I Can't Stop

While I yearn to create something more artistic - a doll, or an art journal page, I find myself unable to stop making cloth masks and surgical caps.

I started out making masks for my husband and myself, then my parents, siblings, their spouses, their kids, my kids, grandkids, etc. That soon expanded to friends and coworkers, neighbors, etc.

And now, nearly 90 masks later, I'm still making them. I have not visited a fabric store, as I have so much to work with in my studio. I have, however, run out of iron-on interfacing, 1/8 inch elastic, and white thread (I have received donations of thread from friends). I found interfacing and elastic on eBay, and spent a small fortune on those items (I would have paid about the same amount on Amazon, which a shipping date that I found unacceptable.) JoAnn's was out of these items.

I've been making pleated masks, as those fit a variety of face shapes and sizes and could also act as N95 covers. But I've also tried a couple other patterns as well. Some have pockets for filter material. Some have elastic for the ears, some have ties.

Surgical scrub caps aren't typically worn in my Emergency Department. Now that we're caring for COVID positive (and potentially positive patients), it's just a good idea to keep our hair covered. So I've made at least a dozen caps, which take considerably more time (and fabric) to make than masks. These I'm also giving away to my coworkers.

But I think I just might start on a doll this week. ODACA Day (Dallas TX in July) has been cancelled due to COVID, so it seems reasonable to start prepping for next year.