New normal after lockdown

3D Face Masks with Filter Pocket

Many small businesses suffered during a strict lockdown. If you read the news, many migrant workers have to walk for days to reach their village due to the unavailability of the transport system. I went out a few weeks ago and saw many people are walking on the highway, some with their friends, some with their family and young children. It breaks my heart to read and see the news about them that sometimes I just stopped reading the news. 

Mask for Kids

As the government relaxed lockdown a few weeks ago businesses  started to open and slowly people are back to work, to new normal.

New normal means:

• Wear a mask when you go out. (Also read: what fabric to use for homemade mask)
• Maintain a social distance of 6 feet (is that even possible here??).
• Wear a face shield if you cannot maintain 6 feet distance. (Also read: how to make DIY Face Shield)
• Cover your mouth with your elbow while coughing or sneezing.
• Frequently wash your hands with soap.
• Wash your groceries after you bring them in (at least I do this) - some said to leave the vegetables, etc in an open space for a couple of hours before putting them into the fridge.
• Change your clothes after you come back home and wash your mask every day. 

According to the news, the school most probably will re-open after July. Now, thanks to the internet, online classes are going on. Some parents suggested to only open the senior section so that the school can maintain 1/3 ratio per class. 

Many senior students also tweeted asking for reopening, especially those in the science stream. There are so many things to be considered before reopening and I know it's going to be tough for the teachers to keep vigilant of the students. 

How to make a surgical pleated mask

I guess we all need to learn to be more disciplined and considerate of others. Think twice before you act. Think about what will be the impact of your action for others. 

I hope this virus will be gone soon, meanwhile please wear a mask when you go out or when you don't feel well at home. 

Until then,

Take care & stay safe!

-Elvira- 

Bunny Mini Sling Bag for Toddler

Sewing for kids always brings happiness to me. So when my customer wanted a bag for her toddler, I said yes. She sent me a reference picture, a bag with bunny ears. Her daughter is only 2 years old so this bag is pretty small. I used the bigger size of the Mini Sling Bag pattern and trim the height a little bit. 

The picture below was the first set of ears that I did base on this bunny pencil case tutorial, but I was not happy. I found it too small. 

I remember I used to make flower brooch from fabrics, I thought that would be better for ears. I only need to cut the fabric larger. I cut 5" square fabric and cut them again to make 2 half square triangle. I used thin interfacing just to make the ears a little firm. Fold the triangle then sew the shorter side. Turn it inside out and hand stitch the straight side using running stitch and pull it tight and secure it. Tada! your fabric bunny ears are ready! 

Now place the ears on the bag exterior and make sure the ear's raw edges are placed at the edge. Baste stitch and you're ready to assemble the bag. 

Since I already sewed the sides seams of the bags, I decided to finish the bag using drop lining method. I little fiddly for a tiny bag but I managed :D.

I put the exterior bag in the lining, right side together, and clip it. I didn't trim the ears at this stage yet. 

Feed the bag under the needle and carefully sew using a 3/8" seam allowance. Once it's done, I trim the excess seam of the ears. 

Turn it inside out, topstitch the edge and voila! Bunny Mini Sling bag is ready to go! 

I really love how this turned out. I got this Riley Blake fabric for a long time and I'm so happy now I can use it. I hope this bag will bring happiness to her too! 

What do you think? What's your personal fave things to sew? Let me know in the comment below. 

Thank you for stopping by!

Take care & stay safe

- Elvira- 

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