I have been making masks, lots of masks. I have run into a situation, though. I ordered a large roll of 1/8” elastic at the beginning of March from eBay. The dealer advertisement said, “In Stock in the USA.” After nearly three weeks of waiting, I got a notice from the company that the USPS sent it back to them, asking if I would like for it to be resent to me or if I’d like a refund. I opted for the refund (I had to jump through some hoops for that), and ordered it from Amazon instead. I am STILL waiting for the elastic to arrive from Amazon. They did send me a note saying that they were concentrating on essential deliveries first, however. With all of the mask making going on all over the world, I would’ve considered elastic essential, but then I suppose their supplies are down, and this is coming from out of the country. Covid-19 has caused an elastic famine.

Then Saturday night, my sewing machine broke. I sent an email to the sewing machine shop where I bought it, asking if they were open and able to repair it. In the meantime, I started looking for a backup machine online. I have a list of people I promised masks to, so I needed to keep sewing, and I also knew that if they were able to repair it, I would have to drop it off and be without it for a few days. I would definitely need another machine (Just an FYI, everyone is sold out of sewing machines too.).

Sunday morning, I took a risk and went to a local Walmart and prayed there was a machine I could get. When I looked online, every store was out of stock. I asked an associate where the sewing machines would be, and he took me directly to the aisle in their store saying along the way, “I’m not sure there will be any, we’ve been sold out for a while now.” It turns out they had ONE sewing machine. It embroiders, as well as a huge list of assorted fancy stitches. It was more than I was planning on spending, but I have a granddaughter now, and I’ll be able to decorate some things for her (I had to reason myself into the purchase). Well, that is, as soon as I figure out more than just the straight stitch.

By the time I got home, I had an email from the repair shop; they have very limited hours but would be able to accept my broken machine on Tuesday. This is a crazy, crazy time!! I know before we come to the end of it, we will ALL have stories to tell.

Before you ask, I have no idea how many masks I’ve made. Several sets have gone out, and hopefully, on Thursday, I’ll get that elastic and send out more on Friday.