Sewing for good

What I’ve been up to:

I’ve been sewing since I was 8. My grandmother Meemo taught me when I spent two weeks visiting them while my family did something else. I’ve sewn mainly clothes but also a few home dec things and small items like project bags.

The only quilt that I’ve made looks good but is full of little less that well-met corners. I’d like to make a couple more and would like to do a better job on them. Over the last couple months I’ve decided to up my quilt making skills since the craft requires a different approach to sewing than garment construction. One of the local quilt shops, Cinnamon’s Quilt Shoppe, has a quarter preview session where the instructors for the upcoming classes give a brief overview and show samples for project-based classes. I decided to sign up for a tote class and 3 quilting basics classes, Rotary cutting, accurate quarter-inch seams and pressing.

While I already knew how to use a rotary cutter, cutting mat and ruler, Janet shared a lot of great tips in the rotary cutting class and my accuracy is improving. The quarter inch seam class was really eye-opening. I assumed my quarter inch foot was all I needed. But… being a ‘good student’ I bought all the materials she listed in the class materials list including Clearly Perfect Angles guide and Perfect Piecing Seam Guide (both links direct you to the shop’s online store). Who knew how much difference the right tools could make!? In class exercises really helped me understand how to use the tools she recommended. Again, my accuracy is improving. Janet also gave a quick preview of one technique covered in the pressing class which is great because that class is postponed until we’re allowed to meet in groups.

The tote class was fun. I was the only one who had all my pieces cut out in advance. Even then I don’t know how anyone could finish the tote during the class. I worked on it a couple hours a day and finished it 3 days later. I absolutely love how it turned out and it’s now my everyday handbag. In addition to the two outside pockets there are pockets inside. On one inside pocket I tweaked the stitching to add a slim slot for a pen and now I can always find it.

And now for sewing for good:

Recently I started seeing news reporting that hospitals were running out of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and staff at some hospitals were making fabric masks to help fill the gap. I decided I should help out even though I didn’t know of any organization needing them locally. One of the articles I read had a link to a pattern and picture tutorial from Sew Good Goods. I made one quickly using a fabric I thought my husband would wear. I didn’t mention it to him until it was made and I gave it to him. He hasn’t worn it but I think he will the next time he runs errands; in fact he’s asked me to make him a second one so I don’t have to wash it as soon as he comes home.

Since then I learned that my LQS has started making mask kits and collection masks with the initial goal of collecting 1,000 for Brooks Rehabilitation, a regional health care provider of in and outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy treatments so I guess they’ll be used in non COVID-19 environments. I dropped off about 20 earlier today.