The Internet was immediately full of mask patterns. Some of my Quilty friends have made hundreds. HUNDREDS!
I had elastic, I had fabric, and I could handle a rotary cutter with my left hand (well, I am left-handed...). So I tried making masks.
And I could sort of do it. But it hurt and took me all morning to make one. Kind of like trying to find an iron that is the hottest and steamiest, I was looking for mask patterns that were easier than the one I am wearing here.
I did find ones that were easier to cut. But then they had to be pleated, a manipulation that was almost beyond me.
Like so many others, I ran out of elastic. Everything was on backorder. So I found and tried this pattern. It was fairly easy.
Here my friend Cecilia models hers. But personally, I don't like to tie things behind my head - it's a hair thing.
My shipment of elastic came in just as I realized that mask-making just wasn't something I could do. And of course I felt a bit guilty,
But then something happened to assuage my guilt.
About this time my friend Jenny and I were out walking, with our masks on, when she mentioned she was thinking about a sewing machine so that she could make masks but the time just wasn't right to buy one. I offered her the most reliable and lendable machine I have - my mom's 1948 Singer Featherweight. I also sent over fabrics I new I would never us. And Jenny has gone to town making masks. She is one of the 400+ makers. I loaned her a second machine, a White/Singer that John's mom bought for me in 1982. A friend of the family's is working with Jenny making masks. They have even made masks for children! Here's Jenny's grandson modeling his.
Normally I spend Mother's Day sewing on my mom's Featherweight. This year my mom, and John's as well, spent the day in the most noble of company.