CORNWALL SCRUBS | HOW TO MAKE A LAUNDRY BAG FOR PPE

The ‘Cornwall Scrubs - make scrubs to help our NHS and healthcare workers’ group was formed this April in response to the on-going Covid19 crisis. Set up by Annie Lucas, the founder of Start to Stitch, with the goal to provide regional resources, guidance and connections for home makers in Cornwall to support the national campaign #fortheloveofscrubs

With over 400 requests for scrubs, Annie called out for volunteers able to wash, cut, sew, or deliver vital PPE equipment to our frontline key workers. Within 24 hours of publishing the group it had gained over 500 offers of support, growing quickly to 940 in just 5 days. Across the county people are pulling out their sewing machines to make scrubs, laundry bags, caps and face masks supported by a full logistical team, generous local business donations and Go Fund Me campaign.

We have set up a production of scrubs with the guidance of this group, using a low cost pattern from Blue Sky Printing and PPE level polycotton from Wholesale Fabrics for Falmouth Hospital. While we wait for these materials to arrive, we have also put together a simple DIY drawstring bag pattern; an aid to safely transport worn scrubs to launder with minimal infection risk.

Our workshop space and large pattern cutting table has us well positioned to support the broader network of home makers that have been mobilised by Cornwall Scrubs. And so this week we have been cutting and preparing over x200 bag sewing kits from a generous supply of cotton, kindly donated by sustainable clothing company Finisterre. These have been distributed around the county to those without fabric supply or cutting facilities.

If you missed the first call for home makers or you’re outside of Cornwall and want to help, you can still join the cause and make these scrub laundry bags from home! Below you can download our digital pattern and ‘How To’ instructions. All you’ll need is:

• A metre of cotton or poly cotton
  (or any fabric that can be washed at 60 degrees)

• Thread

• Sewing machine

• Iron

• Scissors

• Chalk/pen

• Ruler

DIGITAL PATTERN

HOW TO INSTRUCTIONS

We have tried to make these bags as easy as possible to make but if you are having any issues with the instructions, please feel free to get in touch for advice: hello@francli.co.uk

To donate to the Cornwall Scrubs effort
www.gofundme.com/f/cornwall-scrubs

For more information about Cornwall Scrubs
‘Cornwall Scrubs - make scrubs to help our NHS and healthcare workers’

For more information about the national campaign
#fortheloveofscrubs

A massive thank you to our sponsors!
Finisterre

Photography
James Bannister