Seven local mask makers teamed up to provide 150 masks for vocal students at Ottumwa High School.
The pattern came from the choir director at Muscatine High School and was designed by Joan Fearnley, who directs the women’s and children’s choirs at Notre Dame Cathedral in Ottawa, Ontario. Her design helps contain droplets while allowing space around the mouth to sing comfortably. The cost to purchase these masks online ranged from $25 to $33 each.
Four local seamstresses had already worked the entire month of August sewing staff and youth masks for the district. "I was a little tired of red," joked Carol Ryon, who leads the effort to make masks for the community. When approached about the singer's mask, Ryon reached out to OHS vocal director, Dennis Vasconez. He had already been researching options to allow his students to sing and perform this fall but the cost was prohibitive. Ryon made a sample for Vasconez to try, resulting in a request to make 150 for his four vocal groups.
District funds were used to purchase the materials needed (35 yards of fabric, 270 yards of elastic, and 4,000 yards of thread) and the mask makers put their machines in gear. Each mask takes about two hours to complete. Cost per mask is approximately $2.70 each.
While they might have tired of sewing red, the black fabric proved more difficult to sew. "Black is harder to see when sewing," said Ryon. Volunteers worked 5 1/2 days to complete 150 masks in assembly-line fashion. Three volunteers helped with non-sewing tasks such as cutting, pinning, ironing, and inserting zip ties and metal strips. Seamstresses included Ryon, Mary Jane Vasconez, Kristi Meyers, and Sherry North.
They appreciated help from Jeff Long, Indian Hills, who tumbled the donated sheet metal nose pieces to remove the sharp edges.
The sewing projects have given Ryon something to do and is more fun to do as a group, she said. "People like to help and feel like they can contribute. Grace wants to serve and be a blessing to our community."
