We can help support medical staff and people working at homeless shelters by sewing face masks. Many national and local organizations are donating supplies, and some are even allowing you to make them at their facilities.
Making a face mask is a simple project and a great way to learn the basics of sewing. Each mask takes 15-20 minutes to make, and you’ll get faster the more you create.
If you don’t have a sewing machine, you can get a cheap one second-hand or borrow one from a neighbor. If you want to buy a new one, I recommend this Heavy Duty Singer sewing machine
Below are some places to get sewing supplies and where to donate finished face masks, as well as an instructional tutorial. I will continue to add to this page, so feel free to send links my way!
JOANN Is Providing In-Store Instruction and/or Supplies for At-Home Sewing
JOANN opened its classrooms March 23 to offer sewing machines, materials, and guidance to help customers safely make facemasks and covers, gowns and other items to donate to America’s hospitals. JOANN will provide and donate 100% of the supplies needed for these projects.
Those who want to make-to-give to the effort at home will be able to take advantage of JOANN’s Ship-to-Home and Curbside Pickup options, and find tutorials to create the items at joann.com/maketogive.
All open JOANN locations will serve as collection points for those making in their homes, and all items created by customers will be donated to help medical systems extend their dwindling supplies of protective equipment, and will be used at the hospital’s discretion.
GetUsPPE Is Accepting & Distributing Donations
#GetUsPPE is a movement by people in medicine on the front lines of the COVID pandemic. They:
- Advocate for more PPE production (#Getmeppe).
- Send, receive and coordinate donations for PPE among the community and medical professionals.
- Unite the maker community to validate designs that can be widely shared among the medical community and easily printed in local manufacturing facilities.
How to Sew a Face Mask Tutorial Video
Be sure to check with the distribution center where you’ll be dropping off the masks to find out what construction technique and materials they recommend. There is a chance they will not be able to use your masks if they don’t fit specific guidelines.
^ This tutorial from Joann Fabrics uses a pattern that cuts on the fold to save time. It also incorporates interfacing between the layers of cotton fabric.
^ This tutorial from Deaconess Hospital doesn’t use interfacing and uses two completely separate pieces of cotton fabric.
It sounds like most recipients will be washing the masks, so I’m not sure if you need to bother washing them before you deliver them.
To speed things along, I recommend the following:
- Make a pattern out of cardboard and using a rotary cutter
to cut multiple layers of fabric at once. Remember to always use a cutting mat
or you will dull your rotary blades. Never cut paper with a rotary cutter.
- To cut lots of lengths of elastic at once, cut a long piece of cardboard half the width of the length of elastic you need. Gently wrap the strand of elastic in a single layer all the way down the cardboard template, being careful not to stretch it. Slide the lower blade of a pair of scissors under the elastic and cut down the line of elastic.
to cut multiple layers of fabric at once. Remember to always use a 
or you will dull your rotary blades. Never cut paper with a rotary cutter.Have fun and contact me if you need any sewing help!