When I was first married, my husband made $87 a week and I stayed home with the baby. To make ends meet, the first gift I requested was a sewing machine. Back then for 50 cents I could buy a piece of remnant fabric and make my daughter a dress. From there I learned to sew just about anything. When I remarried in 1993, I designed and made my wedding gown.

So, when I learned of the need in the community for masks and the need to stay at home to remain safe, it was a perfect match for me to sew and donate face masks. I order fabric and elastic online and often can pick up the orders locally. Knowing I am supporting local businesses makes this even more meaningful.

The CDC web site recommends that cloth face coverings should fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face, be secured with ties or ear loops, include multiple layers of fabric, allow for breathing without restriction and be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape.

Making sure the masks I produce are within CDC guidelines and are comfortable has been an evolution. Flannel, although very soft, was too hot to wear even in cold weather. Some designs took too long to enable me to make a lot of masks quickly or didn’t fit correctly. I decided to only make red, white and blue face masks for adults as it means a lot to me to remain patriotic in this time of our nation coming together to fight this disease.

Children’s masks have special challenges including assuring they fit properly and a design so young children will be more apt to keep their mask on. I have been using a fun, light-weight print and providing a ribbon to tie the elastic loops together so it will be better secured on their head and they won’t have to wear it over their ears.

Since the start of our pandemic request to stay at home, I have spent part of every day making face masks. Requesting feedback from many who have received donations has enabled me to edit the design to fit better, last longer and be more comfortable.

To date I have made and donated over 500 face masks to many local organizations, the hospital and individuals in need, and plan to continue as long as I am able and there is a need. Making face masks for me continues to be a labor of love, and it feels great to know I am making a difference during these difficult times.

There are many individuals and organizations making face masks for those in need at this challenging time. We all work hard to make a difference and help our communities to stay well. If you would like to make a face mask you can find many tutorials on how to do so by searching online for “how to make a face mask.”

If you know of an organization or individual in need of a face mask(s), e-mail me at nbutler@aboveallelse.org. There is no charge for masks.

Nancy Butler of Waterford is a business consultant and motivational speaker.

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