More than 20 years had passed since Ann Griffin had given her sewing machine this much exercise, and even longer gone were the days when she fashioned clothing from chosen fabric and paper patterns for herself and her daughters.
Time had passed quickly, and the practicality of homemade outfits had all but disappeared through the seasons of the Las Sendas resident’s life. Her daughters grew up and moved away from home to start families of their own. Until recently, she had almost disregarded the need for the use of her sewing machine entirely.
Fast forward to early spring of this year when the global COVID-19 pandemic shook our nation, and seemingly rendered the entire world off guard in terms of protective preparation.
Teamwork is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.
— Andrew Carnegie
Ann’s daughter, living in Toronto, Canada, summoned her mother’s help with a new project. She was asked to be an online sewing advisor and sewist, here in the United States.
It was time to dust off her sewing machine. The Bernina machine, known for its precise stitches and long-lasting quality, would be put to a new task.
“I never imagined sewing masks and sending them to total strangers,” Ann said. Eager to help, she agreed to be the liaison for needs in the U.S., while her daughter, and newly-formed group The Sewing Army, would address needs in Canada.
What Started Out Small Became BIG Very Quickly
According to Ann, the plan to help others was created within a small theatrical group of friends in Canada. Her daughter had been involved in theatre for many years. She remained friends with many people in the local theatre community.
When the pandemic swept through nations, suddenly the out-of-work friends collaborated their thoughts and decided to do something productive to help others in need during the crisis.
Together, with Toronto fashion designer and founder of the group, Diana Coatsworth, they formed The Sewing Army. Responding to the shortage of PPE, they made masks, scrub caps and surgical gowns for healthcare workers, first responders and essential service workers. Their combined experience in costume and clothing design helped fashion their PPE donations.
The requests grew quickly, so more volunteers were almost immediately needed. “The sewists created a Facebook group called The Sewing Army on March 21, which began with under 100 members and grew to over 3,000 members rapidly,” Ann recalls. By June of this year, The Sewing Army — made up of actors, actresses, clothing designers, senior citizens, and many other gracious volunteers — had bonded together to contribute more than 70,000 PPE to essential workers.
Most recently the group has been able to shift donations from essential workers to non-profit and low-income organizations in need as well.
Just like many of the volunteers, Ann’s contributions to the cause initially came strictly from her own personal fabric and sewing supplies, but has been recently offset by donations and individual sales. Pictured here is a group of Albuquerque nurses wearing masks sewn by Ann.
As the pandemic continues, with no end in sight, the need for masks and PPE will undoubtedly continue as well, and so will the need for volunteers. In light of this need, pursuits and updates of the group can be viewed on their website thesewingarmy.com. The site includes simple patterns and tutorials for making masks and PPE, as well as a platform to request PPE, provide donations and inquire about partnership information.
As we persist to social distance and mask ourselves here in Arizona, Ann continues The Sewing Army’s quest by making phone calls to local nursing homes, extended care facilities and home healthcare providers to make sure their PPE needs are being fulfilled.
Besides being a pertinent part of The Sewing Army, Ann is also a wife to her husband, Art, whom she refers to as her greatest fan to her latest endeavor. She is a grandmother to an incredibly special grandson who lives in Canada, and a women’s historical fiction author, currently working on an adventure book for her grandson.
Ann is hoping to give her sewing machine another exceptionally long rest soon, to return to spoiling her grandson.