Origami Mask Directions

I've been working on masks for months now and this is one style I particularly like. This is my version of the popular origami, octagon or 3D mask.  If you make it, I'd love to see!

Origami Mask Instructions.

(Use 3/8" seam allowance for adult size and I found 1/4" seam allowance works best for the child size mask.)

For ties, cut 2 strips of t-shirt material 10-12” long by 1” wide. Pull the ends of the material to cause the strips to curl.

How to cut out the pattern:

Cut 2 rectangles of fabric: 

Main: 7.5” x 11.5" (child size; 6.5" x 10")

Lining: 7.5” x 10" (child size; 6.5" x 8.5")

Optional: 7.5” x 10” interfacing (child size; 6.5" x 8.5")

 Center lining over the main fabric with right sides facing.

Flip both pieces over and fold excess from main fabric back over itself. Press folds.

 Mark 2” in on each corner (1.75" for child size).

 Cut corner triangles off.

Unfold excess sides of main fabric and snip the little triangles off.

After cutting out fabric...

With right sides together, using a 3/8” seam allowance (1/4" for child size), stitch corner, top, corner and corner, bottom, corner; leaving sides open.

Turn right sides out through one of the sides and press. I let the casing fabric form angled edges.

Top stitch corner, top, corner and  corner, bottom, corner (this step is optional and gives the mask a more finished look, but it works fine without it).

Note: if you would like to add a nose wire, now is the time to do it.  Simply mark where the nose wire will be placed, sew 2 sides of a 3 sided channel. Keeping needle down in the fabric, lift the presser foot up and, through the side of the mask closest to you, insert the nose wire in the channel. Lower presser foot and complete 3rd side of the nose wire channel. (I'm hoping to add pictures of this step soon!)

Evenly fold top and bottom to the center. It should be 3” tall (2.5" tall for child size).

Measure 7” in the center and mark for sewing (6.5" for child size). Then, sew the flaps in place by sewing a rectangle (3”x 7”) in the middle of the mask (2.5" x 6.5" for child size). The rectangle secures the flaps in place while also top stitching the main part of the mask.

Place t-shirt tie as shown.

Fold edge over tie.

Fold over again to create casing and pin in place.

Stitch casing closed, catching the tie in the seam.

 Using a tapestry needle, thread ties through casing. If you don't have a tapestry needle, you can use a safety pin.

Tie a knot in the end of each tie.

Iron the flaps down on the mask.

You can fold it like this and pop it in your back pocket:

Getting creative after a long break!

In July I decided I wanted to make a new quilt.  It feels like I haven't done anything very creative in a long time and I am ready!  I designed the quilt I wanted to make and just kept avoiding getting started because it didn't feel right.  Then, I decided I'd just do an improv quilt and see what happens.  I remember that two years ago I purchased "The Improv Handbook for Modern Quilters: A Guide to Creating, Quilting & Living Courageously" by Sherri Lynn Wood.

I started flipping through the book but I WAS NOT going to follow the directions...no way!  I just wanted ideas to get me started.  Buuuutttt...then....I decided to actually start to read the book and thought, "why not give it a try?"  Maybe a little structure would help my creativity!

So, I'm starting with Score #1 Floating Squares.  I started with red and a denim linen and my daughter asked me if it was going to be all red or in rainbow colors. Rainbow colors, of course! (Though, I do want to do a monochromatic quilt soon, too.)

I got started today and time flew!  In fact....I gotta run or I'll be late to church tonight!

The Gift of Growth

I learned to sew when I was 18.  My mom bought me a sewing machine for Christmas and I never looked back.  I think of some of my early projects and chuckle.  They were full of mistakes, but I was always so proud of them.  There was no way to learn and perfect my craft without mistakes.  I've been sewing now for 27 years and I can still learn and grow.  I still make mistakes.  No matter what it is we are learning, we will make mistakes.

So, why, when it comes to parenting, do we expect ourselves to be perfect from the start?  I suppose it's because our mistakes affect these little people that we love more than life itself.  But, I've been thinking about the gift we give our kids when we let them see our growth.  When we screw up, especially in our relationship with them, we can try to hide it or acknowledge the mistake and choose growth.  

As I've grown as a sewist, I've learned what works for me.  I've found the fabrics I love.  I know how to read a pattern.  I know when to ask for help.  I know the nuances of my sewing machine.  And still, there is so much more to learn!

It's similar to my parenting journey.  I've learned that there is no one parenting book that has all of the answers.  There is no one right way since we are all so individual.  God chose me to be my kids' mom.  When I mess up, acknowledge it and choose to grow, I think God smiles at me and says, "Good job!  You are showing them how to embrace growth!"  

It's time to let go of perfection, do the best we can and when we do mess up, be vulnerable with our kids and give them the gift of getting a close up view of how to do growth.

