May. With so many people shopping online, it has really bogged down Canada Post and the US. Postal Service.

Lost My Mojo for a Little While

I needed to do something creative today. Sharon gave me some lovely gold fabric which I thought would go great with some monarch butterfly fabric from my stash.  I also had the zipper in my stash and the fusible interfacing from my Fabricland run last week. I began to make a project bag.

I should have read over my own instructions because I jumped in sewing the wrong pieces to the vinyl and top stitching it before I realized I had screwed up. The fabric was also puckering so I had to pick out the stitches and put on my walking foot. Once I got sorted out, I finished the project bag.

I need to add a zipper pull. 

I picked up a UFO and have almost finished it. I had a dilemma about what colour to substitute for Green Onion which wasn’t really showing up against the background fabric. I picked a grey-ish DMC colour 3072, and I think it shows up a bit better.

I only have one more element to stitch before I’m totally done stitching it. I’m not sure how I will finish this. It would make a nice pillow or pieced with complementary fabric and sewn up as a project bag.

Birthday

Yesterday was my birthday. I had a very nice day sheltering at home. I slept in, had a late lunch, and Skip and I ordered takeout from our favourite local Afghani restaurant - Maimana Naan and Kabab. There is also a branch in Ajax on Hwy 2 just east of Salem. We enjoyed Shish Kabab salads - two skewers of meat with fresh salad and yummy dressing.

Gifts were delivered to my front porch.

There was definitely a theme:

The one on the bottom right is a donkey mug. :-)  The beeswax wraps are great for using instead of plastic wrap for cheese or over containers going in the fridge. I've had most of the stuff to make my own for months, except the resin, but am glad to have these instead. The fabric I was going to use for mine ended up being used for masks, anyway.

Marilyn stitched this for me. It's a timely freebie from Drawn Thread. I LOVE the specialty stitches on the bees. There's also a version for Aida cloth.

Yesterday was supposed to be the first day of our guild's spring stitching retreat at Elim Lodge on the east side of Pigeon Lake. Now we'll have to wait until the fall for the next one - hopefully.

I've been working on this 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle for the past three days and finished it late last night.

I'd had the puzzle for years - possibly decades and hadn't even opened it until three days ago. I put my yoga mat on a card table and started in on it only to realize I had it oriented on my mat the wrong way and it barely fit length-wise on the table - leaving no room for the loose puzzle pieces. I used several cookie tins and board place mats to segregate colours and work on them separately. I also added another little table adjusted to the right height to use beside the card table with the yoga mat draping over it as well.

I found  a 500 piece Christmas Peanuts puzzle in the basement that I may bring up and start on.

I have made several masks - many of which I've mailed to various people. Canada Post is very slow these days - I suspect they're having trouble keeping a full complement of healthy employees.

I've also been waiting for a package from Teresa Kogut that she mailed from Michigan on April 3. The USPS tracking's last update was April 7 when it was en route to the next facility. They've had trouble also in the US with keeping enough postal employees on the job.

I haven't started any big stitching projects as a result because once Teresa's kit comes in I'll have to get stitching on it right away to make up for lost time. It might be one of the patterns she wants to release in June. Yikes! She really doesn't put any pressure on us stitchers but still, I'd love to be able to get it to her in time for her desired release date.

This is the teaser she posted on Facebook on April 1 - "Above All". One of the hashtags was #loveOneAnother.

It's going to be aweseome. I can't wait 'til it arrives.

Even More Masks, an FFO, and a Booze Run

My sweatshop (sewing/dining room) has been a very active place lately. I made some more face masks with a new pattern. They fit more snugly around the face.

Then I found an even better fitting pattern. I'll link it if I can find the pattern again. On the suggestion of a couple of friends, I cut 1" strips of t-shirt fabric, stretched out the strips and cut them to the desired length the elastic would be. I still have lots of elastic in my stash but wanted to try something easier on the ears. Here’s one pattern I used.

The t-shirt fabric worked great and will be using it exclusively from now on.

I made Skip model one as well.

As these and most other homemade masks aren't virus-proof, I didn't make an opening for additional filter material. There is a version of this, however, that does leave a pocket for a filter if desired.

I put in an order with Fabricland. They are offering curbside pickup at some of their stores. Elastic isn't available at all so I'm glad the t-shirt material is working well as a substitute. I did order a bunch of interfacing and double-fold bias tape. I got the call today with a pickup time on Monday at the Pickering store.

I grafted the two ends of the sock yarn blanket together.

Then I started twisting the fringe on one end. I have a bit of evening out to do. I should have trimmed all the ends to one length first.

So that is what I have done on the other end; trimmed the ends to one length in prepaaration for twisting.

I am only using two clips on my Leclerc fringe twister, with two strands in each.

Twirl clockwise, counting the number of twists, and use that number for each fringe.

