This is a new need, I recently became aware from our local FB sewing group, Coulee Region Sewing for the Frontlines.   I knew how to use the slideshow feature on my blog, so that is why the 40 some photos are located here to make this pattern.  Plus I don't know my way around video!

Why create yet another mask design? Well because I think this fits most faces really well, it is an easy window to construct  and it includes layout notes for production sewing. This is my first attempt at presenting this online.  It is less than professional, but functional. It hopefully will show the steps clearly and you can scroll to any step at anytime and study. I was thinking of folks new to sewing and I will try to remember to explain sewing terms.  There are other ways to assemble or do production sewing. This is just one way. 
Lots of sewing miles (wrinkles) on that face!!  Hopefully the model is not too frightful! 

Threads is the premier magazine for sewing enthusiasts- people who are passionate about sewing garments, home furnishings, gifts and more.  A year ago they made a request to a sample tool belt to try out.  It is now a notions feature in the July issue, which is out right now!  More information about the magazine at https://www.threadsmagazine.com/ This magazine has been one of my main go to magazines for inspiration and learning unique swing techniques.

The sewing industry has enjoyed an explosion of new fabrics, tools and notions, computerized sewing machines and online tutorials! Yet there is no one tool belt that rules!  Will  the Sewing HipNotions Tool Belt be that product?  Baby steps!

Like so many people these days, I wake up in morning and remember how our world has changed. What adjustments will be l made going forward.  Since my last posting, tool belt production was halted and a new adventure began, the local production of cotton face masks. Looking back over the past five weeks has been a blur.  Before lock down, my daughter, an upholsterer and I had already researched cloth face masks. What household materials were tested to be the next best thing to medical masks. We ordered elastic, white 100% broad cloth and twill tape for ties.  While waiting for supplies to arrive I went into the my collection of cotton prints. Which was perhaps enough for 1200 4 layered adult size face masks. To date 465 made and 200 pre-cut kits sent out to other volunteer sewers. Today, all kits are sewn and all masks donated and we will continue to make face masks for donations as well as retail.

That said, I woke up this morning thinking about face mask fit.  Yes, I know I am weirdly obsessed about certain details. That is when the light bulb came on. This thing about fitting and filling spaces. I have been doing it all my life!! Fitting window spaces with draperies and curtains. Fitting chair covers. Even saddle fitting on our horses, which is like adding an insole to a shoe.  The fitting of devices and tools into a compact tool belt for other professionals who work on their feet. I say other professionals because the word tool belt evokes an image of carpentry and construction workers.   I asked why not change that image to include others who need to carry tools of their trade?  Back to the subject of fitting, clothing construction and alterations was even a more complicated endeavor,  making fabric fit around the curves and body movement.  Sewn slippers,socks, mittens and hats.  And now learning to better size and fit the contours of the face!  The most effective masks form a snug seal around the nose and mouth.

So now going forward, face masks will be offered in my shop along with tool belts.  Besides viruses, we need protection from other inhalants such as dust, pollen and pollution. Why not do it with a smaller carbon foot print or going green avoiding throw away masks? Leave the medical masks to the medical people. My masks are 100% cotton, machine washable with options. More details to follow.  Be well and safe. This ride is not over yet!

Presently I am in the middle of a production run. I am happy to report my manufacturer in Maine has instructed their workers to stay home if they feel ill.  There may be delays, but so far no one is sick.  I consider my product non essential and  would not want anyone  pressured to work while ill at this unprecedented time.  Most US sewing jobs are minimum wage and at best some have benefits and so not working can be critical.  I hope my manufacturer can pay for the needed sick leave. Perhaps the manufacturer may soon be deemed non essential and put on lock down just like so many other countries have had to do.  I pray the manufacturer and their employees can weather this storm financially and with no causalities.

Now as I am an older person who seems to be a virus magnet already, I have chosen to do extreme social distancing.  The only place I might visit is the grocery store at 2 AM or send my husband during day. No travel, meetings, yoga, massage, church, restaurants or friends over. Plus our household needs to stay healthy as our daughter is scheduled for an essential surgery. She also works from our home and will be in recovery at our home after the surgery.  So we have an added incentive not to catch any virus or to pass it on to her.  I would hope each person would discern what is possible in their situation and to help to mitigate this pandemic by social distancing.  I would not want to be a carrier infecting other people.  I would rather be overly cautious now rather than live with regrets later and I would prefer to live a little longer!

 Forensic engineers are the folks who investigate mechanical and electrical failures,  fire and explosion investigation analysis and reporting along with building analysis and repair.  Why would they need a Small or Large Computer Tablet Tool Belt?  For sure they need to carry a tablet computer , a paper notebook/clipboard and a cell phone, a tape measure, pencils and pens.  I do not always learn of the specific items my clients might carry, just the big items.  Selecting the right tool belt evolves around first  fitting the largest items. The smaller items will follow. 

I love it when I get a live caller on my landline phone!  Why do I have a landline you my ask, cause I do not have cell coverage in my rural location. The landline is still more reliable then internet calls via my dish. Ok back to "the Caller",  a fire investigator who was looking to order a Small Computer Tablet Tool Belt for himself. As a fire and safety inspector, he offered up an idea for warehouse workers.  He thought a tool belt in a fluorescent safety color would be a great idea. Plus an added benefit, a fluorescent orange tool belt would be less likely to be lost or stolen.  Well Robert it is to be!  Coming soon to my store is the Small Computer Tablet 4 Pocket  in Fluorescent orange!

