No-Sew T-Shirt Mask DIY – The video that launched my channel
It started out with sewing masks to donate to healthcare workers. I’ve made about 100. Some went to a hospital, some to a nursing care facility, the next batch will go to a homeless shelter. But as the news spread at the end of March that everyone would be expected to wear masks in public, there was a lot of talk -and some panic- on our local Mamas Facebook group re: where to get a mask, what if one can’t afford to buy masks, what if one doesn’t sew, etc. So in an effort to help, I went to search YouTube for a suitable no-sew mask that you could make with materials you already had in your house. I didn’t find anything (at that time). So… I decided to make my own.
I didn’t know how to edit video, so it’s all in one take on my older iPhone, taped to a box sitting on the table next to where I was working. It’s got kids asking for snacks and everything. I figured out how to post it to YouTube, make it public, and get a link to it so I could share with the Facebook group. I figured it would be seen by a few people, hopefully help a few local families, just doing my part. Had I known…
At the time I’m writing this, it’s been viewed over 1.4 million times. More than 6,000 people have subscribed to my previously non-existent channel. I’m not at all sure what they’re hoping to see more of from me, but hopefully we can work that out. And I’ve got advertisers bidding on ad placements, companies contacting me with affiliate marketing opportunities, and one company even sending my kids free sunglasses! What?!
So I don’t know where all of this is going, but I definitely know that it started right here with this video.
I am so excited that Lindsay, better known as the Artsy Fartsy Mama, allowed me to try out her pattern for these adorable doll leggings. Thank you, Lindsay!
The girls were playing Barbie/Disney Princess dolls recently. The dolls were having a big party in the Dream House to say goodbye before they had to “stay home forever because of Coronavirus.”
Whoa… some big stuff to unpack there.
I’ve been making masks to donate and of course the whole YouTube mask thing, so the girls asked me if I could make masks for their dolls, too. Sure. If some quick and easy masks are going to help them work through their emotions, then count me in!
Read along with my daughter as she reads one of her favorite picture books.
What an enjoyable book that examines the same situation from two very different perspectives! Sk8rGrl did a great job reading! #ProudMama š
This video is posted on my channel too @ QueenMomMe . We didn’t know it at the time, but it’s the first in a series the girls and I are calling Stay Home and Play With Me. More on that later…
I want to start out with huge thanks to everyone who offered assistance in our search for teeny tiny toddler figure skates.
Three moms from SkaterGirlās club offered their daughtersā first skates for TinyTot. All are too big, but weāll hold on to one pair as a long-term loan. Sheāll grow. And then the Facebook community responded immediately with help and heartfelt well-wishes from all sorts of sources -some expected, some surprising. Thatās how we ended up finding TinyTotās skates.
eBay
One helpful response included a link to a pair on eBay. I lost that pair in a last-second outbid situation. I was bummed,Ā but sometimes these things really work out for the best. I kept searching eBay and found a brand new pair of pink Jackson Softec skates – for less than half the price of retail and free shipping! Still more than I intended to spend going into this adventure, but every time I got my hopes up, and every day we got closer to the first lesson, the price expectation rose just a little. Funny how that happens. Ha.
I wasnāt sure whether soft skates would be ok or if she needed leather boots. So I texted SkaterGirlās coach (who was very kind to respond while on well-deserved vacation). She said theyād be great starter skates. Sold!
Look how happy she is with her new skates! Aww… worth it.
The tiny skate socks arrived in the mail, too. I found all the winter gear, washed it, and labeled it with her name. Now all TinyTot needs are soakers and hard guards…
I measured TinyTot’s feet according to charts and instructions on theĀ Riedell and Jackson websites, but I figured I should take my own advice and get a good professional fitting.
Not only is it good to get a professional opinion, but it’s really fun for the little skater.
When we got to the skate & ski shop, I filled out a brief survey about her skating level and intended use of the skates. They carefully measured her feet and got out little skating socks for her -“just like (SkaterGirl)’s,” TinyTot giggled. (Shopping note to self: get a little pair of skating socks)
TinyTot is more comfortable sitting on my lap at the beginning of the fitting.
I mean. Seriously! How cute are those itty bitty skates?! And they fit perfectly! Jackson skates, at least for girls, run smaller. A 7 in Riedell is an 8 in Jackson (approximately). So I asked the big question: What do these cost?Ā Jackson Mystique, Toddler Size 8 = $119. So… yeah… more than I had planned to spend for first-lesson-on-the-ice skates.