 Remove from the clips, hold together, and tie an overhand knot on the ends.

Smooth down the strands and it will twirl counterclockwise to balance the fringe.

 It's pretty mindless so have been able to do it whilst watching YouTube videos.

Today I finally remembered to watch 'The Show Must Go On' on YouTube. Andrew Lloyd Webber is offering one of his musicals each week from 7pm GMT time (2pm Eastern) on Friday for 48 hours. I forgot to watch 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat', and another which escapes me now. This weekend is 'The Phantom of the Opera'. It was the 2010 performance from Royal Albert Hall. I particularly enjoyed the after show where the original cast came out and Sarah Brightman sang the title song. She was then joined by 4 previous Phantoms including Colm Wilkinson (be still my heart) singing "Music of the Night".

I'm not sure what will be on next weekend. It is a fundraiser for The Actors Fund "which provides emergency financial aid to help cover essential medication costs and basic living expenses to those affected by COVID-19".

This morning I lined up outside our local liquor store before it opened so I would be able to get in and out in fairly short order. They let the first 10 customers in first then let us in one at a time as people left. There were arrows on the floor to have traffic flow in one direction and so people wouldn't have to pass each other in an aisle, thus violating 2m social distancing.

In the picture, you can see the masking tape strips, indicating the safe distancing for those in line. I was able to get in within about 10 minutes of opening time. I entertained myself in line using the liquor store WiFi. It was nice standing in the sun, sheltered from the north wind.

I don't remember the last time I bought that much booze. We had pretty much consumed all our wine and I've almost finished all the Baileys and Jamesons whisky (for Irish coffee). I tossed in a 6-pack of beer, too. Then for fast food takeout and then home to eat it. That was my big outing in under an hour.

Aside from not being able to go out shopping whenever we want or eating out whenever we want, our lives haven't changed that much. We are spending way less money by shopping less and eating at home more. However, that means we're cooking more which neither of us really likes to do. We are very fortunate in almost every other way. We've been together almost 24/7 since we left for south Texas on January 27. And we still really like each other.

So fortunate...

Making More Masks and Bad Hair

I’ve been making more masks. I’ve given several away and have a few on hand for when I go out shopping.

Some have an outer fabric of quilting cotton and a lining of percale from a cut up pillowcase.

I also added fusible interfacing to this one but it did make it a bit harder to breathe.

 This one only had the two layers of fabric - no interfacing.

Today I made a couple like this completely following the Hobby Lobby instructions and using only one larger piece of fabric.

This pattern is quite a bit faster than using an outer and lining fabric and yields the same result. I’m still cutting wide elastic into narrower pieces. Only the outer strand of elastic comes loose so far.

My healthcare guru says I should wash my hands before putting on the mask. And sanitize them before taking it off. Then put the mask in a ziplock bag to bring home for washing. If I have a couple of stops to make when I’m shopping, I use a different mask for each, sanitizing my hands before and after using the mask. That’s why I have made several for myself.

They don’t offer a tremendous amount of protection from the virus but do prevent me from breathing ‘moistly’ on any folks, even though I’m trying my best to observe the 2m distance. All of my masks have a place to insert filters which I have not done yet. I don’t have any HEPA fabric or filters but I guess anything could provide a bit of extra protection.

As for using gloves, I highly recommend not bothering except for one-surface use, like pumping gas. If you wear them after touching one potentially contaminated surface, they do protect your hands (as long as you remove them properly) but will contaminate any other surfaces you touch, including your face if you slip up. If you do use gloves, peel them off so the inside is out and THROW THEM IN THE GARBAGE. ‘Nuf said.

I trimmed my bangs the other day but haven’t ‘feathered’ them yet. And we don’t even want to talk about my roots. I’m not ready to allow my hair to go to its natural colour; maybe when I turn 70. No one is seeing me now anyway so I’ll touch up the roots as soon as we’re allowed to go out in public.  I don’t think Skip is getting used to my ‘skunk’ stripe, though.

I cut Skip’s hair a couple of weeks ago and went too short on the top. Next time I give him a trim, I’ll only have to do the sides and his neck. Hairdressers and nail artists will be working flat out once we are able to resume somewhat normal activities.

I have been enjoying my video chats with my various groups. I haven’t seen any of them in person since mid-January when we left for the south. Seeing them online every week or so sure has filled in the gap.

Stay home and stay safe!

Happy Easter!

Worst. Instructions. Ever.

When I attended the Rio Grande Valley Quilt Show in February, I purchased a little kit for a conference nametag/bag. It came with the fabric and dome fastener to make a little bag with a window for a nametag and a pocket for pens. It has a strap for around the neck or over a shoulder.

