The newly found importance of sewists everywhere!
In the early days of the first lockdown, many people were reaching for their sewing machines for the first time in ages, whilst others took up the noble art for the first time. And there was the ‘silent army’ of those who just carried on doing what they do best – sewing.
Only this time, the silent army were saving lives with their incredible production of masks and scrubs, working late into the night in order to help keep people safe.
The sad thing is that coronavirus shows no signs of going away. So the sewing thousands keep working, keep producing – and keep helping to save lives.
This week’s sewing heroes
Here are just a few examples of the new “secret army”. They may not wear capes, but they’re more than capable of making them!
- Members of the ‘Help for Healthcare Workers – Sheffield’ sewing group put their sewing machines to good use to make face masks, mask adaptors and scrubs to support the NHS.
- Mum stitches together hundreds of pounds for Ardgowan Hospice by making face masks.
- The mammoth effort of pulling together thousands of people to sew scrubs, scrub hats and gowns for hospitals, hospices, care homes and other caring professionals has drawn to a close with 106,000 items delivered to key workers throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
- A group of sewing enthusiasts from Oakley has made thousands of items of personal protective equipment (PPE) throughout the coronavirus pandemic – and is now taking on new challenges.
- A sewing group was set up during the first lockdown by Sara Wall, from Magor. Jobs ranged from collecting and sorting materials, to cutting out patterns, to sewing on buttons, to making calls to determine the numbers needed, and last but not least drivers to deliver the completed scrubs.
- A talented teenager has turned her hobby into a thriving business – raising money for charity at the same time.
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Poppy masks prove a hit at Yeadon shop. Janice Fisher, 63, who runs Sew Quick in Yeadon, has been overwhelmed at the response to her fundraising idea.
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The Rochdale mum and son who helped hundreds of NHS workers over the pandemic. They recruited an army of 500 volunteers to supply scrubs and gowns.