I get to be their mom

It's Saturday morning and our oldest has just left for an early shift at his job at In N Out.  Our younger son is asleep, and will stay that way for a few more hours.  Our daughter is watching TV on her tablet in her room.

After a trip to the store this morning, I sat down for a second cup of coffee and an overwhelming sense of gratitude came over me.  I get to be their mom. And, Doug gets to be their dad.

As I write this, Jackson is 19.  Nathan is almost 18.  And, Gianna is 12.  They are at such a fun age.  I've felt this way at every age.  As they grow, more of who they are is revealed and Doug and I get to watch from the best seats in the house. It is fun to see them....be...to see them be and embrace and walk out whom God created them to be.

On Thursday I got to watch Jackson trade Pokemon cards with a group of kids who seemed to be around 7 years old.  He may as well have been hanging out with a group of friends.  It was so easy for him to be kind to and even enjoy these younger people.  I got to see that and chuckle with him later about how cute they were.  I got to enjoy the moment again when I told Doug about it.

After spending weeks looking for just the right one, Gianna ordered a swimsuit online that arrived in the mail yesterday.  It fit!  She liked it! I got to celebrate with her.  Then, I got to celebrate with her and Doug when she showed it to her Dad when he got home from work.

Nathan has been trying to get his schedule at work adjusted so he isn't working so much.  This has involved him having some not so comfortable conversations with his boss.  At age 17, he has dealt with conflict with courage.  Doug and I get to be in awe of his maturity together.

These days, parenting feels easier.  It seems like the really hard work of parenting is more behind than ahead of us.  You always hear how quickly it goes by...the time that you get the best seats in the house.  It really does.  But, it is as it should be and I get to bask in the deep sense of gratitude that comes from getting to be their mom.  If I could give one piece of advice to moms who are early on in their journey of motherhood, it would be to not worry so much about your kids' accomplishments...what they do...and focus on your relationship with them and who they are.

Herringbone Mason Jar Cozy {Tutorial}

I am sorta done with chevron stripes, but I still LOVE herringbone!  I was involved in a fall gift exchange and wanted to send a gift that I loved, but that I also thought my friend would love.  Her favorite color is orange and she loves bright colors. 

I discovered Cuppow mason jar drinking lids a while ago and my whole family loves them.  And...they come in orange!  The lids can be used with hot or cold drinks.  And, either way, the mason jar needs a cozy to keep hand from getting too hot or too cold.

I looked around for a mason jar cozy that I liked and couldn't find one, so I decided to design my own.  I snapped a few photos so I could write this tutorial.

drawing the design

 Herringbone Mason Jar Cozy {Tutorial}

Supplies:

- 1 piece of cotton fabric 12" x 4" for the inside of the cozy

- 2 pieces of cotton batting 12" x 2.25"

- 20 scraps of fabric (will be cut to 1.5" by approximately 4.5")

- 1 hair elastic

- 1 button


Directions:

{Note:  You could easily make this without the herringbone design.  In that case, you would just cut two pieces of fabric and one piece of batting 12"x4" and then follow the directions for putting the cozy together.}

For making the herringbone top, I followed Maureen Cracknell's Herringbone Quilt Tutorial, adjusting the size.  (You will need to refer to her tutorial since I don't go into exact detail on how to sew herringbone strips to the batting.)

First, I cut my strips of cotton batting to 12" by 2.25":

(I currently don't have a rotary cutting board, so I've been using my Pampered Chef cutting board!  See, if you don't have the right tools, ruin use what you've got!)

Draw diagonal lines, 1 inch apart, onto each strip of batting:

Cut scraps of fabric into 1.5" x approximately 4.5" strips and lay them out in the order you want them:

Follow Maureen's directions for sewing the strips onto the batting in the herringbone pattern.

Turn each half over and trim down to 12" by 2.25":

 Sew the halves together at the center using a 1/4" seam and matching the herringbone seams:

Assemble the herringbone front, the fabric back and the hair elastic:

Place the herringbone front on your table, batting side down and herringbone design up.

Put the hair elastic on top of one of the the short edges of the herringbone panel at the center seam.

Lay the fabric back, right side down on top of the herringbone panel and hair elastic and pin together.  (In this photo, it looks like the right side of the orange fabric is up, but that's only because it is a solid kona fabric with no "right" and "wrong" side.)

Starting at the short end with the hair elastic, sew around all 4 edges of the layers, leaving a 3" opening on one of the long sides for turning.

Snip the corners and turn right side out.

Iron the cozy, turning in the raw edges of the opening you used for turning the cozy right side out.

Top stitch all around the cozy, sewing the opening closed as you go.

Wrap the cozy around your mason jar to determine where you want to place the button.

Using a disappearing ink fabric pen, mark where you will sew the button.

Sew button on with a needle and matching thread.

And....voila!  You've got yourself a herringbone mason jar cozy!

Let me know if anything is unclear or you have any questions!

Happy Sewing!
Melissa