Santa Barbara Sewing Circles Make Face Masks for the Millions

“I feel so happy that I can do something to help,” Marian Shapiro said, a feeling she shares with dozens of women busy at their sewing machines all over the county who are making critically needed face masks. Shapiro’s creations, 170 so far, have three layers of 100 percent woven cotton and one layer of knit. “The knit is different and a bit of a filter,” said Shapiro, who’s also added a twist tie at the nose and a pocket for a coffee filter, paper towel, or tissue for additional filtration against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus ravaging the world.

Shapiro is one of a loosely knit group of people around town who have been sewing and giving away masks to Cottage Hospital, Planned Parenthood, homeless people, and B’nai B’rith. These volunteers have formed an informal group, helping one another. When Shapiro’s sewing machine began to break down, when she began to run out of elastic, when she needed groceries,  friends — some old and some new — stepped in to help — loaning a sewing machine, sharing materials, even delivering groceries. 

The Bucket Brigade is hoping to energize these volunteer sewing circles by offering a challenge: Become the “Rockstar of Sewing.” According to the Brigade’s Keith Hamm, a former Independent reporter, the challenge offers small prizes to prime mask producers, working from the safety of home — and provides material, elastic, and thread for about 20 masks at a time.