I’ve been in discussions with other people who sew on Kos’ diary:
Do you have a sewing machine, and can you use it? You can be a hero and save lives
Some of us jumped on and decided to try to help. I actually started last night when I heard it on MSNBC, then started getting ideas on how to make masks that are truly compliant, and figured I’d search my fabric sources to see what was available. There are materials one can pick up at Home Depot, Walmart, or Amazon (MERV-15 or MERV-16 filters, HEPA filters) that work almost as well as N-95 non-woven filters, but you need to disassemble the filter to get to the fabric, which is some work. There’s even a YouTube video that explains how (not posting here).
But I’ve had another idea (or ten) and been busy stirring the pot — I would like to know what you think of what I’ve been doing and getting into.
First, though, there are calls for more people to sew to help by making masks, going on around the country. I have two posted here, and if I can catch it the contact info will post it (from Harvard Medical School.
- Gov. Cuomo of NY has sent out a request for seamstresses to step up and help them with masks and gowns, and is offering money (covid19supplies@esd.ny.gov),
- A hospital here in Oklahoma is looking for some of people to sew masks, to get the public to use them so the commercial masks can be freed up for medical staff :). It's Stillwater Memorial (OSU), and the requester asks that we go to buttoncounter.com and search for surgical masks. They have a mask pattern that uses ties instead of elastics (we can probably use it, too for other requests around the country or locally).
- I don’t have contact info for the Harvard request, but when I find it, I will post it with any other requests I find, in the comments.
I've also been rooting around in my industrial materials supplier database from when I worked and found something. I reached out to an industrial supplier about the N95 filter material (the guts of the N95 mask that traps viruses and other stuff) which could be substituted for interfacing or batting in my pattern variation (see here), and would allow us to make REAL honest-to-goodness N95-compliant masks.
I didn’t know if they’d sell the fabric in small quantities that a private person could afford or if we can get someone to buy a bulk lot and help us figure out how to share it out amongst us. I don’t know if it can be shipped here or if it could be bought from their US fab (if it has any), but it’s the stuff that actually goes in the masks. It comes in 3” and 47” widths and is very cheap if purchased in bulk (<$2.00). Problem is, bulk is 1000 units minimum.
I asked for a quote on a 10-unit lot (if they would consider it at all), shipping time, and cost details, hoping to be able to play with it and see how it holds up to washing and disinfecting using a couple of methods.
Maybe if I come up with a non-aqueous method that works, one of our small manufacturers on the site would like to take the disinfection method and run with it? Or I’ll send it to Gov. Cuomo. I think I heard him say his company makes hand sanitizer …
We could keep making masks and send them wherever they are needed (get a firm to donate the shipping) if we cant get them out, locally, maybe? I’m still working it out, but asking for comments or suggestions. A few people are volunteering to deliver masks on the other diary, so do go over their and have a look if this sounds like something you want to do.
Again, Cuomo’s paying for help. So’s Harvard (I don’t have the contact info yet), and others around the country. As I find them, I’ll post them :)
What do you think? And thanks, guys!
Saturday, Mar 21, 2020 · 8:14:51 PM +00:00
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TulsaGal
jmbar2 has let me know about a slack group that was put up yesterday: makemasks.slack.com; you have to have an invite to join; they posted this info in the thread, below (emphasis mine):
Just send an email to masksmake@gmail.com with message “will make masks” or equivalent. They will get back with an information packet.
This only started yesterday, so it’s clunky, but utterly amazing.
Here’s my needs list, and an addition from Willow1 (thanks!)
Just saw unitypoint.org is calling for masks — they are using hair ponytail bands for the elastic.
Mine
- Stillwater Memorial request Article: www.koco.com/… and www.stwnewspress.com/...
- MA/Deaconess Hospital: updates, suggestions on this site, as well as the request www.deaconess.com/…
- What LA is doing, using the garment district to make masks: www.businessinsider.com/…
- A Reddit list has started up — there isn’t much there yet, but requests are coming in: www.reddit.com/…
- Another DIY pattern based on Gortex that we might be able to find used. Thanks jb oahu!
- 100 Million Mask Challenge (Providence St. Joseph — Twitter)
- Forbes call-out for people to sew masks — this is a treasure trove of patterns, suggestions, and requests
- Facebook group (I know, I know): Open Source COVID-19 Medical Supplies
Saturday, Mar 21, 2020 · 8:17:51 PM +00:00
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TulsaGal
I forgot to give a shout-out to jb Oahu, who has another suggestion for materials and sourcing (better late than never?):
I found this on DIY masks from Hong Kong. Note that Goretex is considered both functional and easy to wear, but not easy to find. I’m not sure about rolls of fabric, but it can probably be found in some goodwill-type stores.
www.consumer.org.hk/…