Once in a while I start my day with a reflection. Most days my thoughts immediately turn to the to do list and what is priority, right?  Okay and then I got side -tracked to learning my way around Sketchbook and thought-  lets makes make something for this blog!  Ta da.... HipNotions Socrates!!   A little crude, but it was fun!

Now back to Socrates and how a recent discovery stopped me in my tracks. This discovery left me angry, violated and helpless.
Perhaps this reflection can help to channel the frustration we creatives feel with such situations occur and to educate consumers. I will begin with the background story.

Betty Ottesen Sewing, later to be branded as HipNotions Tool Belts, went online in 2010.  I had been preparing my first design to launch way before that date.  I had to learn the workings of the internet and computer  which could just as well been a foreign language! The first design was launched and soon I was working with other professionals all over the United States via the the internet.  Hundreds of tool belts were sewn and test marketed. Of the thousands sewn by me, five designs were selected for manufacturing. Hiring fairly paid and highly skilled American workers was important to me.  It is not so profitable but doable.  Finding a professional sewing manufacturer was a challenge. I had to discontinue the first manufacturer who soon fell short of quality construction. There are many steps and extra start up costs before production even begins. Lots of unpaid time on my 10 year journey to manufacturing.

So imagine finding one of my manufactured designs for sale on Amazon by a foreign company last week. They had been at it since 2017.  They did not bother to change one stitch, pocket or story about their copycat design!  They do not mention the fabric content. Their retail is my cost. It is hard to compete with offshoring.   Yes I  tried to contact  Amazon. It seems they are not interested in stopping copycats or promoting American made products or at least show casing them. So buyers be ware if you value quality and American  jobs.  Check the source. If the product looks identical to the more expensive product, it is most likely a copycat.  American made products are more expensive due to the labor costs and quality construction and materials.

I can not teach anything to anyone but I hope this will help you to think about all artists, their skills, knowledge,creativity and perseverance in bringing a new product to market.   Thanks for your consideration.

The local riding therapy horses got their winter jackets repaired just in time for winter! Most of the time young healthy horses do not require blankets except for perhaps extreme frigid conditions.  However older horses, like us aging baby boomers may require some added protection.  Somehow a thousand pound animal will find ways to rip, tear and make short order of hardware.  Heavy duty straps and fabric require a heavy duty sewing machine, along with some knowledge of what construction is needed to keep a blanket on a horse. I am but just one of many volunteers that keep this wonderful program going. A program of nine therapy horses and participates ages 4 to 70 and a Veterans Riding Program. Here are some of the stars of the program (the horses). Go here for more information on The Horse Sense Riding Therapy Program in the La Crosse, WI area.  And go to Path International to search for similar programs in your area.

The observance of National Sewing Month began in 1982 with a proclamation from President Ronald Reagan declaring September as National Sewing Month “In recognition of the importance of home sewing to our Nation.”

So for me back in the day before sewing became a business for me, sewing was just something I did on a regular basis from my first hand stitched Barbie Doll ensemble to my first machine stitched apron for the 4-H project when I was about 9 yrs old.  Then it grew into sewing something fun and fashionable for myself and amazing my classmates with well sewn, styling fashion not available at the tiny little JC Penny department store in our small rural town. Well as a matter of fact outfits found nowhere else. I was choosing the fabric and the pattern from the endless selections  of Butterick, Vogue, McCalls, Simpicitiy and New Look patterns.  Back then one actually saved money sewing clothes. The saving was in you furnishing the labor!  Clothing manufacturing began in the USA at the turn of the century and eventually a major of the sewing factories were relocated to other countries at a fraction of the labor cost.  And so I stopped making clothes due to the increased cost of fabric and I fell victim to the readymades at the expense of exploded labor from an unseen corners of the world.

So in a nutshell, I really was not sewing to create for myself because it turned into a business of creating for someone else through clothing construction and alterations to home decorations such as pillows, slipcovers and window treatment. But now I am back to creating for myself.  A sewing tool belt was designed to keep myself organized in the sewing room. Others saw it and wanted one too. Then it grew into others asking about creating a tool belt to hold what they needed in their particular profession.  I was in designing heaven once more!

Though I do less sewing of the tool belts these days, i would however love to indulge myself in creating free form fabric art. So in keeping with National Sewing Month I should commit to sewing small squares of fabric art each day?  Oh my I have only 2 days left to commit as we turn the page of August to September!

Do you have a sewing passion and just can't get started on it? Or are you working on something. I would love to hear your thoughts or dreams of one day making a sewn creation.  Here is a link to the National Sewing Month Website which might help with starting a simple project or idea  or if you need some personal interaction a link to a sewing organizations in your area.  Of course there are lots of other online sites for inspiration.

"I work in slots ,tools needed are pens, request book and small screwdriver . Mrs Betty exceeded my expectations. Made my tool pouch with the type fabric needed to hold up . Thank you for working with me. September 2015 Stephanie in LA

How is your tool belt holding up in 2019?
 "Yes and it still is in excellent shape after extreme use. Thank you so much ." August 2019 Stephanie in LA,