Our goal is for Thimbles to be a place of comfort, support and community. To that end, we have implemented several changes based on the latest CDC and local government recommendations, which you can read about here.
For those of you staying at home, we've rounded up some FREE projects and resources to help you sew your way through the days to come.
Free Sewing Pattern: Doggie Delights
Pamper your pup with these adorable patterns from Baby Lock and Thimbles! Projects include a pretty pet stocking, a placemat for food and water bowls, doggie bandana, treat jar wrap and doggie doo-doo bag for those jaunts through the dog park. These projects are also great for donating to local pet shelters!
Click here to download the free PDF.
Surgical Face Masks
Currently, the supply of surgical masks is at a critical all-time low throughout the entire natio; while a handmade fabric face mask is NOT a substitution for N95 masks, a hand sewn face mask can help reduce the spread of germs when someone sneezes or coughs (note - it will not protect against catching a respiratory illness). Ideally, homemade masks should be used in combination with a face shield that covers the entire front and sides of the face. During a crisis such as COVID-19, the CDC may allow handmade fabric masks to be used when critical shortages take place (read more here on the CDC website).
Erica Arndt has a free tutorial video (above) showing how to sew a face mask in just a few minutes; click here for another free tutorial from Clover.
In addition to helping medical staff during critical shortages, these masks can be used at home as well. If you’re able to sew several masks, you can contact your local health facilities to see if they are in need of donations.
Free Sewing Projects from Baby Lock
When you visit the Baby Lock website, you'll find hundreds of inspirational FREE sewing projects to keep you busy in the weeks ahead! From small stash-busting projects to ambitious quilts (and everything in between), there's something for sewists of all skill levels. Shown above is the April Showers and May Flowers Quilt designed by Patty Marty!
Click here to view free projects from Baby Lock.
Sewing With Kids: A Free Guide from We All Sew
With school closures happening throughout the US, you might be struggling with your new role as home educator. Why not teach your kids to sew during this time? Sewing is a helpful life skill to pass on to the next generation. Our friends at We All Sew have created a comprehensive guide to teaching kids how to sew (including project suggestions), found here.
Beginner Sewing Resources
While it’s hard to beat the hands-on experience that an in-person class provides, YouTube has plenty of great tutorial videos to guide you through most common scenarios you’ll encounter while sewing at home. This video from Good Housekeeping covers the basics in under 30 minutes - perfect for anyone who’s ready to jump in with both feet! Build your skills with the expert tips featured in this video from the National Sewing Circle. And if you run into any issues with your machine, this video walks you through the most common problems and shows you how to fix them.
We also shared a free guide for beginning quilters on our previous blog post - click here if you missed it.
Stay healthy and SEW-ON!
Jane, Tammy and the Thimbles Staff
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