Masks

Sigh.  I do not like making masks, but masks need to be made.  So, I'm looking for pretty or cute fabric from my stash.  It does cheer me up to see silly masks.

Eggs.

Chickens.

Chickens and eggs.  I don't know which comes first, the chicken or the egg.  But here they are.

Back to the masks.  Stay home.  Stay safe.  You do not want to catch the virus.

Sewing masks

That's what I'm doing.  No pics because it's enough to sew them.  No, I haven't made thousands of them, nor hundreds of them either.  I'm not that fast.  I get done what I get done.  I will not make the Guinness Book of Records, but I will do what I can.

Rabbi Tarfon said:  It is not your responsibility to finish the work of perfecting the world, but you are not free to desist from it either.

I cannot save the world; I cannot make masks for hundreds, but I can do my part.  If we all do something to help each other, then we are helping the world.  If you can sew, then sew.  If you can cheer someone up, then do so.  You don't have to be perfect.  You don't have to make the most masks in one day in the history of the world.  Just do what you can.  You don't need to feel guilty if you make 10 masks/week.  You've made what you've made.

If you can afford to order food from a local restaurant  occasionally, then do so.  If you can make a small donation to a worthy cause, then do so.  If  you can be kind to someone, then do so.  You can't perfect the world, but you can take part in it.

The masked knitter/quilter/baker

Ta da!  Here I am in my first face mask, which fits the large Hubz perfectly, but too big on me.  I also needed to tie the strings tightly.

Our hospital is now asking for cotton face masks, probably for non-medical workers, e.g. custodians, or perhaps for nurses to put over their serious medical masks.  So I'm sewing.

No elastic in my house.  I did find an old queen-size flannel sheet, which I'm now using as the part of the mask which is against the face.  I also ordered 3 yards of flannel from eQuilter.com.  I should get that in a couple of days.

I am not particularly quick at this.  One mask, including cutting, pressing, top-stitching the ties, and the rest of the assembly takes me about 1/2 hour.  The Hubz, bless his sweet self, is doing the tie pressing, which makes a difference. 

The important thing about these masks is that they will NOT keep you safe from the virus.  But, wearing them over a real mask should help in this time of mask shortage.  If you wear one, place a tissue next to your face under the mask, and that will help a teeny bit.  I would also wear a doubled bandana over the mask.  So, yes I know that these are not a substitute.  BUT, when your hospital wants them, you make them.

We are to put them into a bin in front of the hospital entrance.  They will pick up the masks, sterilize them and give them to anyone who wants them.  Clearly there is a need for them.

I suspect that if you wear one to the market. people will stay away from you, which is not bad.

Stay safe, my friends.  Don't go out, chat with friends and family on the phone, eat good food, and get dressed in the morning.  Forget jammies all day.  Watch funny TV, don't watch or listen to the news nonstop.  Give yourself a break.  Tell your significant other, if you have one, when you're stressed or cranky.  And listen to others when they tell you the same.