In Search Of ...
@just4him (323168)
Green Bay, Wisconsin
April 27, 2020 11:40am CST
My son called this morning with a great idea. It's the same one hundreds of other people also have.
I have a sewing machine. I'm a great seamstress, not only an awesome author whose books are currently not selling, but that's okay. They will. Anyway, my son's brilliant idea shared by thousands of other seamstresses is to make masks. He was going to give me money for material and supplies.
I have material, no problem. I have a full bag of yards and yards of material that would work well for masks. What I don't have is that nose piece and elastic.
I went to Wal-Mart. Now, people have told how aisles are out of everything, and shelves are bare of food and toilet paper. I saw plenty of that. What I didn't see was material, elastic, or anything that I could use for the nose piece. All the bins for those smaller fabric squares, all the elastic, and all but one sewing machine was sold out. I saw and tested other options for the elastic around the ears but it didn't work, which is probably why there was plenty of that. There were still regular bolts of fabric, but I don't need fabric.
So, his idea for my making masks didn't work. When I saw the lack of sewing supplies, I remembered what the woman at the laundromat said a couple of weeks ago-everything was sold out then. It still is. I'm sure the lone sewing machine will be gone soon too.
Have you searched for something you didn't expect to be sold out and was? Thanks for reading. Image is my sewing machine and below that is the large bag of fabric that once belonged to my mother. It's in my bedroom closet so the picture is dark.
18 people like this
17 responses
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
27 Apr 20
The run on craft supplies started several weeks ago and mainly due to stores like Michael's and Hobby Lobby being shut down as non-essential. What a joke. The government and experts are begging for people to make masks for medical professionals but have closed the very shops to get the needed materials.
4 people like this
@moffittjc (128832)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Apr 20
Paper clips for the nose pieces, and rubber bands for the elastic could possibly work. I've seen homemade masks without the elastic where they just used cord or string and made them of varying sizes, and people could choose the ones that fit them the best.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (128832)
• Gainesville, Florida
29 Apr 20
@just4him Let's just duct tape the masks on to everyone! lol
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (502372)
• Italy
28 Apr 20
I see that @thelme55 already suggested what I was going to suggest, sew a piece of cloth instead of elastic as ear holders. I have not checked sewing supplies, so I cannot say if everything is available here. For the moment I have always found what I needed.
2 people like this
@DianneN (254926)
• United States
27 Apr 20
We used old pillowcases to make no sew masks. I inserted folded coffee filters or pieces of cut up a/c filters and made use of rubber bands.
Up north I have a treasure trove of things I can use.
I did search for masks online, but now they are back in stock.
I placed two orders already.
2 people like this
@Elizaby (6902)
• Pensacola, Florida
27 Apr 20
You really dont need elastic or nose piecr. My sister made hers using fabric that she sewed and put a pocket where she could slip a filter in, and then four ties straps to tie the mask on and on one she add two large(Long) rubber bands than could go over her ears to help keep mask in place. Becareful ordering on line because they have had many scammers offering masks and dont send them when ordered.
3 people like this
@allen0187 (59692)
• Philippines
28 Apr 20
People started making DIY masks because supplies were running out.
Hopefully, governments around the world come to their senses and actually start thinking long-term instead of the band-aid solutions that they have done so far.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (59692)
• Philippines
28 Apr 20
@just4him these band-aids solutions won't work long-term.
I do understand what you are saying.
1 person likes this
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
28 Apr 20
@allen0187 They're not supposed to work long term.
1 person likes this
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
28 Apr 20
Yes, it is. I heard they're opening the craft stores on Friday. I'm going to try to get elastic then.
@Marilynda1225 (91069)
• United States
27 Apr 20
What a shame that you can't get what you need to make the masks. Any chance you can find it online?
2 people like this
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
27 Apr 20
Probably, but I'm not going to bother with it. It's a great idea, but if I can't get the supplies locally, waiting for the supplies to come isn't worth it to me. I don't have the patience of Job when it comes to certain things. If I could have found everything this morning, I'd have my sewing machine out already.
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (91069)
• United States
27 Apr 20
@just4him I can understand how you feel and that it isn't worth trying to find it online.
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (22246)
• United States
4 May 20
Yeah twice. I wanted to get a pack of vacuum belts for my vacuum. I had just replaced one and I wanted to have a pack handy. Well the Walmart near here was sold out and the other one in town supposedly didn't have it either. I ended up buying a pack on Ebay. And I wanted to try out the laundry sanitizer and it was gone at the grocery store and Walmart.
I had bought some hair ties at Food Lion Friday. I made my own masks using bandannas my mother gave me and using shoelaces as ear pieces. But one bandanna was being difficult so I bought those hair ties and it worked.
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (67089)
• United States
30 Apr 20
People have mentioned using pipe cleaners for nose pieces and hair ties for the ear pieces.
2 people like this
@Butterfingers (66603)
• India
27 Apr 20
I never thought Lays potato chips Will be out of stock but they are and also Maggie Noodles
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (135690)
• Marion, Ohio
27 Apr 20
I had heard a lot of that stuff was getting low.
1 person likes this
@everwonderwhy (7355)
•
28 Apr 20
My friend showed us how to use scarves. Stylish too.
You can probably extend the the cloth and make make holes (like button holes) for the ears.
You can probably extend the the cloth and make make holes (like button holes) for the ears.1 person likes this
