JOANN Provides FREE Materials for Customers to Make Protective Gear for Healthcare Workers
Help the front line workers affected by Coronavirus!
Want to help protect health care workers and medical personnel by making protective gear? While adhering to social distancing guidelines, participating JOANN stores are opening up their Creator’s Studios to allow customers to make face masks, covers, gowns, and other items to donate to America’s hospitals*.
Plus, JOANN will provide and donate 100% of the supplies needed for these projects!
*Note that there is also an option to pick up materials and create these masks from home! Read more details below.
Note that the classroom occupancy will be limited to adhere to the CDC-recommended guidelines for social distancing, so you may want to call before heading out. Also, associates will ensure continuous sanitization of materials and spaces, as well as the entire store.
Head on over here to find a local JOANN classroom near you.
Want to help make supplies from home?
If you would like to participate from home, you will be able to take advantage of JOANN’s Ship-to-Home and Curbside Pickup options, and find tutorials to create the items on the JOANN website.
Just check to see what places are accepting these before starting a large project. I work in a hospital and they are not accepting these as donations or allowing us to wear them
I agree, although a nice gesture my friend who is a nurse said many hospitals in our area won’t accept these.
Call before you go. The one near me was out of supplies by the end of the day yesterdat – lots of volunteers to sew masks. Still plenty of demand for these masks from childcare, senior care, and other workers.
vet care too
My local hospital is requesting them.
Just called and our store is completely out of elastic, so they are not making the kits. They have no idea when elastic will be back in stock. Make sure you call ahead to your store.
Dollar tree is open and they have elastic headbands that could possibly be used in its place. :))
https://www.dollartree.com/basic-solutions-narrow-elastic-headwraps-7ct-packs/221280
Dollar Tree has those headbands in a bunch
Yes, those headbands will work or baby headbands.
Love this but wish they would let these be picked up. Our local hospital put out the call for masks of any kind (including these fabric ones). We were able to make about 2 dozen before our elastic stash ran out.
Cristini, Their site does say they have the option to pick-up and take home under the Questions at the bottom.
If Hospital won’t accept them then check with assistant living center.
Call first. Elastic is sold out nationwide everywhere you go. I’m making them by the hundreds (husband and I are nurses) for donation and for sale on my etsy ship to help offset materials for donating. Even my 3 major wholesale distributors are completely out and say no where will have any for weeks likely.
My Joanns store said they’re “too busy” to make the “bags” for people.. and none would include elastic. Only a pattern and enough to make 5 masks. Joanns should enforce it at every store if they’re putting this out there.
I called the other day about these. Out of elastic and they won’t bring to car. Working with barebones staff!
Thanks for sharing, Barb.
These stores shouldn’t be open now! Stay home and order supplies online, if you can.
Agree 100%
Those masks are really needed immediately. Yes, we can order these things online and I agree that we should stay at home as much as possible but this is the time when us as American should come together and help those frontline workers. They are doing tremendous job out there to keep us safe! Not to mention the sacrifice from their families. America was built on sweat, blood, and tear! So please support in any way you can. God bless America!
I called my Joann yesterday. She told me even though yesterday was last day to be open, they will still be offering curbside service.
You can use the elastic headbands from dollar tree for the elastic on the masks FYI
Great tip! Thanks, Twirlegirl101!
Walmart sells elastic also. I got 2x16yd bundles for $4 ea.
I’ve been using foldover elastic (like the kind you use for hair ties) actually folded and then ironed in half, and that has worked well so far. I’ve made 4 masks total and plan to hammer out a couple a night. They’re easy, so it’s a project you can get done without much stress.
Fabric ties can sub for elastic, just so you can easily get it off without touching the outside mask part which is potentially contaminated. Here’s the last part of the JoAnn pattern directions:
JOANN HACKS:
Substitute elastic with 4- 16” Fabric Ties at each corner.
Any light-medium weight, non-woven interfacing is appropriate for this project.
My daughter…who has autism and a Keen eye….made some masks with rubber bands and fabric. She’s amazing
So sweet! 💕❤️💕
Stores in Fort Worth received and gave out all kits in less than 24 hours. They are doing curbside. Can’t say whether they will get anymore kits are not.
It is so wonderful that they are doing this and that people are willing to give their time and talents to help. It is a testimony to the human spirit and the responsibility we feel toward one another. I want to add, however, that if anyone has the time and communicative talent, the most important thing they could be doing is advocating for more testing. PPE only works when you wear it and healthcare workers are only allowed to wear it around people who feel sick. 80% of transmission occurs from people who feel fine. Is it any wonder that 10% of the cases in Italy are healthcare workers? Universal testing is needed. Test everyone, every day. The nurse next to you probably just gave you coronavirus at lunch.
Fabric ribbons will hold up better in the wash better than elastic! Elastic will degrade with use for proper sanitation.
Yes ! I wear a mask , I’ve made a few the one I like the best has straps that tie I don’t like the elastic ! The tie one wash and wear great , plus there is an opening to place a filter inside . I’m super happy with it
What do you use for the filter i side the mask?
Thanks for posting h2s. There’s no Joann’s in NYC but for reasons like this gesture, I would support the company when I come in contact with one. Blessings to all.
You’re welcome, Lisha. 💖
A local quilting store posted instructions for masks that include both elastic or how to use bias tape to make ties. As well as the locations listed on their site that accept masks, our local fire/rescue company is accepting hand made as well.
https://patchworkplus-quilting.com/facemasks
Hopefully the people making the mask are not infected. The only real protection would be an n95 mask for healthcare workers. Thank you for the nice thought JOANN’s but you may be doing more harm than good.
You’re right, the basic pattern may not be the best for healthcare workers, but they are being used in shelters, by firefighters, etc.
If you want to sew, look at Sew Loved on Facebook. They are working with hospitals to create an N95 cover, so that these can be more safely reused. They’ve done a lot of research, tested prototypes. The hospital is supplying surgical sheeting, and the organization is signing up & sending out kits to sewers. Check it out!
Can we get a modify this pattern with cotton strips that tie in the back? I’ve seen posts from hospitals requesting the ties rather than elastic because they allow for a more universal fit- and since there is an elastic shortage, this could allow for the volunteers to continue making them. Wondering if this has been considered?
I googled, “Face mask with ties” and lots of youtube videos showed up. Try that and you can pick which one you want.
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Use shop towels from harbor freight.
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Use shoelaces
I have cut my pantyhouse to use as elastic bands. They are very comfortable .
Very good idea! It’s hard to find elastic right now! I was thinking about baby headbands, too!
I picked up a kit today but it only contained enough elastic for 6 masks. My set is incomplete. Now what? It included two sets of cotton material with no inner lining is that ok to make with just the cotton? A little confused.
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Use shop towels for the inner filters. Google it. Use shoe laces for the ties. For the outer layers use a very high thread count sheet. It must be a very tight weave fabric.
I would love to help…I sew. I’m on Long Island, and the store in
Westbury on Old Country Road, which is near me, is closed. I also heard that many of the hospitals don’t want these fabric masks. I could sew gowns if I had directions…if they could be used. Is there anything that I can do to help? I’m more than willing, but it needs to be used.
Hi there! I would call you local women’s shelter to see if you can help out!