Making masks

On April 14, 2020April 14, 2020 By CarynIn Craft

Here we go, supporting the home front by producing cloth masks at home. There are SO MANY patterns and advice and tips. I admit, I had some craft paralysis. That is where there are too many options and too many choices and it is all too much, so you just… don’t.

But I will eventually need to go to the grocery store, so I used the first pattern I printed (probably about two weeks ago, yeah). Then a day or so later I tried one of the accordion type masks. I think the pocket for a filter is important, and wire for the nose (because honestly my glasses fog up without it), so I incorporated those. I tried knit material straps and bias tape straps, and wasn’t impressed with either, but the knit were more comfortable (for a given level of comfort).

Then our local children’s hospital came to my rescue and published the pattern that they are asking people to make and donate. It has a filter pocket, nose wire, and a strap pocket so the elastic can be changed out. The construction is smart: easy to sew once you get the hang of it, and the masks lay nice and flat for storage, but form to the face when worn.

Trial runs of a hospital approved pattern

I made one with a smile, because the biggest problem I have with the masks is that you can’t see people’s facial expressions. It seems like everyone is mad all the time. My youngest likes the smile, my oldest thinks that it is creepy. Hmm, I tend to agree with my eldest.

I used some unused ballet shoe elastic I found in my stash for these tests, and the ear loops were more comfortable than I anticipated. I did try to make a button ear saver (a strip of fabric with buttons on each side), but it was more uncomfortable for me. By the way, HUGE shout out to all the people with 3D printers that are making the plastic ear savers and donating them. That is awesome. Love it! I love the creativity in all the different designs as well.

The hospital provided pattern also survives the wash better and is easier to steam flat than the accordion style. My family bought me the small ironing board and steamer a year ago, and it is very useful for these masks.

Can wind spinner

On April 11, 2020April 10, 2020 By CarynIn Craft, Uncategorized

I found a tutorial for making wind spinners from two cans and I may have a problem. These are easy to make, I can make them while still being present for my kids and watching after them as they do their homework, each one doesn’t take much time, and I really like watching them spin. I’m currently experimenting with the best way to get them to spin easily. I have some set up as traditional pin wheels, and some set up on vertical spikes. I’ve been using old wire hangers as supports (seriously, I think these propagate in the dark, I always seem to have some even though I haven’t had dry cleaning done in months).

I found that marking 3/4” around my cans gives me 11 even spokes. It is easiest for me to remove the top of the can with a craft knife, then cut the spokes with kitchen shears. My fingers work fine to bend the spokes out at the base.

Bent nose pliers make folding up the ends of the spokes easier, and to start, I just bend up about 1/4” to 90 degrees. Then when putting two spokes from different cans together, I finish crimping down the fold, and add a corner fold to secure the connection.

My dog photobombing the spinner experiment

So the best way is stringing vertically and hanging, by far. The hanger wire mounts seem to have too much friction. I hung three with beading wire (nylon coated steel cable), with glass beads and separated with fishing swivels. Even the slightest breeze gets these spinning!!

He liked it so much…

On April 9, 2020 By CarynIn Craft

Our dog Griffin really likes his egg crate foam bed, so I made him another for his “place” (dog kennel). Since I am limiting my brick-and-mortar shopping, I bought a twin sized egg crate foam mattress topper online, cut it to size, and sewed a cover out of an old sheet.

The foam cuts easily with kitchen shears

The good part of the fabric from a worn out set of sheets, with a zipper at one end to make it easy to wash

I think he likes it! The new foam mat is under his regular blankets

This is the first sewing project that I have made time to do in weeks. But now that the CDC is recommending cloth masks for grocery shopping (yes, I’m a little behind the news, it is healthier for my sanity), I will try to make some masks.

Laminated feather book marks

On April 7, 2020April 6, 2020 By CarynIn Craft

What to do with those feathers that the kids collect outside? Or in this case, the feathers that my eldest decided to keep because our inside cat managed to snag some off a bird from INSIDE her catio. Rather a badge of honor, that. How about laminating them and making a book mark? Any potential pathogens are sealed in, and frankly, we can never have too many book marks. I think this one came out nice; the small feathers arranged and cut out to be part of a larger feather shape. The natural caught in the unnatural. I placed the feathers between the two layers of plastic, gently fed it through the laminator, then cut out the shape. I have a hot laminator, but I think this method would work with cold lamination, or even clear sticky tape.

We also did this with the feathers from our chicken’s first molt.

Going on a bear hunt

On April 6, 2020 By CarynIn Craft

I’ve seen great posts about people putting out bears, so kids walking the neighborhood can go on a bear hunt while social distancing. What a neat idea! We have some scrap corrugated metal, so I thought I would try a cut out bear (that would stand up to the elements).

First, this stuff is sharp. If you do try this, wear gloves. Thick ones. Preferably leather. I used metal shears to cut the shape and made the bear as big as possible to make cutting easier. After I cut, I hand sanded the edges and removed as many sharp bits as I could. This is definitely something better seen than touched! I painted the back with black spray paint, but I kind of liked the look of the shiny wavy metal, so left the other side as is.

Although my family all identified the shape as a bear, I feel it looks a little bear/hog cross. Maybe the kids in the neighborhood can go on a guess-the-creature hunt.

Critters and Craft

Category: Craft