Daily life as we know it has drastically changed. Terms like ‘social distancing’ and ‘flattening the curve’, unknown just a few months ago, are now part of our everyday reality. In the face of catastrophe, it can feel scary, overwhelming, and most of all, frustrating. We are crafters. We are makers. We are doers. And right now, there doesn’t seem to be a lot we can do to help our families and communities. But with new recommendations from the CDC, that say we should all be wearing masks when leaving the house, and with hospitals across the country putting out the call for handmade cloth masks, we makers have been given a mission:
OUR MISSION - Protect each other, and protect those on the front lines, by making masks & caps.
The Details:
You may craft masks for yourself, your family, your neighbors, or hospitals & healthcare workers. It does not matter who they are going to; they all count.
Some hospitals & health care workers are requesting scrub caps or similar hair coverings. These are quite welcome in this challenge.
You may enter this challenge as many times as you wish, in batches of 1-3 masks. If you wish to make just 1 mask, that will count as one entry. If you make a set for you you & your spouse, that counts as 1 entry. If you make a set for your kids, you may count that as one entry. If you make dozens for your local hospital, you can submit them in batches of 3 per entry.
You must post all your entries here in this thread. THIS ROUND will count anything made starting May 1, 2020.
When posting an entry, please use the header below, so I can make sure to count all your submissions.
Your entry may not be submitted for any other contest in this community.
All entries must be posted by midnight on May 31st.
Each submission will get you 1 entry into the prize drawing.
At the close of the Challenge, I will use a random number generator to draw two winners from all submissions.
The winner will be announced on May 1. I will contact you via Private Message, after the announcement.
If cheating of any sort is discovered, the applicable entry and votes will be disqualified.
The winner of the Lettuce Help Our Communities Challenge - Round 2, will receive a $25 gift card to Joann Fabrics, to replenish their fabric stash after the pandemic has ended!
Answers to some FAQ: You said I can submit in batches of 1-3. Does that mean if I make 50 masks, I can submit each one individually and get 50 submissions in the contest?
No. I’m asking everyone here to be thoughtful in what they submit. Think of this in terms of grouping your masks. A set for you & your spouse can be a group. A set for your kids can be a second submission. If you make a few for your next door neighbors, that can be a submission. If you make 50 masks for your local hospital, please submit them in batches of 3. So you could do 16 submissions of 3 masks, and 1 submission of 2 masks, giving you a total of 17 submissions.
My hospital/health care worker friend is in need of scrub caps. Can those count?
Absolutely.
Can I use stash fabric?
Yes. You can use stash fabric, elastic, and bias tape. Please check with YOUR hospital that you are donating to, for their specific guidelines on what they are accepting
Do I have to use a specific pattern?
No. You can use any pattern you wish for masks for friends and family. If donating to a hospital, please follow their specific recommendations & guidelines though. They have them in place for a reason, and need to be able to easily clean and sterilize masks & caps.
I have an awesome pattern to share. How do I do that?
Awesome. Just post the link here, and I’ll add it into the list above.
I want to help, but don’t know where to look. Do you have any patterns for me?
I have linked 3 patterns above in the first post, and will continue to add to it.
I’d like to offer a pattern and tutorial I’ve been working on for a simplified fitted mask with internal filter layers. It’ cut from only 2 pieces of fabric, has one single line of stitching including the nose wire, takes about 20 mins to complete and is very easy to assemble.
Title: Nursing home masks - current batch of 40 For: Local nursing home Pattern: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgHrnS6n4iA&feature=youtu.be by Joann Fabrics
(Previously posted way too late for the last challenge)
I am using up lots of old, bottom of the bin, fabric. Last week’s batch of 29 went to a local hospital/health care group. I had made a batch of darker colors and when we switched to a nursing home where one of my friends is currently living, I wanted brighter colors to mix in. So I raided my “I might use it someday” bin.
There are approx 40 masks here. There may be more by Sunday when the masks are picked up. It’s become a bit of an obsession with me…I think it’s my way of coping with shut-in stress. I am working full time or I would be a very crazy sewing lady.
I need to make blackout curtains for our bedroom, the pinned up fabric “temporary” fix is driving me crazy.
2 Likes
AIMR
(Linda -2024 Choose Projects that You Want to Do :us:)
6
I made a bunch of masks in April . I am not entering them in the contest…just wanted to post them somewhere…
My friend Fran, who donated tons of fabric to me when she moved out her house…
By my count, that is 83 made for family and friends…I donated another 50 to our local kidney dialysis center…I have one last batch and then, I am done…I am tired…I am uninspired…I just need a little break…
3 Likes
AIMR
(Linda -2024 Choose Projects that You Want to Do :us:)
7
My friend in Georgia was very upset that GA was re-opening. She asked if I could make her some better fitting masks than the thin ones she had purchased online. With a 2 year old and two teens living in the house, how could I refuse?
Update. We delivered over 50 donated masks to a local nursing home. The gratitude of the staff was overwhelming. They are in such a difficult position, they must care for their patients, but Covid 19 makes their lives so much more complex. The Pizza dinner we sent over earlier in the week was appreciated as well!
This week will be more masks for them, then back to the local hospital.
I’d like to offer another quick and easy pattern, as requested by a few people this one has a darted front that allows for different fabrics for front and back.
Title : Nursing home masks - current batch of 30 and about 18 ear savers For : Local nursing home Pattern : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgHrnS6n4iA&feature=youtu.be by Joann Fabrics
This weeks’ offerings look a lot like last week’s offerings, so same picture. I used the same fabrics because I had cut, cut, cut out a whole pile of masks. But I ran out of interfacing. And for the ear savers (sorry, no picture of the ear savers), I ran out of buttons. I used various little bits of leftover fabric for the ear savers.
Things are on order, or I may just add an additional layer of cotton for the next batch. We shall see. Or I may take a week off. We have 4 baby kittens to foster! and they need medication and potty training. But baby kittens. OOOO
2 masks each, one of each pattern linked, all 4 sizes. Ear savers, a mesh washing bag, extra ties (cut from nylon stocking, super stretchy and comforable!) and a threading bodkin I got a clever friend to make for easy tie replacement.
There are 4 sets like this one, 37 masks in total going out to friends this week. Now that I’m happy with the patterns I can get cracking on more.
2 Likes
AIMR
(Linda -2024 Choose Projects that You Want to Do :us:)
15
They are awesome…and to provide them with everything they need for safe mask wearing…
I just learned how to tie a fisherman’s knot that allows elastic or ties to be adjusted without having a bead or anything! it is awesome!
Title: Purple and bandana themed Masks for: Hubby’s co-workers
I made a couple masks for the employees my hubby supervisors and two of the office ladies asked him if I’d make them some. I sent photos of 12 fabrics and they picked the same purple. One lady wanted one for her hubby from a bandana so I just added it to the front of a plain mask, making three layers.
AIMR
(Linda -2024 Choose Projects that You Want to Do :us:)
17
Title: Family Comes First Masks for: Nephew and Wife Pattern used: pattern perfected by @magpie
My nephew and his wife are having a baby so they both needed masks to wear once they get out of the hospital. He has to stay with her the entire time as they don’t want him going out and coming back…he is happy with that arrangement, but their 2 year old will be with his aunt and grandma, so everyone is fine…
