Pets
Related: About this forumCats are so helpful when it comes to sewing
I opened up a length of fabric to cut it for some masks, and along comes Sophie Stinky Toes to give me a paw. I guess she figured some freak breeze would blow through the den, so she'd help me by weighing down the fabric.
BlueDawn
(892 posts)I wish I had a Sophie Stinky Toes to hold down my fabric!
What a sweetie!
CatMor
(6,212 posts)Siwsan
(26,173 posts)I ran out of 1/4" elastic so I'm heading out early tomorrow to pick up more. I want to make at least one mask from each segment of the design.
CatMor
(6,212 posts)Siwsan
(26,173 posts)And I put a 'nose wire' in this one - not sure I got that right.
I just figured since I'll still be wearing masks for a while, it's time to stretch my sewing skills, a bit.
A friend of mine has made probably 1,000 + masks and just hands them out to whoever needs one. If I get better at this, I'll probably do the same.
CatMor
(6,212 posts)Rorey
(8,445 posts)I haven't made a thousand masks, but I'm sure I've made well over a hundred. It looks like you're using basically the same pattern that I use, although I started cutting mine longer. I played around with the pattern, and I found that the longer ones stay in place better.
For the metal nose piece, I order adhesive ones, and for the elastic, I started getting them already cut with the little buckle thing. They cost a little more, but they're so easy to use. I need to order some more of those, but I decided to wait until after Christmas when all of the shipping companies aren't so bogged down. I see that both the nose piece and the ear loops are cheaper than they were when I first ordered them. About $6 for 100 nose pieces, and about $10 for 100 of the elastics.
I've been enjoying making masks to use and give away, and I've also been making bowl cozies. I never realized how handy those things are.
tblue37
(64,979 posts)($7.99/100 on Amazon.)
it works out well because the user can adjust it. I know you can also buy the little plastic part, but it sorta seems like work to put that on the elastic. (It's probably very easy. )
I also cut my pattern a size bigger for the masks I make for my grandson to cover his beard.
Ilsa
(61,675 posts)a layer of vacuum cleaner bag HEPA filter between the fabrics. I've used snips of pie tin for a nose wire. It takes longer to sew, and the mask is warm, but I think it's worth it.
Rorey
(8,445 posts)When I started making masks I bought some HEPA furnace filters to use, but, like you said, warmth was a factor.
I do three layers of good fabric. So far, so good, but I don't get out much and I make a pretty big production out social distancing. (After years of doing things purposely to embarrass adolescent children, I have no shame. )
Hamlette
(15,388 posts)thanks
Siwsan
(26,173 posts)I've had it for years and have NO memory of where I purchased it. No doubt I bought it because I love the design. The reverse side is white so I know it's some sort of a blend. I'm using a cotton fabric backing on the mask.
I bought quite a long length and plan on recovering a small throw pillow with some of it.
One of the bad habits I got into was buying fabrics with huge ideas of what I would make, and then not making anything. Sad because I used to make a lot of my own clothes. When I took a cruise on the Queen Elizabeth II I made 3 cocktail dresses and an evening gown. I splurged on the ticket and scrounged on the wardrobe, but everything turned out great so nobody knew I was actually a poor, pauper Navy petty officer!
Hamlette
(15,388 posts)I have a fabric problem.
fierywoman
(7,641 posts)RKP5637
(67,030 posts)Ohiogal
(31,657 posts)The kitty AND the mask!
Freedomofspeech
(4,218 posts)Our 20 year old Tortie likes to help us put 1000 piece puzzles together. It never goes well...we have to peel puzzle pieces off of her paws.
Rorey
(8,445 posts)My mom and I used to put together a big puzzle every Christmas when I lived close enough to go "home". She's long gone, but it's a fond memory. We'd be working on the puzzle for days, and then when we got close to the end, my dad would think he could come in and help.
I also have a tortie, and it crossed my mind that she and her three offspring might try to "help" with a puzzle. One of her kittens, now an adult, is a diluted tortie. She's a very interesting looking cat, with a striped tail and legs, and a diluted tortie body.
Freedomofspeech
(4,218 posts)It is the only thing that keeps me from thinking about this nightmare we are living.
Our Tortie started sleeping on our porch 20 years ago. Then she would jump up on the screen door and peer into the house. We already had two rescues but of course we invited her in. We took her to be spayed and she was already pregnant. She delivered six very healthy kittens...we managed to find homes for all of them and we think she has outlived them all. She is incredibly healthy for an old broad.
Rorey
(8,445 posts)Actually she was a scavenger. She had a collar on, so I figured she was somebody's. I was finally able to coax her to come to me so I could read her tag. It had a phone number and an address all the way on the other side of town. We called the number with no success, so I looked up the address, found a name, found the guy on Facebook where there were actually photos of the cat and kittens from the previous summer. I messaged the guy but he wouldn't respond. I asked him if he could at least tell me if she was spayed. No reply. Of course just like your tortie, was already pregnant and had three kittens on my back patio.
She hid the kittens when she realized that I knew they were there, even though I didn't mess with them. She didn't bring them back around until they were two months old, and I ended up having to trap them so I could get them spayed.
Long story short, the kittens are 2 1/2 years old and still not very tame, but they come and go through the cat doors. They're pretty good company and all have their own cute personalities. The mom is very tame, but those silly "kittens" just can't figure out that I'm not going to hurt them.
It wasn't my plan to be a cat mom, but it is what it is at this point.
Freedomofspeech
(4,218 posts)Guilded Lilly
(5,591 posts)bluescribbler
(2,105 posts)Deuxcents
(15,776 posts)Both of you. I know you have a big heart as a cat lover n your love for your fellow humans. 🐾
3catwoman3
(23,812 posts)...you are changing the bed sheets. They chase all the wrinkles and creases and flatten them with their paws - over and over again, with a rapid patting motion.
ProudMNDemocrat
(16,468 posts)Too cute. They tend to show up when you least expect them to. Love the fabric pattern aswell. Very Southwest.
I have customers who are allergic to cat dander. Nor do I want cat hair on client's custom commissions.
I didn't know better, I'd think that was my Kitty Boy, she looks just like him!
Demsrule86
(68,347 posts)murielm99
(30,655 posts)dogs and cats alike.
They sleep on that bed, too. I guess they want a say in how it is put together.
kimbutgar
(20,871 posts)I have made it up around her and then when I come back into the room after the bed is unmade.
Once I made the bed before going to work and my husband got home before me he said he was surprised the bed was unmade because make it the bed everyday is an OCD thing for me.
patphil
(6,024 posts)Shrike47
(6,913 posts)kimbutgar
(20,871 posts)When I came home the elastic was unrolled all over my home and it appeared the cat was playing with it in several parts of the house.
KT2000
(20,544 posts)I am on a Facebook page called Crafting with Cats. They seem to have an innate ability to locate critical materials. I do feel sorry for the bead workers.
Hope you can see this and if you can, turn up the sound:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1639608249652973/permalink/2408777656069358
BobTheSubgenius
(11,535 posts)You are truly blessed.
Aussie105
(5,211 posts)He walks on my laptop keyboard, sits on it, and stares at me from close range.
Usually 'feed me!' or 'Let me out!' time then. I do that, then get back to undoing whatever key presses he did with his backside.
But he is getting better. The 5:30 am 'let me out!' demand used to be with paw pats with claws extended, or an ear bite, now he is more into face licking. lol