Who Was That Masked Woman?

What Your Therapist Wants You To Know

Everyone is trying their best to keep up with the ever changing information about physical distancing and social responsibility. There has always been a high standard for cleanliness and safety, but it has become more visible.  We have always asked clients to reschedule if they are sick and stayed home if we were. I have always washed my hands in the room, before touching the door knob (influenced by my RN mother - even if you just washed your hands in another room, you wash again in this room).

Here's a quick run down of how things stand right now for clients.

Do not come if you have any symptoms (cough, fever, shortness of breath, runny nose, sore throat), or if you have traveled out of the country in the past 14 days or been exposed to someone with Covid19

Book by phone

Wait in your car until your appointment time

Do not bring extra people with you, unless necessary (assisting an elderly or handicapped family member, parent supervision of a child's appointment). Not having a babysitter does not count. If you don't have child care, please re-book your appointment.

Bring your own flip flops or slippers

Bring your own water

Wear a mask

Clean your hands when arriving and leaving

No group appointments

If you are a high risk individual (i.e. compromised immune system), let us know and we will do our best to limit your exposure to others with staggered appointment times.

We need more time to clean and have to stagger appointments to limit congestion in public space so we can't be as flexible about appointment times as usual.

No walk ins

Call ahead for curbside pickup of product or gift certificates

No adding on services. We just don't have wiggle room in our schedules right now. Going over the allotted time affects our staggering and time to clean.

Some options or types of services may not be available due to higher risk or difficulty in sterilization (i.e. hot stone massage, sauna, cupping, serenity room, heated mattress pad - everyone is sad about that one!)

Some aspects of a service may have to be omitted or altered (i.e. sinus treatment).

There will be a Covid 19 waiver to sign

The rules vary by service, even though we may share physical space. Hairdressers are a different category then estheticians, who are a different category than massage therapists. Remember that any frustration you are feeling about the new rules for your appointment are frustrations that we are having to deal with all day long, with every appointment. Please be patient. In our work environment we are required to follow government guidelines, health inspectors, industry standards and association rules. At work we are not private citizens in our home. We have to protect you, our other clients, ourselves, our coworkers, and our family. We take our responsibilities very seriously, and choose our plan of action thoughtfully. 

Making Masks

Cricket is a great help when sewing

I am, by no means, a seamstress. I took one year of clothing and textiles in high school. Under duress, my mother made me! She told the 15 year old me that one day I would appreciate knowing how to sew. Of course, as they always are, my mother was right. Back in my university days, sewing clothes was my favourite way to procrastinate from homework. Pre-google and I had a 14" TV with rabbit ears. Nowadays, the majority of my sewing falls into the crafting realm.

I don't tend to be an alarmist or paranoid, but the way the wind is blowing, wearing masks while in public will soon be the norm. There have been many examples cited about the reduction of smog and water pollution from reduced industry and transit. However, it has saddened and frustrated me to see our return to single use, throw away items. The grocery bags make me feel ill, especially since I learned that our local recycling is currently going to a landfill. The recycle center was closed down due to Covid-19. Not to mention the expense. A package of 10 disposable masks is selling for $25. That's only 2.5 outings for my family for $25. That is not a sustainable expense for anyone's budget.

Since it was stormy all weekend, it was the perfect time to do some research and spend some quality time with my sewing machine. There are multiple designs out there for homemade masks, not all require sewing, or even sewing supplies. Some are made with hair elastics and bandannas. After some fiddling, this is what I settled on. I used the information from Alberta.ca as my starting point. Please do your own research and use your best judgement about what's right for you and your family.

 

Cut a piece of cotton, about 8 x 16". Cut two pieces of elastic 7-8" long. These measurements varied as I was using a variety of scraps from past projects. If you are a quilter, batik fabric, besides being the nicest, is also the most tightly woven. Any natural fabric will work (remember, it's on your face), old sheets, t-shirts, etc. 

Fold the fabric, right sides together, lining up the two short sides.
Stitch the short edge, leaving about 3 inches. This gap will be used to turn the mask right side out.
It will stay open to be the pocket for inserting a piece of coffee filter when using.

Press the seam open. Fold under the raw edges and press.

Stitch around the edge, close to the fold to make a neat, finished seam. You can see the opening on the right side. Press the mask so this seam is about a quarter a way from the top, this will keep it out of the way of the pleats. It will look a bit like an envelope. 

Pin a length of elastic to each side, at the corners. Make sure they are inside, so when you turn the mask inside out, they are where you need them! Sew the side seams, reinforcing the stitches at the elastic in the corners. Don't catch the elastic along the sides!

