A Call to Sewers and Crafters - What Can We Do To Help? - Make Face Masks

A Call to Sewers and Crafters

What Can We Do To Help During this Pandemic?

Make Medical Face Masks for Our Local Hospitals and First Responders

For a few weeks as I prepared for the possibility of self-quarantine, now a reality, I wandered what I could do to help.  Two days ago my mother call me to ask what she could use in place of a medical face mask.  I sent her instructions with materials that included cotton handkerchiefs, cotton t-shirt and bandanas.  At the same time I'm watching videos of medical personnel and their support staffs asking for help with personal safety gear.  It took me longer than I'd like to admit but I figured it out ... make medical face masks to donate.  I'm set for myself, so this weekend I'm going to my stash to find tightly woven cotton and some nice cotton prints.  Then, I'm getting to work.

The one hiccup?  I don't have my sewing machine so the ones I make will truly be hand made.  I hope I can still make to small even backstitches my grandmother tried so hard to teach me how to do.  

Commercial Medical Isolation Mask

I'm reaching out to the blog community to ask anyone who can to make some masks for your local hospital.  Even if you only make two or three and pass the word along, it will be a help.  Call your local hospital to find out if they're set up to receive them and how they would like to receive them.  Or, if they're not ready yet, give them to a doctor, nurse, health worker, or first responder that you know.   They won't go to waste.  We Can Help!  

Here is the  link to Deaconess Hospital with instructions on How to Make a Face Mask.  There's a .pdf to download and a video to watch.  The instructions were created by the Turban Project.  They are a great organization and have other patterns for use by patients as well as these masks.  Make a few for you and your family as well. They even have a pattern for children -- scroll down.  

How to Sew a Medical Face Mask Video

The Turban Project Video

There are many other links and tutorials, though I would use the one listed by the hospital for medical donations.  (They will sterilize them before use.)  Whatever instructions you use, make sure the masks you are making are rated for disease control.  I wasn't sure of some of the other links, so I didn't list them.  If anyone else knows of some proper links to websites and/or videos, please post in comments and I'll add them to this post.

I wish you all well.  Take care of yourselves and your loved ones.

Happy Sewing!


PS - This could also be a great project for families with younger crafters.  Helping can be empowering ... and relieve boredom.

PLEASE PASS THIS MESSAGE ALONG .... THANK YOU!

Seeking Liberal Minded Bloggers and Vloggers for Short Video Debates - Healthcare, a right? a privilege? -- Capitalism of Socialism

Engage in the Liberal vs. Conservative Debate

Are you interested in current issues? Do your views tend to be Liberal, Democratic, or Socialist Democrat Leaning?  Your blog may focus on life, art, health, history, crafts, politics, sewing, cooking ... you get the picture. The important thing is that you are aware of current events in the US, you are interested and engaged, and you have an opinion.

Do you have at least 1K YouTube followers? 2K Twitter or Instagram followers?  Do you have something to say?

Liberty Nation is producing a web series on YouTube, Soapbox Sanctuary and is looking for bloggers, vloggers, and influencers to video their opinion on a chosen topic. Liberty Nation is a conservative, patriotic group, whose goal with this series is to allow a true expression of both sides of the issues currently effecting all Americans. The purpose of the show is to bridge the divide and promote cross-communication while gaining broader exposure for Liberty Nation and each segment's guest. The format of the show allows equal and uninterrupted time for opposing views; no name calling or bullying from either side. Each party will offer an opening argument; once these have been videoed and reviewed by the opposing participant, each party will shoot their rebuttal. Please see the following links for better insight into the series  and Liberty Nation .  Each guest will self tape 2.5 minutes on the segment's topic. Then they will view the opposing side's video and shoot a 2.5 minutes rebuttal. These arguments and rebuttals will not be edited. The videos will be edited together and aired on Liberty Nation's YouTube Channel. You will receive a copy of the segment to post on your YouTube Channel and/or Blog as well.

The current topics are:
Healthcare - a Right? A privilege?
Capitalism or Socialism

Also, if this isn't for you but you know someone or follow someone you believe would be good for this, please let me know or pass this post on to them.

The Challenge: Liberty Nation is a right wing conservative group, which is why I am trying to help find intelligent liberal minded people to present the opposing side of the arguments in clear insightful ways. These segments are completely balanced, with equal time for each argument and rebuttal. 

If you are interested, please post a comment here and I'll pass your information on or email hurleycasting@gmail.com. Please include a link to your blog, vlog, and/or YouTube channel.

They will be seeking guests for multiple segments on new topics over the next few months.

Future topics may include:
Immigration
The Wall
Taxes
Climate Change
Gerrymandering
Minimal Requirements for Judicial Appointments
The Bidens
Late Term Abortions

Inspirational Quote

A Setback Can Be the Best Prologue for a Great Comeback.

This is my version of:  A setback is a setup for a comeback.

If nothing else, it gives you a chance to take a breath, reassess, and make a new plan. 

One of my inspirations:  Dara Torres, the comeback kid woman.

Hat Making How-To's - Millinery Lessons from the Edwardian Era 1900's

1912 Illustration

I am quite intimidated by the prospect of hat making but I still have dreams of making a complete Edwardian ensemble from head to toe, inside to out ... except the shoes.  For those with more courage than I have, please check out these Lessons in Millinery from 1902.  Though they presume the reader is experienced, they are great illustrations of style and materials.

 

 

To read the fine print in the lessons, open photos in a new window and click on each to enlarge.

I found these great images at the NYPL Digital Library, an amazing resource.  Like many public libraries, the New York Public Library has suffered severe funding cuts; please consider making a donation if you use their resources.

Happy Sewing and Hat Making!

Vintage Sewing Tips and a few Great Giveaways ... and a $1.99 OOP Sale

I came across a great little booklet distributed by the Department of Agriculture in 1948, Making a Dress At Home by Margaret Smith.  I want to share the last page with you because it is a nice and simple reminder about paying attention to details.

I found this book at UNT Digital Library, yet another great online resource.

I also found a few great giveaways on some of my favorite blogs:

 2 Pattern Give Away at A Few Threads Loose.

70's Sewing Book Giveaway at Sunny Gal Studio.

My DIY Stella McCartney inspired ring - and a $60 giveaway at Bromeliad.

Fabric Giveaway at Kestrel Finds and Makes.


... And, don't miss the $1.99  sale on OOP Butterick, Kwik Sew, McCall's and Vogue Patterns, which ends tomorrow.

Happy Sewing!