United we stand (6 feet apart)

COVID isn’t the only thing in the air – there’s a sense of camaraderie even as we stay home/stay safe and #FlattenTheCurve to #CombatCOVIDTogether.

Seeking to keep busy while under our state’s stay-at-home order, I’ve been reading up on how to end this pandemic as quickly as possible, and am convinced wearing masks can help slow the spread.  And I am also convinced disposable masks should be reserved for our medical professionals on the front lines. Thus, I have enjoyed sewing “Victory Masks” for my staff and their families, about 20 in total, with fabric scraps saved from my collection of West African fabrics, using this pattern. Now that I’m done with my first batch of masks, I’d like to extend the offer to you, our friends and clients.

We’re offering home-sewn Victory Masks – a way we can show our solidarity and support for health and safety measures - for $10/each – and donating the proceeds to charity (after cost of materials).

Cloth masks alone won’t prevent the transmission of COVID-19; however, used in combination with social distancing and personal hygiene, masks can help. When worn properly, masks reduce the chance of unknowingly passing the virus to someone else when we are making our essential trips out in public over the next several weeks, and protect us from touching our faces – one of the ways virus droplets are transmitted.

At $10 each, our washable masks are made with a cotton outer layer and hypoallergenic pillow case lining material (which has a tighter weave than typical cotton).* 

 *Handmade masks are not certified PPE “Personal Protective Equipment”, and the potential for handmade or homemade masks to protect health care professionals is unknown. We’re calling ours “CCT approved” or, Combat COVID Together.

The CDC Health Care Professionals (HCP) guidelines indicate: In settings where facemasks are not available, HCP might use homemade masks (e.g., bandana, scarf) for care of patients with COVID-19 as a last resort. However, homemade masks are not considered PPE, since their capability to protect HCP is unknown. Caution should be exercised when considering this option. Homemade masks should ideally be used in combination with a face shield that covers the entire front (that extends to the chin or below) and sides of the face.

If you’d like to sew one yourself, click here to view the pattern and instructions.