It’s all about the masks today.
Unbelievably, the First World fiasco we’ve been living has capsized. Our illusion of privilege has been pierced by harsh reality. Our hospitals and health care workers have no PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) or masks! As a result, state and county agencies have been asking the public for contributions like basic cleaning supplies, trash bags, gloves and masks.
America, the apex of 20th century pop culture appears to be bankrupt.
We got screwed.
Thankfully, the creative class has risen to the occasion and a cottage industry has sprung up to meet the need. Everyone from Stay-At-Home Moms to Performance Artists to Quinceanera Designers are creating a variety of masks.
Among these Mothers of Invention is the amazing Kristina Wong. In addition to being a fabulous performer, elected representative and the creator of online cult classic “Radical Cram School,” Ms Wong is now a Sweatshop Overlord. She has become the hub for Statewide efforts to source mask-making material and mail these out it to “Aunties” who volunteer to sew a variety of mask designs. Here’s a sampling:
Uncle Van Mask – JPG
** This is a modification to include a Third Layer in order to make a pocket.
https://jennifermaker.com/face-mask-patterns-cricut/
THE ONE SHEET INSTANT POCKET ONE:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlguehtIpu8&fbclid=IwAR2lX4hG9_8AUi3k7PcDZKhR2XMQiTliozPA5K13sQ8ulVBbWh2zcz_PWQs&app=desktop
THE DEACONESS PATTERN ADAPTED TO HAVE A POCKET (by Lauren Oppelt‘s masked crusaders)
https://0d4f8c24-04e3-4ccd-a8eb-7de5936d9ae5.filesusr.com/ugd/67361e_4d795fc3ea114813a36c0371d642e1e8.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0n6OWgHT8TrQTralpz1F_z8ulxlcPvpwxRkqfAJVaMf7S5FQZIhADG1M0
THE NO ELASTIC TIES ONE (popular with nurses)
https://www.instructables.com/id/AB-Mask-for-a-Nurse-by-a-Nurse/?fbclid=IwAR1OmzlbA_CtELsbeFtEhWWpn-nrAg7RTmJNUEQ0mQD2ePtNP-57f_7HP5M
THE VERY SIMILAR NO ELASTIC TIES ONE THAT KAISER PERMANENTE WANTS
https://about.kaiserpermanente.org/content/dam/internet/kp/comms/import/uploads/2020/03/02_COVID_Mask-Instructions_v9.pdf
THE N-95 COVER THAT HOSPITALS NEED WHEN THEY HAVE TO REUSE MASKS
https://www.phoebehealth.com/patients-and-visitors/coronavirus/mask-production
THE ONE THAT USES THE OLD GROCERY BAGS:
https://makermask.org/?fbclid=IwAR0oAkvUBfpg3_i855_DibIZTQn-VPqY11H7X2we6TOrH-RBtT1rWnjuxIU
Everyone from Hospital staff, Health Care Workers, Police, Paramedics and even Native American reservations have received masks created under Ms Wong’s direction and her network of collaborators.
I’m joining this effort and have already received some thread from Auntie Wong. Am looking forward to making use of my textile skills in this effort. Still, it’s kind of insane that in 21st Century Suburban So Cal we are all sewing fabric scraps for our frontline health care workers like WWI suffragettes.
Here’s Kristina Wong’s delightful “Radical Cram School” episode where she interviews a gun:
Kristina will be featured on our “Dreamocracy In America” series on Friday, April 3 @ 6pm PST. We met at the NPN Conference this past Winter in New Orleans. I’ve already become a huge fan.
(From the Future!) Here’s a video archive of our conversation:
You can join her band of Aunties on Facebook: