Willow Spring mom launches Facebook face mask sewing group with a pattern, support

From her home in Willow Spring, Amelia Patel is sewing face masks — and encouraging others to do the same. Over the weekend, the mom of two and CPA launched a Facebook group where she's sharing a pattern and offering support and encouragement for others who want to make and donate face masks to those who need it.

Face masks are in short supply in hospitals, especially, where they can protect health care workers who are treating patients with Covid-19. Local hospitals this week asked the community for supplies and included homemade face masks on the list.

I checked in with Patel to learn more about her work and how people can get involved.

Go Ask Mom: Has sewing always been a hobby for you? Are you crafty?

Amelia Patel: I have always been crafty. I remember sitting in my high school and college lectures knitting or crocheting while I listened and it actually helped me focus. I learned how to sew in my middle school home economics class but haven't done much with it since then until about six months ago. I went down the rabbit hole of Instagram and fell in love with beautiful frilly dresses I wanted to get for my girls, but couldn't get over the price tag on them. So I started learning how to sew them myself. With some guidance from a friend who also sews, I have made quite a few things for my kids. My goal is to slowly get to the point where most of their clothing is made by me, and matching (of course!).

GAM: How did you learn about the need for handmade masks, and why did you want to help?

AP: I believe I saw a post about the homemade masks (and the group Relief Crafters of America) on Facebook, probably in one of the many sewing groups I am in. I wanted to help because this whole situation is so anxiety inducing and scary. I was loosing sleep at night thinking of all the ways that people have been affected by COVID-19, whether it is their finances, their physical health, their mental health, you name it. I thought about trying to increase my milk supply by pumping to give to moms who can't find formula in stores, or by offering child care to those who need it, but I also haven't wanted to expose my family to the virus either. When I heard about the masks, I felt called to participate. I already have a large space in my house dedicated to my sewing hobby, in addition to a decent fabric stash, elastic, pipe cleaners, the works. I also have shipping supplies right here too - I didn't have to leave the house to buy anything and I felt like it could make a difference.

GAM: Tell us about your masks that you're making? How did you come up with the design and pattern? Is it relatively easy for a novice at sewing?

AP: I tried three different patterns, two of which were widely circulating my social media feed. I didn't feel like any of those three were quite good enough. They didn't fit quite right and the patterns weren't that well written, especially for a beginner who might want to help out. I was inspired to create my own pattern by taking some aspects of others that I liked and modifying/combining them into something that I was proud of. I have a PDF pattern with photos of each step that people can download from the Facebook group I created, Amelia's Face Mask Sewing Group. I also have a series of videos that serve as a tutorial for visual learners, and it also offers some alternative options for the pattern. You can make these masks with ties or elastics, with or without pipe cleaners as a nose piece, and with or without a pocket for a filter.

GAM: How are people connecting on your Facebook page?

AP: I just started the group Sunday afternoon, and in a little over 24 hours it has over 120 members. It's so new, but people are asking for advice on getting started, and mostly my goal is to encourage people. I am not connecting people with groups or individuals to donate to there, because there are already a lot of groups out there doing that. When I started sharing that I was going to make the masks, I didn't even have to try to find people to give them to. I have been getting personal messages from friends, family, and strangers, asking me to make masks for them or people in their circles who are doctors, nurses, pharmacists, etc. However, I am hoping that my group will encourage people that even if they aren't seamstresses, they can make these masks. It really is quite easy as long as you have a sewing machine and some fabric (and a good pattern!).

GAM: This is such a scary and unprecedented time for the entire world. How do you hope your efforts will make a difference?

AP: I hope that my efforts will encourage people to find something they can do to help. Everybody is struggling right now, and if we all channel our talents and energy, I think every person out there can make a difference. I have a friend who reached out to me when she saw I was making masks and offered to cut the fabric and pin the tucks for me to speed up my process so I could make more. She doesn't own a sewing machine and she is even in the middle of a move, but she wanted to help. We agreed upon a safe way for her to help while maintaining safe distances from each other and minimizing risk to our families. That is the sort of thing I hope my efforts inspire.

Go Ask Mom features local moms each week.