Masks Using Crafter's Edge Dies And ThermOWeb Interfacing

Who would have thought we'd be making masks for personal and work use...not me!

Some people are totally heroes in my book for the 100's or 1000's of masks they've made.

Thank you for taking care of our families, friends, and medical community!

I design for ThermOWeb and Crafter's Edge, so I've combined two of their new
products Crafter's Edge Mask Die and HeatnBond Sew-In interfacing, plus 
Heat n Bond Lite Iron-on Adhesive to create masks for everyday use. 

 "Working closely with The Masks Now Coalition, Therm O Web (the manufacturers of 

HeatnBond brand products) has developed this new interfacing for use in the MasksNow.org 

3-Layer Mask Pattern from Created for Crisis, as well as other patterns that call for 

lightweight 100% polyester nonwoven, sew-in interfacing."

Directions come with the Face Mask Die and they are really easy to follow. Just run your
mask front, lining and interfacing through the Crossover II Edge using the mask die.

Sew the rounded edge of fabric and interfacing mask pieces together.

Clip the round edge as shown in directions or with pinking shears.

Press seam flat on mask interfacing and mask fabric.

If you want to add a heart or other design to the mask, now is the time.
Iron Heat n Bond Lite Iron-on Adhesive to the wrong side of the design fabric.
Run it through your cutter following directions or cut out shape by hand.

Stitch around the shape using a blanket or straight stitch.

Sew elastic or fabric ties to mask lining, a quarter inch from edges.
Stitch a couple times over the elastic or ties to secure them a little better.

Layer mask: Lining face up, mask front face down, and interfacing face down.

Pin all layers together.

Sew around all edges making sure to catch all layers. Be careful to not catch the elastic
or ties in the seams. Leave a 2" opening for turning. Turn inside out. Press.

If you want to add wire to the nose area, now is the time to do it.
Curl and crimp the ends tightly on the wire and tuck it centered in the seam at the mask top.

It helps to pin along the seam to keep the wire in place until you sew around the edges.

Slowly stitch 1/4" from the edge all the way around the mask. Stitching slowly will
help you avoid the wire and not break your needle. Be sure to sew open seam closed.

The masks work great with elastic, ties, or seam binding around the edges.

Using a different fabric for lining is best. Making it a bit fun (with spider fabric) works, too!

Bribing these guys with a delivered barbecue dinner helped me get these photos.

It's always hard to see smiles when wearing masks, but I think their smiles show through.

My beautiful green-eyed daughter willing posed with her mask AND she brought us cookies!

The Crafter's Edge mask die can cut several sizes of masks, including for children.

The masks sew together quickly and using the HeatnBond Sew-In interfacing gives a
little more protection when wearing them in public. Stay safe and healthy!

Check out the ThermOWeb blog for more craft ideas!

Words To Grow By Block Of The Month May

Every month a new block is released by one of four designers for the 

Words to Grow By Block of the Month. 

Yep, its' time for a new block! This time it's from Joan.

I've been using my Riley Blake Confetti Cottons for my blocks.

The block designers...

Amy from Sew Incredibly Crazy

Carla from Creatin' in the Sticks

Joan from Moosestash Quilting

Carol from Just Let Me Quilt

We all love using EZ Print Lite Sheets by ThermOWeb...no tracing!

Just print in your inkjet printer and your designs are ready.

Here's a list of all the blocks so far:

MAY - BLOOM - MOOSESTASH QUILTING

You can find BLOOM HERE

APRIL - SHARE - CREATIN' IN THE STICKS

You can find SHARE HERE

MARCH - PEACE - JUST LET ME QUILT

You can find PEACE HERE

MARCH - FAITH - JUST LET ME QUILT

You can find FAITH HERE

FEBRUARY - JOY - SEW INCREDIBLY CRAZY

You can find JOY HERE. 

Our Words To Grow By BOM blocks are free during the month they are released.

After that, the blocks can be purchased from the designer for a small fee.

 There are over 3000 friends on the Facebook group and we would love for you to join us!

Crafter's Edge Amazing Mask Fabric Die

I feel so lucky to get to play with Crafter's Edge fabric dies. The dies come in so many

great applique and sewing shapes like Dresdens, squares, and triangles. 

Now they've come up with something amazing...a mask fabric die! It can cut four different sizes

 and includes directions for the masks and an insert if you want to add one to the mask.
The instructions are clear and sewing one together is really quick.

The Crossover II can cut up to six layers! 

Using the Crossover II platform, layer with the fabric following their directions.

This die is the 2nd from the smallest and was a nice size for a two or three year old.

Halloween spider web fabric seems perfect for any time of year.

The instructions include the size of mask the die makes and how to add elastic or fabric ties.

