WHY I am making masks.....PAY IT FORWARD.....

[ProudMNDemocrat]

Ever since the Rachel Maddow segment on cloth masks, I have been busy pumping them out as I go through my vast stash of scraps, yards of fabrics, elastic, etc. To the point of long hours at the sewing machine.

I am doing this not for accolades. Nor am I asking for payment. The lives, well being, and safety of those I have been doing this for is payment enough. I am suggesting we look into donating blood. Also, donating cash, time, or food items to your local Food Bank because there will be many struggling families needing food during this crisis. Local businesses you love, need us as well.

Be safe my DU friends. Cherish your health, treat it like the precious jewel it is.

PAY IT FORWARD during this time of unknown crisis.

[getagrip_already]

1. My wife and friends are doing the same thing....

They switched over from making cloth tampons for girls in developing countries to masks since they can't ship them right now.

She is almost at 200 masks just from her.

Congrats!

[ProudMNDemocrat]

2. Bless them for their efforts....

[Trailrider1951]

3. Yes, I'm making them too

This next batch will be given out to my neighbors, free of charge. I live in a 55+ community of people, most of whom are retired and on a fixed income. I have a great sewing machine (Singer 301A), plenty of fabric and thread, but I've run out of elastic. I've been using shoe laces (45" to 47" in length) for the ties. Did I mention they are FREE? Socialism!!! Oh the humanity!

[ProudMNDemocrat]

4. Look into Bungee cord.

Rumor has it, they are loaded wirh elastic. No wonder they stretch.

We have some when my elastic runs out.

[TomSlick]

14. Bungee cord. Absolutely brilliant! Why didn't I think of that?

My elderly mother is ginning out masks and is out of elastic. Thank you for the suggestion!

Now, if I can just get into Walmart.

[zeusdogmom]

6. If you are running out of elastic make masks with fabric ties

2 inch wide strip of fabric of desired length - 16-18 inches good - fold fabric in half, press with iron, open the fabric and fold each side toward the middle and press with iron. Think quilt binding or bias tape. Sew along the open edge. Attach to your mask. Go check out some youtube videos if you need visual instruction.

The group I make masks for actually likes the ties better - easier on the ears as the ties go around the head and tie in back. Better fitting, too.

[silverweb]

5. Same here.

I've been making free masks for tenants, friends, and family, and delivering them in a sealed baggie. One leads to three, leads to six, and now I've got orders by word of mouth only that I'm struggling to keep up with.

Because I've had a sore throat lately, I'm telling people to dump the whole baggie in their next load of laundry. If I wash it without knowing what kind of germs I might have, it won't count.

Stay safe and be well, my friends.

[saidsimplesimon]

7. Thank you, MNDemocrat

[saidsimplesimon]

8. Thank you, MNDemocrat

[Generic Other]

9. Making masks here too

It's so little and feels like so much to those I have gifted. I have discovered many can't even thread a needle.

Makes me feel like I am doing something besides feeling helpless.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

10. Blessing upon ALL of you contributing to the mask making effort.

It feels so good to be able to do something to help the health care workers, who would do ANYTHING for us.

Bless all of you.

[Hekate]

11. Bless you all. I phoned a friend who's in a Quilter's Guild & sure enough she'd started making masks

I asked if I could buy some for DH and myself and she said she'd think of a suitable charity I could send a donation to.

Now I don't know when they'll come or how much finish work I may have to do (she's about out of elastic), but I will be so grateful.

May Athena bless all seamstresses.

[Mr.Bill]

12. My wife and a network of ladies from her quilting club

have made hundreds of masks for our hospital, where my wife and I are both volunteers. They have no Corona Virus patients yet there, but they are giving the masks to hospital employees to use outside of work. They also give them to patients who are being discharged. I've been delivering the masks to the hospital and clinics and chasing down both purchased and donated materials.

[Hekate]

13. Kicking

Just because

[Demovictory9]

15. you are lucky to have all that elastic. I'm going go thru my sewing stuff for enough for 1 mask

funny thing... I went to a fabric store just as the SHTF! now they are all closed.

[sarge43]

18. Check the internet for any in your area offering pick up service

Here in New England we have Michael's. Order stuff online, then pick up at a store specified.

[AnnieBW]

16. Going through my fabric stash

I'm going through my fabric stash and pulling the fabric out that might make good masks. Our local county councilperson has an effort going on to sew masks. I know that I should be doing it myself, but I just don't have the room to set up my sewing machine. So, I'm donating the supplies to the sewing drive.

[sarge43]

17. We making some, too.

Doing something, anything, keeps the hopelessness at bay.