DIY Roller Shades

We try to take advantage of these strange times and work on projects which were overdue. Couple of weeks ago we attempted the "bar".

Way back in Paducah, Kentucky, we had bought what was then a huge TV. At that time it was still as deep as it was wide or high. We needed a piece of furniture for it but nothing was available. So we took paper and pencil and drew what we would like with measurements so it would fit that living room wall. It was built for us with mahogany wood. It was very practical and I always liked it very much ... hence it moved with us to Virginia. It can be unscrewed into three parts. The TV did not make that move. It weight a ton.

I actually found an old photo from Paducah with the TV in it. The TV looks so small here. It was impressive way back then.

Well, TVs have changed. Now they are flat and can even be mounted on walls. What to do with that deep hole in that wall unit? Btw it found its place on a perfect wall in the dining room. 

And the "hole" was turned into the bar. I had made a temporary curtain with strips of fabric even incorporating see-through pockets for photos. Quite smart ... for a while. After several years we decided it just wasn't that practical. James liked my suggestion.

First we ordered online (because of social distancing) two wooden lazy susan and then built a shelf. James also found the perfect batterie light online which could be mounted (3M velcro) later on the ceiling of the "hole". 

The shelf had to be stained with something available.

(Ha, here you can even see the strips of fabric I had just flipped over to the shelf above.)

But what to do about the closure of the opening? 

I bought the cheapest window roller shades. For $9 I didn't have much to loose to try my idea? They come in different sizes and it fitted perfectly inside the opening. I should have taken a photo of the stark white cheap vinyl.  Ugh.

Since I could not go shopping (because of the virus situation) I found the best suited material in my stash thinking that I could replace it later if things worked. I laminated that fabric and something suitable for the back (lining) with double-sided iron-on. It was something I had bought last year at the Hampton Quilt Show. It was for appliqué work and the seller had promised that you could cut the edge and it would never fray (hotfixadhesive.com). 

I cut the fabric to size and sewed a pocket at the bottom to slide in the stick from the vinyl shade.

I unrolled the shades all the way, applied some repositioning glue (Craft Smart Off 'n On) to the top of the fabric according to directions. Then I attached it using the top line of the vinyl on the roll. I also held it up to make sure that the left and right edges of the vinyl were parallel to the fabric. When I was pleased with that I cut the vinyl off leaving about 1 inch in case I needed that straight line again as a guide. All was left to do was roll it up and put it into the mountings. 

Happy to say ... it works very well, is very practical, and we are very happy with it.

Here is the demo video:

Ha-ha, that didn't work, so HERE is the LINK!

Ah, yes, I also made a little valance. 

Masks for children

After making more then 100 masks of the pattern in my previous blog, younger daughter Sarah asked whether I could make masks for her children ... just in case she has to take them somewhere in an emergency. The oldest of her three boys is 6 years and then there are 3 year old twins.

Of course I agreed. Here is my first effort:

I had to do a lot of research on the internet to find a pattern for children. THIS SITE has a lot of useful information. The blog is very long and you have to scroll down far to find the links to download the PDF pattern. But it is well worth to read and learn. This is only a screenshot because I do not want to infringe on copyright.

I printed all the different sizes on regular paper and then again on cardstock to cut out (for tracing).

I had a lot of fun finding fabric in my stash with children's motives and fuzzy cutting. This size is for 3 to 6 year olds. Perfect.

You cut the piece "Main Fabric" twice in opposite direction. (The stabilizing backing doesn't go all the way)

Also cut the piece "Lining Fabric" twice in opposite direction. You need 4 pieces of iron-on backing. I cut the backing a little larger on 3 sides but flash on the straight side so I can match it with the line on the "Main Fabric" pattern. After ironing-on I trace and cut it out.

I used this as the backing but the above link also has a PDF with suggestions of backings. 

This is the "Man" version. It fits me better than the women version.

As you can see in the above photo I decided to change the pattern a little though. When I tried my first "prototype" on one of my grandsons, I noticed that tying behind the head might be a problem. I found a bag in my stuff which had just the thing but I wasn't sure what it was called. I took it off the bag and used it on the "prototype". My daughter was excited about it.

More research on the internet. With my husbands help we found the things called a cord locks which arrived soon. As with the elastic for the ear loops it was very difficult to find the right cord. Harbor Freight had very inexpensive 1/8 inch paracord but only in the second store I went to. 

I am still experimenting but found that the mask is more comfortable with a piece of wire sewed in. The link has a video with lots of options what to use. I found that a twist tie cut to 4 1/4 inches with the ends bend over to "un-sharpen" is very good.

Next time I will sew it onto the stabilized lining before sewing the main fabric and lining together.

I find that this type mask interferes less with my glasses.

And a tip:

I made a mistake at one point and decided to correct it with a new tool I had bought at the Hampton Quilt Show earlier in the year. OMG, this ripper did an unbelievable job. In seconds it was done.

There is so much on the internet. What I found was very helpful to me. Hope I helped you a little too. Feel free to leave a comment. Even constructive criticisms is welcomed.

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Amendment:

I forgot to mention this about the paracord:

You need to push back the outside so you can cut off a little of the inside.

Pull the outside past the middle and hold the end for just a very brief moment into a flame. Then push it together. Otherwise the ends are fraying mercilessly.