I haven’t given up on finding used skates (yet!) so, for now, the search continues…
I have finally been convinced (read: worn down by pleading) that SkaterGirl’s little sister TinyTot, age almost-3, is ready to take her first skating lessons! #HerTurn
TinyTot peeks at the big kids on the big ice
I successfully signed TinyTot up for a beginnerĀ ISI Tots class that starts in June. I figured summer would be less stressful from a family scheduling point of view. We’ve got the snow pants, mittens, helmet all ready to go! Queen Mommy is so far ahead of the game this time around! (see first child MomFail)
Oh no no no. Not nearly that easy. The rink doesn’t rent skates small enough for TinyTot! She needs an itty bitty size 7. I have driven to and called sports resellers all over town. I’ve posted “ISO teeny tiny skates” on the Facebook sites. Nothing. Hmm… Could it be that TinyTot gets brand new skates before SkaterGirl?
*sigh* I hope she doesn’t change her mind about wanting to skate.
You’re now committed both to owning skates and your Kiddo’s increasing interest in the sport. I’m going to share what I’ve learned so far about how to protect your investment…
What youāll need: Hard guards and a towel/washcloth
What Kiddo will want: Hard guards, soakers/soft guards, towel/washcloth, cloth skate bags, some sort of larger bag to keep everything in, extra laces (just in case), magic eraser pads, maybe āstinkeezāā¦
Hard guards (must have):
In order to protect those shiny newly-sharpened blades, you need hard rubber skate guards. SkaterGirl puts them on when she puts on her skates, takes them off at the door to the ice, puts them back on the minute she steps off the ice, and then puts them away when she takes off her skates. Please donāt let kiddos walk around more than necessary on naked blades.
The guards retail for $5-15. The hockey/winter sports store can cut them to fit the skates.
The hard guards that SkaterGirl and all of her young SkaterFriends consider a must-have are called Rockerz. They retail for $30-50. Because of course they do.To be fair, the Rockerz are evidently much easier to walk in, and they stay on the skate better. But like everything else, the priceā¦ *sigh*
They need to be cut and fitted to the specific skates on which they will be used. We bought SkaterGirlās first set from a vendor who fitted them to her skates at a competition last year. They come in seemingly every color, and can be mixed and matched. I have to admit that they do seem to be really good quality hard guards.
**SUPER IMPORTANT NOTE**
DO NOT leave the hard guards on the skates when you take the skates off! I had no idea this was a no-no prior to beginning my SkateMom education. But it makes sense. The hard guards trap in any remaining moisture that will rust the blades. Noooo! The pro (and I mean PRO) who sharpens SkaterGirlās skates even suggests taking the skates out of the bag to breathe without anything on them overnight. We donāt have a good space in our entryway where naked breathing skate blades can be safe, so we compromise by just unzipping and opening the skate bag for now.
Soakers:
These are soft blade āguardsā that do two things, as I understand it. 1. They soak up any remaining moisture from the blade and 2. Protect the blade when itās in the skate bag. They are not meant to be walked in.
Like everything else, thereās a wide variety of soakers. They retail from $8 or 9 to $25ish.
Basic soakers are also really easy to make with a little bit of elastic, cotton terry cloth, and either cotton or fleece material. (pattern coming soon to QueenMom.me)
Towel/washcloth (must have):
When SkaterGirl is done, she thoroughly dries her skates and blades with an old (clean) washcloth. Pretty important that they get put away dry to prevent mold and rust.
Towels/Cloth Skate Bags:
At some point kiddoās skates will cost as much as an iPad. You wouldnāt just throw your iPad in a skate bag and let it get banged around in transit without some sort of cover. Neither will you want to transport those skates without some sort of protection. For a while we carefully wrapped the skates in hand towels I found on clearance at Target. Then I realized I could pretty easily turn those clearance hand towels into bags that are more secure and easier to use! Watch for more on that little sewing project soon.
The Skating Bag:
We started out with a backpack. Which worked just fine.
But SkaterGirl and herĀ SkaterFriendsĀ are all about the Zuca bags. Again, if you can find one used, do it! The sturdy metal frame and bag insert are sold separately. So even if you find a used frame, then you only have toĀ buy the insert. Santa brought SkaterGirl a Zuca two Christmases ago. Still a big hit! The best part about it is that I have somewhere to sit while tying her skates. And it rolls (on light-up wheels!) so she can get it out to the car herself. The light-up wheels are fun, but they also serve a purpose. All winter itās dark by the time we leave the rink. Those wheels really show up in a busy parking lot!
The older girls mostly use duffle bags, not Zucas. Iām sure, when itās time, Kiddo will let you know what she/he wants.
Making Skates White Again:
Get a Magic Eraser. I am not paid in any way to say that -though if P&G wants to pay me for that opinion, IĀ wonāt say no š
Iāve heard that sneaker whitener also works, but I havenāt had to use it yet on SkaterGirlās skates.
