Sewing in The Time Of... Corona Virus

There's a book called Love in the Time of Cholera that I read a few years ago.  Good thing I purchased it at a used book store, that's all I can say.  It was set in the time when the cholera epidemic was happening in Europe.  It had to do with a man in love with a woman who marries someone else, I don't remember, but I do remember that I didn't enjoy the store much.

But that phrase "in the time of cholera" is kind of a mind worm... it occurs to me whenever anyone says "in the time of" anything, like corona virus or social distancing.

Sewists always want to help.  We make quilts and gifts for any and all occasions.  We can make scrubs for nurses and face masks and lap robes and wheelchair bags and on and on and on.  We can and we will help whenever someone asks, and sometimes when they don't ask.

But does it help?  The big thing these days is sewing masks for medical workers.  Everyone has a video or a pdf about how to make a mask.  There's been a run on elastic almost as drastic as the one on toilet paper!

I'm skeptical about the masks.  Several respected authorities have said that home made masks offer little or no protection against this virus.  Most fabrics, even quilt shop fabrics, are not finely woven enough to stop tiny particles from going through. 

Fabric manufacturers have said that their fabric is less than 200 threads per inch which is the minimum that is recommended.  Some authorities have said that natural fibers such as 100% cotton can actually encourage the growth of bacterial after being breathed on for a while.  Things grow in cellulose that won't grow in polyester or nylon or other man-made materials.

I am not jumping on the 'let's all sew medical masks' bandwagon.  Now, before you judge, check out what the CDC is saying about home made masks.  Better than nothing is the phrase I've seen.  Not medically useful.  The larger hospitals in my area are not allowing their use for their medical staff.

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/pdfs/UnderstandDifferenceInfographic-508.pdf

You can use one to keep yourself from touching your face, or from sneezing or coughing on those around you.  But you can use a tissue too.  As for protection, not so much.  Pat Sloan talked about making masks in her Monday night Fireside Chat.  She had good advice for any home sewn projects, masks or otherwise.  She said do the research first.  Find out what places want, get the specs, quantities and deadlines.  If you don't your items will be tossed and all your materials and efforts will be for nothing.

I'll keep sewing quilts for donation and leave the mask stitching to other people unless I hear otherwise.  Or maybe for Halloween??

Sew on...