In the Sewing Room

It was a sewing day today. 

First I finished the patriotic table runner for our dining room table.

I love the colors in it.  Red, white, and blue, but the red is a darker, deeper red, kind of a rusty color.  The blue is more like the country blue.  They colors are similar to those we used in the fireplace room when we re-painted it around 15 years ago....after my 30th year of teaching, and I retired after 43 years, four years ago.  Geesh. It sounds like a  long time, doesn't it?

Anyway, the table runner is cute, and I like it.  I don't keep many of the things that I make, which I really didn't realize until Gary mentioned it last night.

Other than the quilt on our bed, I don't think any of the other projects I have made are still here in our house.  Baby quilts.  Dinosaur quilt for Owen.  John Deere quilt for Landon.  Curtains all over Megan and Matt's house. Rag quilts for Christmas gifts.  T-shirt quilt for Clay. 

But the table runner is staying here.  It looks good.

Next project was one that I dreaded.  I had made several masks for our family.  Three out of dinosaur print for Megan, Hilary, and me.  Cubs face masks for Gary, Matt, Blaine, and Landon.  My intent was to make more and donate them to hospitals or nursing homes or wherever they were needed. 

But I didn't.  Why?  Because I  didn't like making them. 

Trying to attach the elastic was frustrating.  It never wanted to lie correctly.  When I turned the mask right side out, the elastic was unevenly placed.  I thought it was even, but it wasn't.

Then the machine would stick and run over and over on the same spot.  The fabric would be caught up under the pressure foot and the stitches would then be uneven. 

After I finished those seven, I was done.

And I felt bad about it because so many people were donating to the cause by making masks.

Heidi is getting married next week.  Megan and the other bridesmaids, Jill and Ellen, wanted masks to wear with their gowns.  Since I have a yards and yards of a gray print fabric (not sure why I have so much but I am sure there was a reason), it would be perfect to sew three masks for the girls.

But I don't like to make masks.

But Megan is my daughter and she asked me to do that for her---and Jill and Ellen.

So I agreed. 

I was putting it off and putting it off until there was no more time to put it off to.   Since the Bacheloretts Parts is this weekend, it would be a perfect time to deliver the masks and try them on for size.  If adjustments are needed, then there will be time to do those.

But one more is needed too.  The Man of Honor needs a mask also.

Ok....

I sat in the sewing room this afternoon, debating about what to do.  I finally pulled up the instrcutions I had used for the other masks, cut the fabric, found the elastic, and started the sewing process.

Once I started, the process really wasn't too bad.

After stopping to make dinner and eat, clean up, and start the dishwasher, I returned to the sewing room to finish.  The goal was to be done by 9.  I came upstairs at 8:30.

Mission accomplished.

It was a good day in the sewing room.   Table runner?  Check!   Four masks for the bridesmaids and the Man of Honor?  Check!

And I cleaned up the sewing room too!  No more piles of fabric all over the floor.  The table is a little neater as well.

Next project?  Finishing the quilts for Tessa and Lynnlee.

More projects to check off the list!