Stinkeez:
Skaters work hard and get sweaty just like any other athlete. Sometimes skates and skating bags smell less than daisy fresh, if you get my meaning. Throw what you can in the washing machine as often as you can, keep the sweaty socks in breathable pockets on the outside of the bag, and leave the bag open overnight. If/when that doesnāt solve Kiddoās problem, kick it up to the next level.
You need small packets filled with silica gel, like the little packets you find in the pockets of new clothing or in shoeboxes. Silica gel absorbs moisture and odor, like baking soda or rice. Stinkeez are often sold at competitions. They are usually in cute shapes of lizards, snakes, or other animals. They are also relatively easy to make. Iāll post some ideas and patterns soon. They make great gifts for athletes of all kinds.
What are your can’t-live-without skate care must-haves?
Please use the comments section to add to the list!
After SkaterGirl had taken several lessons in rental skates, and I felt sure she was going to stick with it, we bought her her very own skates! I had heard good things about the Play It Again Sports in Minnetonka, MN. I think the best thing we got there on that first visit was a professional fitting. Here in Minnesota, resellers like Play It Again deal in a lot of skis and skates. If you live somewhere less frozen, you may have to search a little harder. Ask at your skate school where to go for a good fitting. It doesnāt mean you have to buy them there if theyāre too expensive, but at least you can get a really good measurement. And youāll be acquainted with the pro shop when the time comes eventually for more advanced skates and blades (sold separately! Iām not even kidding!)
Things I learned about fittings:
Wear (or bring) the socks Kiddoās going to skate in
Take notes
Donāt feel obligated to buy anything right away. You can always āthink about it.ā Unless you find good used skates for a good price, then snap them up immediately!
Especially for the beginner skates, shopping around and on the internet can really pay off
At this point, Kiddo does not need the fancy skates sold separately from the blades, unless you have a private coach and theyāre telling you differently.
When buying used skates, expect a few scratches and scuffs on the boots. If you look closely at the accomplished skatersā boots at the rink, theyāre a mess! Itās about the quality of the boot and blade. And magic erasers and sneaker whitener are inexpensive.
QueenMommy tip: look for a quality used skate with a properly fitted and properly sharpened blade. We stumbled upon a leather pair of Riedells for $20! They were dirty on the outside, like maybe they had been thrown in the bottom of the hall closet and forgotten, but the inside was good and the blades still had life. And most importantly, they fit SkaterGirl. So we bought them, and I took a magic eraser to the boots when we got home. Add a little elbow grease and they looked good as new! Now I always carry a magic eraser in the competition bag.
Why not adjustable skates?
There are these things called adjustable skates. They are inexpensive (for new skates) and theyāre kind of cute and seem like a great bargain, as the boot can be adjusted to fit 4 shoe sizes. What a deal! Exceptā¦
Think about it with me: only the boot adjusts; the blade does not lengthen or shorten. So when the boot is at its smallest, the blade sticks out way beyond the boot, making it very difficult to do what is asked during a skating lesson. Likewise, when the boot is fully extended, the blade is too short. Iām not a skater, but it seems like that would add a lot of frustration to an already difficult sport.
Better Options
Here are three (of many) beginner options under $75 from quality brands, Riedell and Jackson. I have heard from skate school pros that something like these would be a fine choice:
Riedell Model 18 Sparkle Jr. Skate Set
Jackson Ultima Girls’ SoftSkate 181
Riedell 10 Opal Figure Skate
Iāve been happy that weāve had good luck finding white skates for SkaterGirl. You may not think youāve got competitions and ice shows and teams and whatever else in your future, butā¦ it happens before you know it. And youāll probably want and/or need white figure skates for girls and black figure skates for boys.
Iād love to hear your first skates stories and questions in the comments!
January 2015: Four-year-old SkaterGirl is all bundled up. Hopes and knee socks high!
The class gathers off the ice in the Skate School coachesā room. They exchange names, go over safety, check to see that the skates are all tied properly, that everyone is wearing helmets and mittens, and thenā¦ to the ice!
SkaterGirl spent the first 4 weeks just struggling to learn how to stand up after falling. Iām not exaggerating. If her determination doesnāt get her somewhere someday, I donāt know what will.
Not being a skater myself, I feel that itās a wonder anyone ever makes it beyond that first class.
But very quickly it went from that to this:
(Note her choice of lighter coat and heavier mittens)
And thatās really all that was expected to graduate to the next level: Consistently standing up on her own after a fall and moving in a forward-ish direction. Mission accomplished!
Would love to see your beginner class photos! Please post pics and stories in the comments.
Look how happy she is with her new skates! Aww… worth it.
To be fair, the Rockerz are evidently much easier to walk in, and they stay on the skate better. But like everything else, the priceā¦ *sigh*
