Making medical masks- a good project to try

[jdquilts123]

There has been an outcry from the medical community that they are dangerously low on medical masks.  And, a few of our Featherweight Club members have ask those of us that are able to make a few.

We found this pattern written up by Mary Hogan so if you'd like to try it, here you go.  I haven't tried it yet but will make an effort to do so later today.  I'll let you know how it goes.

Here's the pattern:


www.marymhogan.com/userfiles/file/Fabric_Facemask.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0kZBSY5gUItduDhpaK4vGHVdu9Hyo5UUqoH6emRMBOv6MAiT_Ad8COadM


I understand the doctors would like something like a twisty tie sewn into the center top of the mask so they can pinch it around their nose.  Okay,  I need to see if I have any twisty ties!

[jdquilts123]

Here is another pattern that area hospitals are needing. These are N-95 mask covers so slightly different. The Quilt Patch sent out the following information today:

Call to Action for all quilters/sewers.

Volunteers Needed to Sew Fabric Face Masks
Due to the national shortage of face masks, ProMedica is welcoming fabric masks made by members of our community.
Orders for standard disposable masks are on long back orders, due to both demand and supply chain issues.
Other hospitals across the country are reporting the same supply concerns.

If you are willing to dig into that stash and spend some time sewing to help protect our health care providers on the front
lines please go to this ProMedica Volunteer site form.jotform.com/ 200786816627161 and sign up.
They will send you more information.
After you have signed up click the link below for the pattern, and directions. There are several versions, but this is the best one.

https:// promedicahealthconnect.org/ media/N-95-Face-Mask-Cover- Instructions-and-Photos- Adapted-by-Artfully-Quilted. pdf



There are two collection sites in Lenawee County

1. Quilting Cottage
161 S. Main St.
Brooklyn, Mi.
They will have a drop bin outside 24/7 weather permitting
Contact Michele at
[e-mail]
Store: 517-938-8191

2. Bixby Hospital
Grace Chrisman Entrance
818 Riverside
Adrian, Mi.

Mask collection will take place at this location, Monday and Thursdays from noon - 2 p.m. and 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Please do not get out of your car; you can pull up and drop off your masks to the staff.
If you are unable to leave your home to drop off masks at these locations, We will make arrangements to pick up.
You may contact Vicki at [e-mail],
Or Michele at [e-mail]

[jdquilts123]

Here is another email about the fabric medical masks sent to me by Pat P. Thanks, Pat. It originated at the Ann Arbor Sewing Center. The need is huge. Places that will accept masks will probably accept anything any of us make.

Dear Ann Arbor Sewing Center Friends and Customers,

Thank you to all the people that have made masks! Wow, what a wonderful group of people! You are really making a difference!!

I have had a lot of questions regarding the masks. I am hoping this email will provide some clarity.

The masks are still desperately needed. Some organizations will not accept homemade masks but others are in great need of them. St. Joseph Hospital does have a contract to have masks shipped to them but they still need our homemade masks. If we get to a point that they do not need the masks, We have several other health care facilities that are begging for them... for health care workers as well as high risk people. Please keep making them! The CDC basically says that homemade masks are better than nothing. They are also using our homemade masks to cover the N95 masks so they last longer.

The country is pretty much out of elastic. Many suppliers are not open. The good news is that the hospital is requesting masks with fabric ties. Some of the elastic has been melting in the sterilizing machine. (Don't worry if you used elastic, they are still being used). Please make ties 18-20" long, 2 on each side.

Many people have questions about flannel vs quilting cotton. Flannel can be hot and it is not as tightly woven as a lot of the quilting cotton. They are requesting quilting cotton. (again though, if you made yours with flannel, they are still being used). I have a feeling a lot of you have a few extra fat quarters sitting around. What a great cause!

I had several questions about washing the fabric. They do not need to be washed after making them. They will be sterilized at the hospitals.

Many people are asking for masks for other hospitals. Nancy M has been working with Henry Ford Hospital. They are going to be providing mask kits to sew. This is in progress but not ready to implement at this time.

For now, we can make the ones that we know will work at St. Joseph Hospital.

There is a blue drop off box at the back of the store to deposit the masks in. Please put them in a clean plastic ziplock bag.

St. Joseph Hospital in Ann Arbor still needs hundreds of masks as soon as possible. St. Joe's has provided a website from the Deaconess health system in Indiana that has a written pattern for the masks and a you-tube video showing how the mask is made.

Here is the link:
www.courierpress.com/story/news/2020/03/18/coronavirus-deaconess-ask-public-provide-medical-face-masks/2865273001/

(Please ignore the Update from Deaconess which states that their need for masks has been met. The Deaconess system may have sufficient homemade masks, but St. Joseph desperately needs our help).

Thanks you so much for helping with this project and making a huge local contribution to fighting Covid 19. Please stay safe and healthy.

