Bridgewater Lofts' Needlework Group Sew Protective Masks for Local Healthcare Workers

Article and photos submitted by Mill District residents Kathy Franzen and Ann Napp

On March 21, Ellen Schreader, a Lawyer at Carson, Clelland & Schreader, contacted Ann Napp to ask if the Bridgewater Lofts Condominium Needlework Group (215 10th Avenue S) could make cotton protective face masks for healthcare workers at two local Hospitals, Regions Hospital in St. Paul and North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale. The Needlework Group quickly responded to Elly’s request. Elly supplied fabric, elastic, patterns, and sewing directions to us.

Upon hearing about this project, Bridgewater residents outside the Needlework Group joined in, greatly contributing to our cause. The masks are made with a double layer of tight-weave cotton that opens on the sides to insert a filter. There is elastic inside to make a tight fit over the bridge of the nose and the mask goes under the chin with elastic on the sides to fit over each ear.

A total of 198 masks have been delivered to local hospital healthcare workers during the course of this effort. We are hopeful that the more protective N-95 face masks will soon become readily available to our community healthcare workers.

Tom Napp

Thirteen Bridgewater residents participated in the project. In order to maintain social distancing and stay healthy in our individual condos for the project, Ann’s husband Tom Napp prepared videos of Ann giving directions to the group for making the masks, and he delivered and picked up masks as they rotated through the stitching process.

Kathy FranzenMany Bridgewater residents responded to a request the Group placed in the Bridgewater mail room for elastic for the masks. Because so many people are sewing handmade protective face masks for our healthcare workers, there is also a national elastic shortage.   

Our Bridgewater neighbors have felt a strong sense of community by participating in this project. It has been most rewarding for us to to help healthcare workers who risk their wellbeing daily due to inadequate supplies of protective equipment during this health crisis.

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Editors Note: 

Here are two videos that demonstrate how to quickly make yourself a mask without the use of a sewing machine:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-BaNr2nuOZ/?igshid=1c36zc842okbh

https://www.kare11.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/how-to-make-your-own-face-mask-to-combat-coronavirus-spread/507-c7d82c22-206f-4c70-8e0b-a74a69c03f94?fbclid=IwAR11zuU2XRVBBQEUvX5eHF0AbiTnWOpkzUmAr6f1oMpgz4lGIMHKNPs0zRY