I pulled the kit out to make yesterday and discovered the worst instructions ever. All the fabrics had been cut out so by process of elimination, I figured out what piece was what. I then raided my stash for a contrasting fabric as I didn't want it all in the one colour. After finally figuring out how to put the thing together, I got it done.

The floral fabric was from my stash. Here, the pocket is open.

Pocket is closed. I still need to attach a fastener. Not sure if I'll use the dome fastener or velcro or plastic snaps.

There's a vinyl window on the bottom.  I took the opportunity to use a decorative stitch. My machine has about 60 of them. This 'leaf' stitch is great for stitching on the width of grain as it is a bit stretchy.

Lots of room for writing implements or a mobile phone.

On the back is a 'secret' pocket for a room key or credit card.

I also used the leaf stitch on the double-fold strap as it is width of fabric and straight stitches would 'pop' with any stretching.

She had dozens of kits there for sale at the show. I bought this one because I thought that after the first one, I could make lots more.  I'm going to write the instructions properly for myself so next time I decide to make one, I'll be able to get right to cutting the fabric and sewing.

A beginning sewist would have a heck of a time trying to figure out her instructions. I toyed with the idea of sending good instructions to the designer but I figured that might be perceived negatively so I'm not going to do it.  There's no website, only an email address. I'm just going to let it be.

Free From Quarantine and Mask Making

So two weeks have gone by. Our 14th day of quarantine was on Thursday. In all that time, the only times I left the house were to go for walks in the neighbourhood and to deliver something to one of my stitching friends, keeping a safe distance away. I hadn't started the car since January so I wanted to make sure it would start and wanted to give it a bit of a run.

Yesterday morning, I got up very early so I could get to Metro (local grocery store) and take advantage of the 7 - 8am senior shopping hour. Everything was well stocked from what I could tell. At least everything I wanted to get was available except for ground beef. "X"s are on the floor at the checkouts to delineate 2m distancing. I was in and out of there pretty quickly.

The lack of traffic was eerie. I felt quite emotional. These are such strange times. And they won't be over for quite a while. I'm figuring the summer will be pretty much a write off.

Before my visit to the store, I had viewed several YouTube videos on making face masks. Up to that point, we had been discouraged from using them because healthcare facilities need them and they are in short supply and they didn't want us hogging them all. Also, the cleanliness of the mask is defeated by touching it and people have a tendency to touch their faces all the time. However the thinking has changed in the last couple of days and homemade masks seem to be in favour now.

I finally settled on a modification of this pattern I found on a Hobby Lobby video. I do not in any way support that company. The owner stole antiquities from Egypt ( which ultimately turned out to be fakes - ha ha) and won't allow his employees family planning meds or devices to be covered on their health insurance with the company. But I digress.

Fabrics should be pre-washed and dried on high heat for maximum shrinkage. I cut up a shirt destined for the charity bin and an old pillowcase. They both had been washed and dried many times.

The only modification I made was using two different fabrics, cutting the lining fabric 8" x 8" and the outer fabric 8" x 7.5". I then cut the lining in half, put the right sides together, and sewed on the long edge, 3" in from each side leaving a 2" opening. This opening can be used for inserting a HEPA filter later if you can scrounge one from a clean vacuum cleaner bag or dismantled filter from a humidifier.

Then I put the two fabrics together and sewed 1/2" seams along the top and bottom, in the same direction as the lining opening. then anchored the elastic beside each of the seams and sewed the side seams closed. At this point, I took a 2.5" length of paper-covered twist tie like the ones that come off cilantro or broccoli

and inserted it in the top seam allowance between the two fabrics. I tacked it in place with fabric glue. After turning the mask right side out, pressed it and stitched around the twist tie.

I then made the pleats as indicated in the video and top-stitched all around the mask, reinforcing when going over the elastic ends.

Skip's is the same as mine so I put our initials on the inside lining with a Sharpie. The opening for the filter (if I can ever find filter material) is concealed in the middle pleat.

They cover very well.

The twist tie molds nicely to the nose and prevents glasses fogging up. Plastic-covered ones that come with garbage bags would work even better. I tried a length of wire and didn't like it as much. Pipe cleaners would also work well. Yes, the metal will probably rust but that won't harm anything.

When I wore it yesterday, I had to consciously remember to NOT TOUCH MY FACE. My nose started running in the supermarket but I just sniffled quietly to myself and DIDN'T TOUCH THE MASK. I took it off as soon as I got out of there and washed it when I got home, ready for the next use. It can also be steamed with an iron to kill any virus.

I was very fortunate to have enough of this elastic in my stash. With wider elastic, it can be cut in thinner strips. I have seen covered hair elastics used as a substitute but they are quite tight around the ears but would be OK for kids' masks. The mask would have to go all the way to the ears, though, to compensate for shorter elastics.

An alternative would be to make long ties so they could be tied behind the head and neck.