Masks are needed for schools in Brattleboro, Dummerston, Guilford, Putney & Vernon
Cloth masks will be needed for students, teachers, school staff and bus drivers for the reopening of school in late August.
Hundreds of masks are needed in all sizes, from kindergarten through adult.
Can you sew masks for this need?
Can you donate tightly woven 100% cotton quilting fabric or ⅛-¼ in. woven elastic?
Can you make a monetary donation to help purchase needed materials?
Before starting this project, please ask yourself the following questions:
Have you been in contact with anyone suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 in the past 14 days?
Do you have fever, cough or shortness of breath?
If you are able to answer "NO" to both questions, then proceed with making masks. If you answer "YES" to either or both questions, please do not make masks. If you are experiencing cough, fever, or shortness of breath and have a concern that you may have COVID-19 please call your primary care provider for a risk assessment. Click here to learn more: https://www.dartmouth-hitchcock.org/patient-education/sewing-masks.html
Please be sure to sign up to sew for a school on our signup sheet here: Sign-up / Facility List for Sewing Masks - So VT/SW NH Area.
Also, learn more about how to pick up kits or donate materials, elastic, etc here: Find a Supply Depot near you! (Note: Kits and patterns have not been distributed to supply depots yet for child-sized masks as of 6/22/2020. They will be coming to a supply depot near you soon, though, so stay tuned!)
Join our Sewing Masks Facebook Group where you can learn more about sewing masks, ask questions, and more!
Link to Mask Tally to keep track of how many masks we've sewn -- We've made over 11,000 masks so far!
Curved mask pattern (For kid's masks -- Use basic pattern, No extra pocket, No wire & Use elastic, no ties.) https://ithinksew.com/Products/Details/2781
BMH Mask 1 / Deaconess Pattern: BMH Handmade Mask Instructions: (We’re making Mask 1, smaller kid's size) https://www.bmhvt.org/wp-content/uploads/COVID-Handmade-PPE-Instructions-digital.pdf (Make sure to use elastic, not ties.)
Elastic sizing: 6" elastic is an option for little kids' masks and 6.5 for larger kids' masks. Or you could insert 11" of elastic into a casing on either side of the mask so that that elastic can be tied to be the correct size for the child.
Also, see the signup sheet for pattern info for each school.
Materials: Please use tightly woven 100% cotton quilting fabric, and woven elastic or "t-shirt yarn" to make masks. For more info about appropriate materials to make masks out of, what to do if you don't have elastic, what t-shirt yarn is, locations of Supply depots where materials such as kits, fabric, elastic and more are located, and more, check out the "For Sewers" section of this website!
We're graciously accepting donations of tightly woven 100% cotton quilting fabric, 1/4 or 1/8 inch woven elastic at a Supply Depots. Find a Supply Depot near you!
For as little as the price of a cup of coffee, you can make a monetary donation to support this volunteer effort and help us buy the necessary materials to make more masks! Click here to make a donation. Any amount is greatly appreciated!
Are you a representative from a school that needs donated masks? Check out our "For Facilities" webpage to learn how to submit a request.
Are you wondering if anyone is working on sewing masks for your school yet? Click here to check it out.