Quilters Protecting Their Communities

Quilters are known for their giving hearts and stepping up in any way they can. Recently, quilters from all over the world have come together to protect their communities. In the mist of social distancing, they have been diligently sewing face masks to help defend people who are exposed to Covid-19.  

Some people are making masks for hospital staff and first responders. They are also making them for essential employees and their coworkers. Others are creating masks to keep their family and friends safe. No matter the reason that they have, they are putting their time, money, and materials aside to protect the people they care for.

We are learning more about this developing disease and how to combat it. Aside from hand washing and disinfecting, CDC recommends homemade face masks to slow the spread of the virus and help people, who may have the virus and do not know it, from transmitting it to others.

Cloth face coverings are a good option for those who are in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. With the limited amount of medical grade masks, which should be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders, these homemade masks are great secondary option. They may not stop you from getting the coronavirus, but they will help slow the speed in which it spreads.

If you are like the many who would like to sew masks; there are several different mask patterns/instructions available for free on the internet. Most are simple, fast, and easy to understand:

https://www.missouriquiltco.com/msqc/tutorial/DIY-face-mask

https://sarahmaker.com/how-to-sew-a-surgical-face-mask-for-hospitals-free-pattern/

https://thecraftyquilter.com/2020/04/face-mask-pattern-updates-and-a-finished-quilt-top/

Even the CDC have some tutorials on to make cloth face coverings.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html

If you are looking for a place to donate masks https://www.masksforheroes.com/ and https://www.instagram.com/millionmaskchallenge/ are constantly updating the hospitals that are currently requesting masks.

Here at Quilters Dream Batting, we are so inspired by the number of quilters who are trying to make a difference. Whether you are making one mask or one thousand, we applaud you for helping stop the spread of this virus.

Please stay home if possible, be safe, and keeping sewing!  

The Dream Team (Jane, Neva, Erin S, Erin D, Jennifer, and Gina)