Do you have a fabric designer or pattern maker you simply adore? Maybe you have a few. 
Gretchen Hirsch aka Gertie is one of my favorites. 

There are quite a few fabric designers I'm obsessed with! Almost stalker-status. ;) I love almost every piece they design. And I must own it all. Insert fabric hoarding music. Haha!
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As you might know, my favorite pattern designer is Gertie. She is a one-woman show and encouraged me (through her blog, tv, and books) to start sewing things for myself. GASP! Moms can sew for themselves? Yes, yes we can.

I was watching a PBS sewing show and she popped up. I can't remember what she shared on the show. But, I couldn't get past the fact that she didn't look like a typical sewing lady. She was young and had a fun style. I was instantly hooked! I found her blog, bought her books, and started a new sewing journey-sewing for myself. I still sew for my kids and shop, but I LOVE making my things more.

Gertie has her own pattern company, along with fabrics designed by her. She also has patterns with Butterick and Simplicity. Charms Patterns, Simplicity and, Butterick patterns.  I love it all!

The top I'm wearing above is from the book, Gertie Sews Vintage Casual. It's the 40's-Style Blouse made using the Sleeveless Blouse variation, pg 134.
The fit is great in this top! Why haven't I made more? I don't know but, I need to.
It was an easy afternoon project. I made this top a few years ago during a friendly sewing day. This was my first top with center buttons and a placket. As you can see, they should have been placed 1/2" closer to the edge.
Oh well. I still wear it all the time.

It's an easy style to wear over pants or tucked in. The darts are placed perfectly and make for a very flattering fit. 
The fabric is semi sheer in black with pink bows and was purchased from Joann fabrics. It is from Gertie's fabric line.

Pattern changes
I increased the armscye area. I don't consider myself to have large arms, but her patterns are usually tight in my armpits, so I size up with sleeveless patterns. 

I made this cute handbag as a fun little distraction during quarantine. I planned on using it sooner than later, but we all know how that turned out. Ha! Days turned into weeks and it's all a blur from there. 

I had some marine vinyl leftover from another project and I came up with this little purse. 

Want to make a cute little handbag for your next shopping trip?

Here's what you need:

• 1/2 yard of marine vinyl or other faux leather type fabric
• 1/2 yard of cotton fabric for lining
• Thread
• Sewing machine and notions
• Microtex needle
• Scrap paper for making a pattern
• Ruler and pencil
• Interfacing if needed ( I didn't use any. Gasp, I know)
• Purse feet (optional)

How are you? Safe and sane, hopefully. Things are crazy around here, but we're getting used to our new "normal". Will life ever go back to the way it was? Who knows.

Let's talk about mask making for a second. Whew! What a whirlwind that is, amiright? I've never made hundreds of one item before, until I decided to sew face masks. They were needed everywhere overnight. I've donated them, sold them, made them for friends and family, etc., just like most of us in the sewing community. 

Just like many of you, I got tired of sewing masks. Making the same thing over and over takes a toll on you. Mind, body, spirit, and soul.  
At some point in the midst of mask making, a new sewing machine was ordered, by magical fairies who love me, presumably. I had my eyes set on this particular one for a couple of years. It wasn't an essential item, but with all the necessary sewing going on, I allowed it.
They sent me the wrong machine at first, and then finally, 2 weeks later the correct machine arrived. Wheeee!! I was so excited.

Although, hesitation and fear kept me from opening it right away. What if I didn't love it? Maybe it was too advanced for me. It is a straight stitch only machine, after all. It sat outside for 24 hours to decontaminate before opening up the box and bringing it inside. Crazy, I know.

Let me start off by saying, WOW! She's a heavy beast!

My new Brother PQ1500SL sewing machine was here and itching to be used. And, holy cow, she exceeded all my expectations and some. 

The machine came with a plethora of accessories and I totally nerded out on all of these, of course! 
The machine has a large extension table that is dreamy. It came with multiple feet including a whopper of a walking foot. 
Threading is as easy as pie. Winding the bobbin is easy as well. 
It doesn't have a drop-in bobbin, which I thought would be annoying. However, it's easy to change because there are 3 doors that open up, making it convenient to change during a project. 

A fun surprise that was included was a loaded bobbin. I've bought a few new machines in my almost 20 years of sewing, and they've never come with a loaded bobbin! This was exciting for me. It really is the little things.
Or I lost my marbles after making hundreds of masks, and any small thing was pure joy at this point. Who knows!

Once I received my new Brother sewing machine, I got a second mask-making wind. I was so antsy to use it. Give a kid a new toy, of course they want to play with it right away!

Nevermind the stack of things that I started and couldn't finish before the pandemic. I couldn't sew something for myself during a crisis, that just felt wrong to me. So, I made more masks. So many more masks. But, they were made with a big smile because I had a shiny new toy. 

I'm a sucker for accessories! Do you love gadgets and get excited to use them? Here's everything it came with. 

Feet galore

1. Zipper foot
2. invisible zipper foot
3. Walking foot
4. Rolled hem foot
5. 1/4" foot
6. Pin feed foot
7. Free motion quilting foot
8. Seam guide
9. Feed pin and lining plate screws
10. Fabric Separator
    
    

Can you believe it? It's May, again, already. The months seem to fly by quicker as I age. 