[elvia]

For the Lenawee are ProMedica promedicahealthconnect.org/news-and-community/help-the-shortage-volunteers-needed-to-sew-fabric-face-masks/

I would think of the care agencies that are still providing services to homebound seniors. the staff do not have masks.
I did some samples and dropped them off at the ER Bixby to insure these were adequate.

Henry Ford hospital in Jackson if you are out there.

[Admin]

Thanks, elvia. It's good to get reports on how things are going in this effort.

Diane sent me an email sent out from the GAAQG president this week. I don't know if any of you in the Featherweight Club are members but the information would be good for any of us. So, here it is. I hope some of us can help these folks out.

I called my midwife DD and she said they are doing okay at this time but she'll let us know if and when they need the homemade fabric masks.

Okay, here's the email from the GAAQG president:

GAAQG President’s Message to Guild Members

At 9:15 am on Saturday, March 21, I was compelled to begin writing this message to you. In normal circumstances, we’d all be sitting in the auditorium together enjoying the GAAQG March Quilt Day meeting and speaker and celebrating National Quilt Day. Instead, I felt a surreal sense of emptiness.

I also experienced a deep sense of gratitude. This is a good time for self- reflection and take stock of our many blessings. As passionate quilters and fiber artists, we’ve been blessed with this gift of quiet time to pursue quilt-making, finish our UFOs and reach out to each other to share our love of quilting in social media or phone conversations. In short, we can still find ways to celebrate International Quilt Day!

In this time of self-isolation, it can feel good to pass the time by working toward a common goal that benefits our community.

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in
the service of others.” — Mahatma Gandhi

SafeHouse Quilts

While we’re safely at home quilting and reorganizing our fabric stash, others are not so fortunate. Deb Kern, the development director at SafeHouse Center, reached out to tell me that their inventory of quilts is down to 20 left. As you can imagine with this health crisis, SafeHouse phones are even busier. Isolating at home is not safe for women and children in domestic violence situations.

SafeHouse can really use more quilts in the coming months. I encourage you to use your compassion and this gift of time to work on SafeHouse charitable quilts.

Please note that the SafeHouse Center is limiting the number of visitors coming through the front door. Next week, I’ll reach out to Deb Kern to work out delivery arrangements. Your ideas on how we can safely collect our SafeHouse quilts without unnecessarily exposing our members to viruses would be most welcome! Please email me your ideas next week: [e-mail]

Fabric Masks

Several caring GAAQG members have asked me about making and donating fabric face masks to medical professionals and first responders.

Currently Michigan Medicine (U of M Health System) is not accepting hand-sewn fabric face masks. The Ann Arbor Police Department also does not accept them.

St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor Hospital needs hundreds of CDC-compliant masks as soon as possible. Both the Ann Arbor Sewing Center and The Quilting Season quilt shops are pitching in to support this effort.

A pdf pattern for the masks is available here: courierpressblogs.com/pdf/howtomakeafacemask.pdf

You Tube video showing how the mask is made: youtu.be/9tBg0Os5FWQ.

A mask pattern designed by GAAQG member Mary Hogan: www.marymhogan.com/userfiles/file/Fabric_Facemask.pdf

The Quilting Season will share information on how you can make and donate a mask in Mary Lindquist’s newsletter, which she’ll publish soon.

Ann Arbor Sewing Center is a drop-off site for the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital masks. There will be a drop off box at the back of the store by Monday to deposit masks in. Put them in a clean plastic Ziploc® bag.

Promedica Health System in the Toledo area accepts hand-sewn face masks. You must use their pattern and material:
promedicahealthconnect.org/news-and-community/help-the-shortage-volunteers-needed-to-sew-fabric-face-masks/.

May 16 Quilt Day

The health and safety of GAAQG members is top priority. Your board members are monitoring the latest, rapidly evolving COVID-19 news and will decide if we must cancel our May Quilt Day meeting. As of this writing, Washtenaw Community College plans to be open, subject to change. Please watch your email and check our guild website for more information.

Meanwhile, take good care of yourself, be well and Happy International Quilt Day!

Cheers,
Susan Weaver Schwandt
President

[jdquilts123]

I continue to get more information about homemade fabric masks. Some hospitals are only accepting certain types. Other hospitals are accepting about anything you can make for them. And, yes, there are still some hospitals that don't want to use the homemade masks. These are my suggestions:

1- look at the posts that preceed this one and pick the post that fits your area. You can call hospitals, too to see if they will accept masks.

2- The fabric masks are not as effective as the medical ones but I believe that using batik fabric would do a better job. It's woven so much tighter.

3- Elastic is hard to find so many masks can be made using bias ties. Check out the link to a u-tube video about using the bias tape attachment for the FWs. That link is in the FW attachments thread.  Here's a link to that post.     jdquilts123.proboards.com/thread/new/13