The next step after using the die to cut the fabric is to sew along the curve.

You'll want to clip the curve or use pinking sheers to help the curve lay flat.

Press the curved seams to the side. 

Pin the elastic 1/4 inch from the edge of mask back as shown below. 

Stitching it in place before sewing helped to keep it from slipping.

With right sides together, sew around all edges leaving a 2 inch opening for turning inside out.

Be careful when sewing to not catch the elastic or ties in the seams.

Turn inside out and press seams flat. Top stitch around the edges making sure to sew the

opening closed. Double stitching over the elastic ends helps secure them better.

The second from the smallest was a perfect fit for Monkey Baby who is two years old. The elastic
was cut 5 1/2" long. He "willingly" posed for the camera with a mask on once I promised him a
doughnut in any flavor if he would do it. He asked for a chocolate doughnut, which was
delivered promptly to his doorstep. He chose the cream filled chocolate one...yum!

The second from the largest size die was a little big for the five year old, but shorter elastic

(it was 7" long) would have made it fit better (6" would be just right.) He didn't seem to mind!

He loved the Riley Blake Designs light blue "Hot Wheels" fabric for his mask.

The seven year old fit the 2nd from the largest mask a little better though the elastic should 

have been tighter. It was cut at 7" so probably 6" would work. He also liked the other 

Riley Blake Designs "Hot Wheels" fabric with all the swirls and cars.

The fifteen year old was looking pretty cool in the mask cut from the largest die.

Halloween fabric with spiders adds a little creepy to the mask...I love creepiness!
The elastic was cut at 8" but 7" would have been better.

If you aren't sure about the elastic, the ties would be a great choice to ensure the masks fits.

One really awesome thing available from Crafter's Edge is an adapter that can be used with 

your Accuquilt Go cutter. It's really great to be able to use the mask die on an Accuquilt, too!

The electric Accuquilt was able to cut all four dies at once.

*Tips for cutting fabric with the dies: 

Iron the cotton fabric before cutting.

Tilt the die and fabric on the cutting platform so that it doesn't run parallel to the rollers.

Here's another way to add bias tape ties cut 44" to a mask.

My oldest daughter was happy to model this bright pink gingham mask.
I love those blue eyes!

Cut the fabric using the mask dies and sew sections together as shown above.

With right sides together, sew mask on just the short ends. (This is a lighter pink gingham
than the one she is wearing in case you wondered about the color change.)

Turn inside out and press.

Find the center of bias tape and pin to center of mask, catching all layers.

If you want a wire for the nose area, now would be the time to add it.

Turn under bias tape ends if needed. Sew along edge of bias tape to secure to mask.
Repeat on both sides. Done!

Non Woven interfacing can be added to the masks if desired and I was really excited to learn
that Therm O Web has just released a new product made specifically for masks,

HeatnBond Sew-In interfacing.

"Working closely with The Masks Now Coalition, Therm O Web (the manufacturers of 

HeatnBond brand products) has developed this new interfacing for use in the MasksNow.org 

3-Layer Mask Pattern from Created for Crisis, as well as other patterns that call for 

lightweight 100% polyester nonwoven, sew-in interfacing."

Thank you for stopping by...stay safe and healthy!

Riley Blake Designs Hocus Pocus Fabric Blog Tour

If it's Halloween related, I'm totally in!

Especially if it's Riley Blake Designs Halloween fabric that is as spooky and cute

as "Hocus Pocus" by Echo Park Paper Company.

It was perfect for "Bellagosa's Boutique" quilt that measures 50" x 55" and
is full of a lot of applique hocus pocus and magic.

Bellagosa's Boutique

Riley Blake Designs "Hocus Pocus is great for quilting, apparel, and home decor.
The fabric has witch shoes and stockings, candy, ghosts, and creepy spider webs...I love it!
Oooooo, and skeletons!

There's awesome "Hocus Pocus" panels, too!

"Bellagosa's Boutique" sells hats, bats, shoes, and potions.

There's dresses and capes for witches of all sizes in black and green skeleton fabrics.
I love that turquoise fabric full of yummy Halloween goodies!

The local hearse is "dying" for you to shop at this boutique.

A gnarly and spooky tree to hang the quilt on...

With the virus affecting the Las Vegas Strip by closing all the hotels, it was our chance to
head out there for photos. Usually there are lots of people and cars at this sign, but we were
 all alone. That was pretty creepy...so perfect for "Bellagosa's Boutique" quilt!

You can find Bellagosa's Boutique pattern in my Etsy store HERE.

Check out the other creations using Riley Blake Designs "Hocus Pocus"!

4/15 - Just Let Me Quilt (it's me!)
4/22 - Boo + Lu
4/29 - Jessica Dayon

Thanks for stopping by!