All Upcoming Guild Activities are Cancelled
Just Take It
One Stitch at a time
Due to the current situation with Covid-19, and the advice from the government and health departments, our guild meetings and Mannheim sewing days are cancelled until further notice. We ask that you stay at home, stay healthy and keep busy with your quilt projects. We will keep you updated as to when our meetings will resume.
Posted March 26, 2020
Sewing a Face Mask – Community Outreach Program
Our guild has been approached by two agencies in our region - Community Living – Cambridge and K-W Habilitation - to sew face masks. These organizations have shared their urgent need for face masks. They are looking for more than 4,000 masks. This is a great stash buster for any interested quilters. Detailed information about this community outreach program (including specific patterns, fabric requirements and instructions for each agency) was sent to all guild members in an email on March 26th.
These agencies are requesting masks using the following recommendations:
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Use 100% quilting cotton, batik is excellent because it has a stronger weave and is more breathable. Flannel is an option to be used on the back; it is softer as it touches the face, however it can become warmer when worn for a long time and pills more easily.
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The elastic style, as the pattern shows, is easiest to put on and remove, but if elastic is unavailable, use four 16-inch pieces of bias tape or fabric ties instead. The masks can then be tied at the back of the head.
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The basic pattern for each agency was included as an attachment to the March 26th email.
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Contact phone numbers or email addresses for drop off (or pick up) for any completed masks were also provided in the email to members.
Quick Links
While these organizations realize that home made face masks can not replace or be substitutes for the N95 masks, they are hoping to be able to use these to provide some basic support for their staff and residents. Both agencies expressed their heartfelt appreciation to our guild members for any masks they might be able to make.
As this information is being written, we have received requests from three additional organizations / agencies requesting home made masks. As this information is finalized, we will communicate this with our guild members, in terms of who to contact at these organizations if you wish to donate completed masks to them.
Tips for Making Face Masks
As soon as we shared the need and patterns for face masks, tips for making them arrived. You will find them here:
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When the tucks are finished, aim for a 2 1/8" inch finished width. It will fit best on the face. (Carol McLaren)
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Sewing/Tacking on the Elastic First and then affixing your top layer, eliminates pins etc. (Jane Stolz)
