Hokuto Sumeragi - Mad Hatter #52

"ninja" face mask.

As I had to take out the cherry red grosgrain to cut the missing hat brim pieces, I also cut a mask. About one year ago, the stress caused by the first lockdown had a strange effect on me. I was happy to have to be at home, I like to be at home, but lost my sewing mojo. Even so, I decided to make a few face masks, as they were starting to be required in shops, and other public spaces. I didn't want the extra expense of disposable masks, and the idea of having a disposable daily wear item was itching me the wrong way. I'm not an environmental evangelist, but I try to make my small share, by recycling, not using plastic shopping bags, buy locally, small things like that. So I searched online for a mask pattern, I found this one. My printer was out of ink, so I just adapted the shape to my own face measurements, and have been making masks for myself using this pattern. I made 10 since, mostly because I knew that by the end of summer, I most likely would have a job outside of my home, and would be required to wear a mask all the time. So I aimed to make at least 8, to be able to wear 2 a day for about one week, if needed, and not have to worry about washing and drying them.

CLAMP egg embroidery.

So, as we most likely will be wearing masks for at least one more year or so, I decided to make a mask matching this costume. I test breathed through the grosgrain and it felt comfortable enough. The lining, for once, won't be white cotton, but the burgundy cotton I've been using for mock ups and unseen pieces in this costume. But, it's for cosplay, I didn't want just a practical looking mask, and I thought about it a lot, what would work with this costume. So, I suddenlly remembered that the CLAMP egg symbol is simple enough, and looks believable in Hokuto's and CLAMP's universe. I looked for a picture of the logo online, traced it from my tablet to a piece of paper, then I saturated the 4everse side of the paper with graphite, pinned the paper to the mask, and traced it again, pressing hard with the pencil. This leaves a faint trace of the design, which I traced once more with the pencil to make it more visible. Another trick is to p8n the paper to the fabric, and embroider on top. Just rip the paper off, when it's done.

The finished embroidery.

I first thought of embroidering it in gold thread, but a face mask gets a lot of wear and tear, it gets washed a lot, and gold thread embroidery is too fragile, so, I went to my stash, and chose a cotton golden yellow. I'm using my small embroidery hoop for the first time, and will be just embroidering with a simple stem stitch. The mask will have ties instead of elastics, for a cute effect, using burgundy grosgrain ribbon or white organza ribbon, which of both is more comfortable.

+ I will be prepared if I need to wear a mask at a cosplay event.

- Face masks aren't a happy object, but I try to make the best of it by making cute and fun masks.

THE CUNNING PLAN 

Just finish it and test which ribbons work best.