Local seamstresses use sewing skills to make masks

Shorty Robbins is a legislative aide for Florida Representative Cyndi Stevenson and handles the day-to-day needs of the community for her boss. But it’s a hobby of hers that made an impact as she hosted a tutorial over the weekend sharing how to make face masks.

Robbins is among those women who have skills in what is becoming a lost art, and they’re sharing them with the next generation of seamstresses in an effort to help save lives.

“I did the tutorial because a couple of kids I worked with years ago, now 30-something mommies, asked me to teach them or their kids,” said Robbins, a member of the region’s vibrant re-enactment community that often sews their own authentic time period attire.

Her love of sewing dates back to her youth, when she received her first sewing machine in 1968 and a neighbor taught her the intricacies of the craft.

“I thought she was a professional but looking back, I realize she was like me, just someone who sews a lot,” said Robbins, who put those skills to work helping others on Saturday.

“I decided to sew a few (masks) because these friends with kids asked, then someone else found out and asked me to sew a couple for her mom,” she said. “I’m not sure my son even knows I am making them for him, but he has crazy bad asthma and works at Universal, so I went and picked up the fun fabrics, which led to Star Wars and Wonder Woman for a friend who is a flight attendant. Then Rep. Stevenson called and asked for a few and had fabric to donate, so I’m making about 50 today and giving them away, mostly to friends and family with health/high risk issues.”

A similar pattern is emerging among others, like Palm Coast resident Britney Rogers, a director of nursing with approximately 35 under her charge. She says she began by watching YouTube videos and raiding her 83-year-old grandmother’s sewing stash. Now the two are sewing face masks and providing them to those in need to ensure they are protected.

“Eventually the masks are going to run out,” said Rogers. “Obviously homemade masks don’t stand up to an N95 so they’re perfect to use right now while my community (work) doesn’t have an active case. That allows us to save what surgical and N95 masks we do have for when we get an active case. Once that happens, they can be worked over the N95 mask to prolong their usage.”

Coordination between Cyd Weeks, past president of AmVets Bunnell Chapter Ladies’ Auxiliary, and friend Nancy Girouard Perry had half a dozen seamstresses, at separate locations, putting their skills to work for veterans at the St. Augustine Clyde E. Lassen Veterans Nursing Home, delivering more than 100 masks last week.

“They all know what it is to serve and appreciate everyone that does, so we get it done for others,” said Weeks.

Erin Tule, a member of the VA nursing home’s team, expressed her appreciation for the donation, echoing the gratitude from so many others on the receiving end.

“We are so blessed to have you all support us,” shared Tule. “When Nancy delivered the masks, I couldn’t believe how generous you all were. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”