Making face masks was a personal priority. Wheels had medical procedures, including an artificial heart valve placement, in the last three months that put him in the high risk category. He had started cardiac rehab and was doing well. Then came a city wide stay home and I was drafted as chief rehab watcher/reporter using you tube videos and printed instructions from the real rehab therapist. And then the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that people wear cloth face coverings after we all heard much public waffling about their effectiveness. That definitely drove home the point that we needed more protection when it was necessary to go out. Other members in the family needed masks as well, so I set out to find the best face mask for high risk protection -- and one ... [Read More]
Sewing
How to Make A Therapeutic Heat Pack : The Ultimate Guide
A therapeutic heat pack is also, and probably more often, called the rice bag. How can a cup or two of rice sewn into a fabric casing be therapeutic? Ahhhh -- the Cambridge Dictionary says anything that causes one to be happier, more relaxed and healthier is therapeutic. And the rice bag will do all three! Chilly winter night = cold feet. Zap the rice bag in the microwave for a minute or so, slide the rice bag between the covers at foot level a few minutes before climbing into bed. Slide under the covers and it's instant cozy. Happy, relaxed and, because that will help you sleep better, healthier. Over did it in the garden and muscles are aching? Warm rice bag eases those muscles before they cause big problems, whether the underlying problem is chronic or just a one time ... [Read More]
Fiesta Skirt for 18″ doll using fat quarter
A brief visit to Mexico a couple of years ago gave us the opportunity to see some spectacular traditional Mexican dancers. I have some pictures but they are all a blur because of the speed and intricacy of the dances. One set was particularly eyecatching because of the beautiful full dresses worn by the women. The Fiesta Skirt is modeled after those dresses. Each tier is double in fabric to the one above it -- a lot of swirl! A fat quarter from the quilter's corner of your favorite fabric store will yield one two tiered skirt. Cotton fabric usually comes in 45 inch widths. If you buy a quarter yard you end up with a skinny piece nine inches wide by 45 inches long. Instead: Cut a yard from the bolt, then divide that yard into fourths. Each quarter is 18" by 22.5 inches. ... [Read More]
How to make a bandana dress — tutorial
Bandana dresses are another version of the pillowcase dress -- but faster and easier! They're really cute, too! Bandanas are available in so many great colors and fun designs. I picked this classic design for the tutorial, but setting on my sewing table are polka dot, plain, chevron and party print bandanas. Can't wait to make them into cute dresses! A bandana makes the perfect sized dress for a toddler. The dresses are about the equivalent of a 24 month or size 2. They are full and loose around the body which any mom knows makes the size matter less. The ribbon ties make the arm holes adjustable so the bandana dress fit is even more forgiving. Growing girl just means add tights under the shorter dress and, eventually, the dress becomes a top with jeans or shorts. Big bang ... [Read More]
Heated rice bags
Now that everyone has been gifted their rice bag for Christmas, I can share a quick how to so you can make some for your own warmth! They provide a steady source of heat for pain relief, for warming up in cold weather, or preventing cold! A pair of hearts and two others for pure coziness. (These rice bags can also be kept in a freezer and molded around the body for cold packs.) I used scraps leftover from other projects and making the two pictured above took less than two hours, including going through the fabric stash, cutting the right size pattern, and making everything. You can probably do it in less – depending on how often you get side tracked in the fabric stash. Or am I the only one? The hearts are a play on the old saying “cold hands, warm heart.” I made round hearts to ... [Read More]
Hot or cold pack rice bag – a tutorial
Do you ever wonder about the ideas that change our life? Who was the first person to put rice in a fabric container and how did they come up with the idea to heat it? Who found that the same rice bag placed in a freezer would become cold enough to provide therapeutic value? Did they start out with those goals in mind? Or was it some happy accident? However it happened, I am certainly glad it did! I have half a dozen different types of rice bags that I rotate all winter long. Great for warming cold toes, taking the chill off the bed, keeping warm company while reading, soothing aches. (I did mention that I am cold blooded and live where the winters are cold!) Bytes friend even uses one to warm her car seat while she scrapes the windshield! When my sister came home from the ... [Read More]