Masks

Though my passion is for quilts and all things quilty, when the pandemic started my sister, who is an advanced practice cardiology nurse, requested I make masks for her . At her request we tweaked the online pattern and added a wire to the nose and elastic rather than ties, for better fit, and comfort.

I have to admit that I was resistant at first. As a retired RN I was concerned about giving a false sense of security . But she persisted, and the idea of her being on the front lines with only a bandanna (what the hospital was recommending when the masks ran out), pushed me over the edge. Along with the articles that she sent me about the effectiveness of homemade masks. Especially masks made of quilt shop quality cotton. Which I have plenty of! (Ok… I admit that I have a fabric fetish and am a bit of a hoarder) I decided to use interfacing to add more layers of filtering. And to make them reversible, and pretty. We all need something pretty right now. And,of course, I don’t have any ugly fabric.

So I made masks for her, then for her coworkers. And for friends. Then I started getting requests to sell them. Apparently people were having difficulty finding masks. So I made them until I ran out of interfacing and elastic.

I had recently opened an Etsy shop to sell quilts ( can’t stop making them!), so, when I got more supplies I decided to start making masks and selling on Etsy. My shop is redtomatoquilting.

I am still making masks to donate to first responders and those on the front line that request them. I am so thankful to be able to do something that might give a little comfort during this time. Please stay safe out there.