You know the drill, #MeMadeMay is all about wearing something you made every day in May. Read my post I wrote from last year if you are wondering what the heck I'm talking about. You pledge to yourself and others to wear your me mades (handmade items). I played along last year and found that I didn't like it. Gasp! I know! 

I did not like how it made me feel about my handmade garments. And, not in the way, you might think. 

I usually get excited when I wear anything I make. Hair flowers, a purse, dresses, jumpers, rompers or pants, even my bras! I love it when someone asks if I made it and I get to scream "YES!" with a huge smile. It's exciting for me to wear my stuff and show it off.

During 2019's #MeMadeMay, I didn't get excited while getting dressed. It was more of a "have to" feeling. Not gonna lie, I wear something I make almost every day. I always have a flower in my hair- that I've made. My purses are made by me too. Oh and the days I don't leave my house, do not count. LOL 

I'm a rebel in a sense I don't like being told what to do. And, the May challenge wasn't fun for me, because I had to wear my garments. Make sense? 

Now with everything that is happening, I've been living in cozy clothes almost every day. I like being comfortable when I'm slinging string a.k.a. sewing. I've been sewing every day, so cozy clothes it is! 
I feel happier about the challenge this year though because we're all homebound. We don't leave our house unless it's a run to the post office or get groceries. In which, I put actual pants on. Haha

I plan on playing along this year and have a new perspective. I'll be more inclined to wear my fancy dresses just because I can. They might not be the best to sew masks in, but... I'll wear them. It's almost a challenge for me to get dressed in real clothes every day. Amiright? LOL  

And heck, if I don't wear a garment I've made, there's always a Me Made mask. 

​So, will you be participating this year? What do you think about ME MADE MAY? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Be sure to follow me on social media as well.

Stay safe and sane,
​Annette

Face masks. Are you wearing one? Have you made them for friends and family or to donate? I've donated more than I can count. Sent masks to friends and family. And I've made them for my own family. We are now required to wear them when we leave our house.
What a world we are living in right now. 

I have made masks using a few different patterns and wanted to share with you, some on my favorites. 

They don't require a ton of time or materials. 
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Materials Needed

• ​Cotton fabrics
• Interfacing- I used lightweight or sheer
• Thread
• Elastic- FOE, 1/8"-1/4", 3/8"
• Bias tape, purchased or handmade
• Ribbon, knit fabric straps, etc.
• Floral wire & a pair of wire pliers
• Sewing machine and notions
• Seam ripper, because... sewing

1.  Sweet Red Poppy bias tape Face mask. This tutorial is easy and my favorite mask to wear. The mask is comfortable and forms to the face. It is not, however a quick sew. If you want to batch sew these, you deserve a trophy. These babies are no joke. Easy enough to make 3 or 4, but no so easy if you're making 50.
2. Made Everyday by Dana fabric face mask. Her pattern is super easy and makes for a quick sew! I've made tons of these for donations. I also used ribbons in place of the knit fabric ties. Check below for an altered option I used, to make these.
3. Melanie Ham 10 minute face mask. These are perfect for sewing tons. They're quick and easy. I personally have not made this exact pattern. I did however, make one similar and used 9x7 measurements for the fabric. I also did 3 pleats. But, this is similar in construction.
4. Mask Video I found on Pinterest. This one is nice, it has elastic ears, nose wire and a filter pocket. NOTE: can only be made with multi directional fabric. I mostly buy one directional fabric, but I made one of these. It looks nice and fits well too. It has a very professional finish in my opinion.
5. Check Pinterest and YouTube for other patterns and versions. There are hundreds to choose from.

These are the exact ones I've tried, so I wanted to share. If you have questions, shoot me an email. 

Mask maker, mask maker, make me a mask. Anyone else singing this song while making these things? Anyone? Please tell me I'm not the only Fiddler on the Roof fan. ;)

This is my Made by Dana pattern that I've hacked. When the pandemic first started, the elastic was gone, sold out, nowhere to be found. So, I improvised. I used FOE, fold over elastic. This is usually used for cloth diapers, headbands for babies and other crafts. I used it to make the full head masks. They are more comfortable to wear all day too. I cut 13" just like Dana says in her pattern. Easy peasy! 

This is 50 masks in 4 hours. We (my husband, oldest daughter and I ) made over 50 masks in 4 hours to deliver to his work the next morning. That was a crazy night. Once we found our groove, we worked flawlessly. These were all made with the FOE I was telling you about earlier. 

Tiger King was a definite moment in our house. I had to make a face mask to honor his legacy. Free Joe Exotic!! 

So, are you ready to make masks or are you burnt out like most of the sewing community? I gifted myself a new sewing machine, so I got a second wind of mask making. Stay tuned for my post on the new machine... she's fabulous!!! 

Please share in the comments some mask patterns that have or haven't worked for you. Also, if you have places that are in need of donations, share those too. 

Stay safe and healthy!
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Warm virtual hugs,
Annette