Cloth Mask and Gown Drive at Barclay Friends

October 2, 2020 —Update 4/9/2020

Donate Funds

If you do not like to sew, but would still like to support Barclay Friends, consider giving to our emergency fund. We need additional resources to support our operations and the direct care staff who are working diligently to protect residents. Financial needs include: purchase of technology to help residents communicate with friends and family members, support for staff needing emergency childcare or travel arrangements, and purchase of additional emergency preparedness equipment.

-Make a Donation to the Emergency Fund-

Donate personal protective equipment (PPE)

To ensure our staff have an adequate supply, we are accepting the following items:

Sewn cloth masks (see directions below)
New disposable N95 masks
New disposable ear loop masks
New disposable surgical gowns
Sewn gowns (see directions below)

Barclay Friends has an adequate supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) currently on hand to protect its employees and residents from COVID-19. However, the global supply for this equipment continues to be uncertain, and we are actively taking steps to secure more supplies.

While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not suggest cloth material as a first-line defense against the coronavirus causing COVID-19, cloth masks work well for other conditions and can help conserve precious reserves of N-95 respirator masks.

If you would like to donate items to us, please email events@bf.kendal.org. Your efforts will help make a difference.

Please note:

Items can be dropped off between the hours of 9 am-5 pm Monday through Friday in a plastic bin under the portico in front of Barclay Friends’ main entrance located at 700 North Franklin Street. Please note we are not permitted to allow visitors into our building.
Please include your name and contact information with your donation because we would really like to send you a thank you to acknowledge your kindness! You may also e-mail us the information at events@bf.kendal.org.
Hand sewn items are laundered before being distributed.
A recommended sewing pattern, along with suggested cloth materials, can be found below. Note versions with and without elastic (because apparently “elastic is the new toilet paper” and in short supply!).

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SEWN HOMEMADE FACE MASK (WITH ELASTIC)

Materials needed (with elastic)
Tight-weave cotton fabric (i.e. quilting cotton)
Wash and dry fabric without fragrance or dyes prior to sewing.
Rope Elastic, beading cord elastic will work (you may also use 1/8” flat elastic if ¼” is unavailable. Some have used wider flat elastic and cut it in half with some success).
One adult mask requires two (2) 9”x6” pieces tight-weave cotton and two 7” pieces of 1/4 inch elastic. Therefore, one yard of 44” wide fabric yields 12-15 masks. You need 7.5 yards of elastic for 25 masks (14 inches per mask).
Adult-sized masks will be the greatest need.
Put right sides of cotton fabric together (Be sure any fabric design is placed horizontally.)
Cut 9×6
Starting at the center of the bottom edge, sew to the first corner, stop. Sew the elastic with the edge out into the corner. A few stitches forward and back will hold this.
Sew to the next corner, stop, and bring the other end of the same elastic to the corner and sew a few stitches forward and back.
Now sew across that top of the mask to the next corner. Again, put an elastic with the edge out.
Sew to the next corner and sew in the other end of the same elastic.
Sew across the bottom leaving about 1.5” to 2” open. Stop, cut the thread. Turn inside out.
Pin 3 tucks on each side of the mask. Make sure the tucks are the same direction
Sew around the edge of the mask twice.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SEWN HOMEMADE FACE MASK (NO ELASTIC NEEDED)

Materials needed
Tight-weave cotton fabric (i.e. quilting cotton)
Wash and dry fabric without fragrance or dyes prior to sewing.
Options for Ties
Bias Tape (either ½ or 7/8 as available)
OR
Make ties from strips of fabric indicated above (cut strips 2 ” wide by 16″ long)
One adult mask requires two (2) 9”x6” pieces tight-weave cotton and four (4) 16” pieces of bias tape or fabric ties (64” total per mask). Therefore, one yard of 44” wide fabric yields 12-15 masks. You need 21 1/3 yards of bias tape for 12 masks.
Place right sides of cotton fabric together (Be sure any fabric design is placed horizontally.)
Cut 9×6 (Adult)
Starting at the center of the bottom edge, sew around the edges of the fabric leaving about 1.5” to 2” open.
Stop, cut the thread. Turn inside out.
Pin three (3) ½” tucks on each side of the mask. Make sure the tucks are the same direction.
Make ties using Bias Tape or Fabric.

Instructions of Sewing a Gown

Materials:

2 1/8 yard (44 inches wide) Kona Cotton (tightly woven fabric – bedsheets were one suggestion) or cotton/polyester blend

NOTE: waterproof items will also work for gowns, even shower curtains – but tightly woven cotton would also work, which is why sheets are a good option.

¼ yard rib knit fabric for cuffs
Thread – Serger – ideal
Sewing machine will work fine – zigzag ability
Scissors
Pins
Paper – Create neck cut out pattern and sleeve pattern

Directions:

Cut 1 – 54” length of fabric (this is your gown body)
Diagram 1
Cut 2 – sleeves (see diagram 2)
Cut 2 – rib knit 6” grain by 8” stretch (Diagram 3)
Cut 1 – paper 7” diameter circle – fold this in half, then quarter (Diagram 4)
Lay fabric out right side up
Pin or clip on top to remember orientation
Fold right edge over to left
Pin Flat edges of quartered circle pattern in top corner
Add about 1/2” to top edge (see diagram 4)
Cut along curve
13” in from the open edges measure line (See Diagram 1)
10” down cut slit
Open fabric put safety pin 23” from bottom on what was the center line (for later)
Fold in half along stretch – right sides together
Diagram 2
Sew ¼” seam using stretch stitch
Overcast with serger or zigzag
Flip so right sides now out – seams line up
Pin cuff inside gown sleeve – right sides together
(Even seam – north then east west)
Sew in being careful to only stretch cuff not sleeve
Overcast with zigzag or serger
Flip gown right side out
Stitch the seam down – zigzag