Turn the mask right side out. See how the opening is near the top? At this point the elastic seems too short, but it won't stay that way. Cut a pipe cleaner, slightly longer than the width of the mask. Curl up the ends so they can't poke out of the fabric or poke your face. (Need I remind you of underwires?!)

                    

Tuck the pipe cleaner up against the top edge. Sew a seam to secure it in a channel. I found the the width of half the presser foot was just right.

Measure three even increments from the bottom of the mask. I used 1.5". Mark these points on both sides.

Pinch a fold up on the bottom mark, and press it down to make the first pleat.

Repeat two more times, for a total of three pleats.

Pin the pleats and make sure they are even on the back as well.
Press to make crisp folds. Sew down both sides.

The pipe cleaner allows the mask to form around your nose and under glasses, reducing fogging.
The pleats allow the mask to "tent" away from your mouth and nose, and tuck under your chin.

Once I tweaked my pattern, it took about half an hour to make a mask from start to finish. I gave them all a wash, in a lingerie bag, and tumble dry. The pleats need pressing again after washing. I found that the pipe cleaners got twisted. Mom suggested making an open channel so the wire could be removed for washing. I will try that if I make more.

I will probably hand wash them in the future. That will be the most sensible anyway. Masks need to be washed every time you wear them. We only do laundry once a week, and I don't intend to make 28 masks!

Wearing Masks

Cut a piece of coffee filter and tuck it in the pocket of the mask (with clean hands, of course).

Keep your masks in a closed bag or container.

Wash or sanitize your hands before putting on the mask, try to only handle the elastics.

Wash or sanitize your hands after the mask is in place.

Once your mask is on, don't touch it. The mask needs to cover your nose and mouth the whole time, or you might as well not wear one at all. It is now an extension of your face, fiddling with it is like licking your fingers.

Change your mask when it gets damp or soiled.

To remove, wash or sanitize your hands. Remove it by the elastics.

Place the mask in a bag or container. Once a mask comes off your face, do not use it again until it's washed.

Wash or sanitize your hands. 

At home, remove the filter and dispose of it.

Wash masks with hot water and soap. Wash your hands after handling soiled masks.

Dry thoroughly. Iron, not only to replace the pleats, but as a level of sanitizing. An iron on the cotton setting is over 180 degrees Celsius, hotter than any water.

With clean hands, insert a new filter and place in the clean container.

**Children under 2, people with difficulty breathing, and people unable to put or or take of masks on their own should not wear masks. Remember, if all the able bodied and healthy people behave themselves, the vulnerable are protected.**

I haven't decided what to use for dry/wet bags yet. Ziplocks would work, but...hate plastic. Small cosmetic/toiletry cases would work well too. They tend to have a water proof lining that could be sanitized. I might make some fabric wallets that could be washed with the masks. What do you think?

Travel Sewing Kit

Often, whenever I start a project, whether in the kitchen, the yard, or the craft room, a period of tidying up and sort must commence. Either to locate supplies or make room to work. Then there are the moments when pondering the next step or a solution to a problem, when puttering is very useful. 

During some of this puttering, tidying some tools, I was reflecting on how a little travel sewing kit is such a useful idea. In my experience, the ready made ones that you can buy (or get in nicer hotels) are filled with rather useless supplies. The thread is weak and the buttons are too tiny for anything but a shirt collar. These would not hold up to any real wardrobe malfunctions.

Collecting bits and pieces from around the house,
this kit didn't cost a penny.

I found a spool with just a little black thread on it. I added four more shades, using a tiny piece of tape to secure the start. Now it resembles a monotone spool of Christmas ribbon. I had a set of folding scissors, and made a small baggie of various buttons, making sure some were big enough to replace a pants button, if need be. A piece of card with a sewing needle and darning needle, an assortment of safety pins, and a threading tool to manage most clothing malfunctions. In case of a knitwear disaster (or knitting emergency), I included a small bit of yarn, some stitch markers, a cable needle and a stitch holder. 

Years ago, when my boys were wearing out the knees of their snow pants on a weekly basis, I discovered nylon adhesive patches. One of the best repair tools I have ever found! I rolled one around a pencil to make a tight tube and secured it with an elastic. All of these items tucked neatly into a mint tin. An old wallet, cosmetic case, small tupperware, gift box could all be upcycled as a container. If you don't have folding scissors, manicure scissors would also fit.

Complete travel sewing kit, 
packed with quality supplies!