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New Templates & A Handy Dandy Tool

Like many people across the country, we are still sewing masks at our house. Honestly, I will be glad to take a break from this. This weekend's project was finishing up 30 fitted masks to take to co-workers and their families.

Our company provided 5 masks to each employee when we started operations back up earlier this month. They are the pleated medical style and they were made by our upholstery team (yay, team!). I prefer the fitted style myself so I have been using my own when necessary. I received many compliments on it and a few people asked for one. How can I say no?

The task was made much easier by new acrylic mask templates I ordered and received last week. I purchased them from Shop Stitch Buzz on Etsy. I really liked that templates were very similar in size to the homemade cardboard ones I was using. The templates also included the cut line for making the lining.

Acrylic Templates

I did make an adjustment for using the templates. My cardboard pattern had an 1-1/4" difference between the lining and outer mask piece that forms the elastic or tie casing. The templates only have a 1" allowance. I got out my trusty blue tape and marked the revised cut line for the liner. The overall outer mask size is almost the same as my cardboard template, only the liner is different. It has worked out fine using this adjustment.  I also figured out the size of fabric I needed for both the outer mask and liner. I can cut strips the width I need and minimize fabric waste. Having the acrylic templates to use with my rotary cutter is awesome!

I have recently been able to get elastic from my favorite never-visited-in-person quilt shop. Colchester Mill Fabrics in Colchester, CT has been my go-to shop when I am looking for special fabrics or items. Cheryl and her team have always been fantastic to shop with and they were able to keep the business running during the shutdown. If you are ever in the Colchester area, please stop by and see the wonderful things they have.

One special tool I have in my arsenal is a bodkin. This handy dandy item makes threading the elastic for the masks super fast and easy. I couldn't imagine not having this. I may have purchased it from Amazon but to be honest, I have had it for a long time and I do not remember where I bought it.

Bodkin
I also recently ordered contoured stainless nose pieces from Advanced Manufacturing Enterprises. This is a veteran owned business in Florida and their product is high quality. I think these new pieces will work out very well for shaping the mask to your nose. They are thin and flexible.

Stainless Flexible Nose Piece
Latest Batch of Masks
Just as I finished packaging up the batch of masks, I received a message Could I possibly make 10 masks for a maintenance crew for a friend's sister? I thought for a minute that I wouldn't be able to get them done today. However, I decided to take on that challenge and within a few hours, the masks are ready for delivery. I could not have done it as fast without my new templates and the trusty bodkin.

Emergency Batch
It has been a productive weekend. I didn't get to work on any new Moda Block Heads 3 blocks. Maybe next weekend!

Have a great week and remember those who gave their all to protect the freedoms we have in the United States.



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