topic Re: If You Can 🧵🪡 in Home

If You Can 🧵🪡

lolakimono — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 14:31:47 GMT

From Joann's-

JOANN employees noticed sewing groups around the country were banding together to provide hand-sewn cotton masks for hospitals that were in short supply, so the fabric store stepped in to help. “As a company, we were inspired by our customers who are pitching in during this unprecedented crisis, and we wanted to do what we can to contribute,” their announcement states. The store has donated all the materials, so you won’t need to pay for anything.

Amanda Hayes, manager of corporate communications for JOANN, told us they wanted to make the process as easy as possible for anyone who wants to contribute. “During difficult times, people want to help in any way they can. Customers, and even hospitals and health care workers with no sewing experience, were coming to us for supplies to create face masks and gowns," she said. "We wanted to do everything possible to help these efforts, and we are so proud to help make a meaningful and life-saving difference in this uncertain time."

Here’s how it works: Employees at JOANN stores have been busy preparing kits of pre-cut mask patterns, elastic, and other materials. The stores are still open, but they're offering curbside pickup for the masks. Employees will be watching for customers to drive up, so all you have to do is drive up to the store and a worker will meet you outside and hand as many kits as you like through your window. They’ve coordinated with doctors and medical professionals to make sure the kits only include materials accepted by hospitals, so all you have to do is sew them together. No shopping, cutting, or prepping patterns required; you don't even have to wash the fabric before you begin, since the prep work has all been done for you. All 860 stores across the country are participating, and a JOANN representative told us you don’t need to reserve kits ahead of time.

Once you’ve picked up the materials, take them home and sew the patterns together: The JOANN site has a helpful how-to video to walk you through the process. When you’ve sewn all your masks, drive back to the store, drop them off (you don’t ever have to get out of your car!), and JOANN will donate the masks to a local hospital or clinic in need.

So why do hospitals need these masks? Due to the recent outbreak of the new coronavirus, hospitals, clinics, and medical offices have seen an increase in patients, and are going through masks more quickly. Medical-grade masks such as N95 masks are the ideal choice for workers caring for patients with the virus, but medical workers are using the masks more quickly than they can be manufactured. That’s where the homemade masks come in: While hand-sewn cotton masks won’t form fit to a doctor or nurse’s face, and can’t filter out bacteria like an N95 mask, the cotton barrier can help protect against airborne droplets (such as from a nearby sneeze). Essentially, a sewn cotton mask is better than no mask at all.

Drive up to your local JOANN store (you can find the nearest one with their store locator) and start sewing masks today. If you aren’t close to a location, you can still use the patterns and videos on their site to make your own masks at home using clean cotton fabric and reach out to a local organization to donate them. You can use this interactive list to find a location accepting masks in your area and learn what their needs are.

Re: If You Can 🧵🪡

Nightowlz — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 14:36:34 GMT

I did not read all your post but did see you can make these even if you don't sew? How do you do that? I can sew on a button but that's about it. I know pretty bad. LOL!!!

We don't have a JoAnn's.

Thanks for posting. I will check out patterns-videos etc to see what I can find out.

Re: If You Can 🧵🪡

lolakimono — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 14:37:40 GMT

@Nightowlz wrote:
I did not read all your post but did see you can make these even if you don't sew? How do you do that? I can sew on a button but that's about it. I know pretty bad. LOL!!!

@Nightowlz

It mentioned that even people who did not know how to sew were coming into the stores to purchase materials and help. My guess is that many people are using this time to learn something new, like grandkids/grandparents, moms/daughters, siblings where during confinement they are teaching someone in the family or dusting off that machine they inherited.

Re: If You Can 🧵🪡

Nightowlz — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 14:44:52 GMT

@lolakimono wrote:
@Nightowlz wrote:
I did not read all your post but did see you can make these even if you don't sew? How do you do that? I can sew on a button but that's about it. I know pretty bad. LOL!!!
@Nightowlz
It mentioned that even people who did not know how to sew were coming into the stores to purchase materials and help. My guess is that many people are using this time to learn something new, like grandkids/grandparents, moms/daughters, siblings where during confinement they are teaching someone in the family or dusting off that machine they inherited.

@lolakimono

It sounds like you don't have to sew just put the pieces together. I have no desire to learn to sew at this point in my life. If my MIL was not 90 & could see I'm sure she would do this. She has a sewing room in her house. She used to have a business sewing for people.

I will search online to see what I can find out.

Re: If You Can 🧵🪡

lolakimono — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 14:49:58 GMT

@Nightowlz

I think you do need to be able to sew a straight line.

The first time I tried to get the $%@& matchine threaded, it was a looooooooooooooooooooong time before I got it working properly. Just like a car, there are a million things that can go wrong in the threading. My serger is the worst. EVERY TIME I need to watch the video for the precise threading or it's like the Chevrolet- NO VA.

Re: If You Can 🧵🪡

Nightowlz — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 14:57:31 GMT

@lolakimono wrote:
@Nightowlz
I think you do need to be able to sew a straight line.

The first time I tried to get the $%@& matchine threaded, it was a looooooooooooooooooooong time before I got it working properly. Just like a car, there are a million things that can go wrong in the threading. My serger is the worst. EVERY TIME I need to watch the video for the precise threading or it's like the Chevrolet- NO VA.

@lolakimono

Thanks for the laugh. Sew a straight line. Not going to happen. When I needed a pair of pants hemmed I had DH do it because the hem was all crooked. It looked horrible.

Re: If You Can 🧵🪡

KingstonsMom — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 15:22:58 GMT

@lolakimono

Thank you for this very valuable info!

I called our local TV stations with this info and emailed the article to them, they were very interested and excited to get this info out to their viewers!

Other posters may want to do the same in contacting/emailing news sources in their area!

It takes a village......

Re: If You Can 🧵🪡

Scooby Doo — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 15:27:32 GMT

These fabric masks are not meant to replace the hospital N95 mask. They will go over the top of the N95 to help prolong it's use. Nurses are given one mask to last them all day instead of changing it. The fabric mask can be changed several times and washed.

Re: If You Can 🧵🪡

lolakimono — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 15:42:55 GMT

@Scooby Doo wrote:
These fabric masks are not meant to replace the hospital N95 mask. They will go over the top of the N95 to help prolong it's use. Nurses are given one mask to last them all day instead of changing it. The fabric mask can be changed several times and washed.

@Scooby Doo

Yes- the information is in the next to last paragraph.

Re: If You Can 🧵🪡

faeriemoon — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 15:44:17 GMT

What a great thing they are doing!

Re: If You Can 🧵🪡

Desert Lily — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 22:56:23 GMT

@lolakimono GREAT POST!