In Sewing News Today...

This weekend there are some declaring that we reached the 2 year mark in the global pandemic.  

If it feel longer than that, you're right.  

And there are some who are declaring that we're no longer in a pandemic rather an endemic and that we just have to "learn to live with the virus."  

Aplat face masks, circa 2021

Mask mandates are being dropped in two days in this part of the world.  

I'm not thrilled about this new phase of public health announcements, the lack of testing and vaccine inequality.  

I feel that the latest lifting of health measures is to bow down to the anti-maskers who were recently and aggressively occupying strategic locations across the country.  

But I won't be giving up my Dhurata Davies or Aplat face mask patterns anytime soon.  

Mask mandate or no mask mandate, I'll still be wearing a face mask.  

It's hardly an inconvenience when I know I'm protecting others.  

Added bonus, not one cold, flu, or sinus infection since I started wearing the hottest fashion accessory of the past two + years!  

Seriously.  

Face masks have been a blessing.  

Yup, this is one fashion trend I'm not giving up anytime soon.  

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The table runners for the church are off the sewing and cutting table, pressed, hand-stitched closed and delivered.  

They turned out better than I hoped.  

Fingers are crossed that they are well-received.  

Actually, they were well-received when I delivered them.  

That was before they were unwrapped and used.  

I guess, I'm just waiting to see how they look on the tables.  

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Currently, I've been spending my free time taping my sock PDF patterns together.  

I'm not a fan of PDF patterns.  

And taping.  

I just want to get these cut out and see if the pattern works for me.  

I'm starting with the Going Rogue Socks pattern.  

At this rate of procraftination it might take awhile to show you a completed pair.  

I hope not.  

We'll see.  

Well, that's all in sewing news today.

Stay Safe & Keep Sewing!

Lent Sewing: Table Runners

What started off as being a request for paraments (alter and pulpit cloths along with table runners) was edited down to three table runners.  

There just wasn't enough fabric (just shy of six metres) for everything that was on the wish list.  And the fabric provided for the project was a light-weight crinkled polyester fabric with some drape.  Not the idea fabric for possibly getting away with a single layer table runner.  So, it was two layers stitched together, turned and pressed.  I think that pressing it with some starch might give it some more body but it might also distort the crinkled texture of the fabric.  I'll leave the pressing issue to another volunteer.  

Sewing table runners might sound like an easy peasy sewing project.  But there were challenges.  The biggest was cutting it out.  The church basement and some folding tables provided ample space to lay out the fabric.  The challenge was cutting out the light-weight slippery polyester in a straight line.  That took some time and a steady hand hampered by a bout of arthritis in my thumb that has been acting up recently.  I'm giving all the credit to God that it was done.  

I cut the pieces about an inch wider than needed so that I could stitch the two end and one lengthwise seam first.  Then I laid out the runner and trimmed down to a 17" width + 5/8" seam allowance for the opposite lengthwise seam.  This way, I tried my best to have a smooth seam with a fabric that was a little slippery to work worth.  The extra work was worth it because they did turn out well despite working with a challenging fabric.  There is one more to make, this last one will have a 16" width.  But for now, I'm going take a break and hopefully finish the last one this weekend.  

Project Details

Seams:  2.8 straight stitch

Seam finish:  None

Fabric:  Provided by the church

Pattern:  None

Additional Tools & Supplies:  Folding tables, cutting table, clapper (used as a weight), pins, scissors, pin cushions, thread clippers, iron, ironing board, measuring tape, pad of paper, calculator, pen, tailor's chalk, sewing machine, walking foot, thread and thread clippers

Stay Safe & Keep Sewing!