Covid-19 Face Mask for Mom

My mom (who thanks to the virus, I haven't seen in real life for ages) texted me in a panic. "Can you make me a face mask? I have to go to the doctor and they say we should wear masks."

Now, during the self-isolation, I haven't really left the house. I mean, I've taken walks and stuff, but I haven't been to the grocery or been around people, so I had no need for a mask, and DH has a face cover he's been wearing. So while people around me have been making masks, my sewing machine has just been collecting dust. I don't think I've had it out for two years. 

This was the only scrap fabric I had (which is still pretty darn cute) so I thought I'd give her mask-making a shot. I called up one of the video tutorials, managed to get the bobbin thread caught under the needle and in about two hours, I had a cute little face mask for my mother. (Although she didn't like the elastic and preferred the over-the-ear variety, so I don't know if she actually wore this more than once. Still, it's there and it's washable, and it's at least stylish at the pet stores. 

METHOD:
Following instructions. 

AND WHAT DID WE LEARN?
Sewing is fun :) And my mother was very grateful.

Acorn Costume and Hat

"Make me an acorn costume for Halloween, Mommy!" 

Who can say no to that? I mean, how cute, right? An acorn costume. Now how to go about it...

After three hours wandering around in Joann Fabric, trying to find a way to achieve the "roundness" needed for an acorn but still allow movement and play, I came up with the idea of the sandwich board. It's not perfect, and I'm not sure it's exactly what he had in mind, but after he won "Most Original" at the library costume contest, he was sold. 

The hat actually came first (or the idea for it) since I had been eyeing the Lemongrass hat and wondering what it would look like in the other stash colors I had. I made a taupe one, but that wasn't brown enough (although the texture was perfect for an acorn cap) so I picked up a couple of skeins of a browner variety, knitted an i-cord "stem" and voila. (Little Bear has refused to remove the cap and surrender the hat, so I guess it's his now for good.) 

METHOD:
Done in LionBrand Wool Ease Thick and Quick, from the Lemongrass Slouchy Hat pattern on Ravelry, in a dark brown tweed colorway. One skein. Used it all. 

AND WHAT DID WE LEARN?
1. Kids are cute. 

2. Eleventh hour Halloween costumes are the best. 

3. The entire costume came together with fabric glue, and no sewing machine. I'm amazed.