In between four Zoom calls today, I spent time working on sewing fabric face masks. I’ve made myself the challenge and promise to make a mask to give away for every two that I sell (see my shop on Etsy). I plan to give away in groups of 25 to whatever organization might need or want them. I’m getting close to needing my first group of 25 masks completed. I have had them all cut out but haven’t finished them. I’ve been wondering why exactly I’ve been dragging my feet with them.

I realized is that while the pattern was seemingly simple enough, there are parts to it which I’ve been objecting to design and craft wise. I made the first mask the way the directions called for. I learned that it’s not as simple to put together as it appears and is more fussy and time consuming to make than I had thought. And the fit has been okay but not great and certainly not adjustable.

Unfortunately I had gotten too organized too early and cut the fabric for 25-35 masks of this type. I’ve been very, very slowly working my way through the pile and have not been as happy with the sewing techniques called to use. I’ve been making adjustments here and there to make it better in my mind.

Some of my delay could maybe be blamed on perfectionism but I did try to let some of that go knowing that what I made would be good enough. I knew that I would like it better if something was different. I just needed some time to sit with it and tinker and try different things to see what would change.

Today I had a big design breakthrough with the possibility of using a different kind of elastic than I had been earlier. It sounds kind of funny to be so happy about it, but it makes me pleased to know my concern with fit can be addressed with the new elastic. I ordered some last week on the off chance it would work different than the type I had currently. It arrived a day or two ago and I had a chance to try it out with the other style of mask I’ve been making. It works really well there. I needed to see it and use it first to see if it would behave differently before I got too excited about it.

I was feeling dissatisfied with what I was making. I was making to give away to people, but I didn’t want to give these unknown people something that looked nice but which didn’t actually fit. That was part of the reason I was putting off finishing them. Now I’m happy with the way they are turning out and will finish up the masks to donate in a few days. Then I will change the pattern to something else. I’ve figured out how to make this work to my satisfaction, but it’s not a pattern to use long term.

It is satisfying when design, process and execution all work together to make something well. I love when the puzzle pieces come together. Have you had a moment like that recently?