My grandmother used to talk about the elastic shortage during the second world war. I don’t know, of all the things she told me, that stuck with me. Then another friend’s grandma told a story about using drawstring for their underwear and one day her string broke and her underwear dropped to the floor.
You would think, knowing my propensity to keep everything I might every need, I would have elastic in all shapes and sizes here. Nope. No elastic.
Now that so many of us are wanting to make masks, there’s no 1/8″ elastic and very little 1/4″ elastic to be found. I’m not blaming. I’m not saying there’s a shortage. There’s probably very little, if anything, that wouldn’t be in short supply if tons of people suddenly ordered it and right now . . it’s elastic.
I was thinking . . imagine someone out there who has no idea about the massive mask project, and today . . they need 1/8″ elastic. They won’t have a clue why there’s none available anywhere.
Several people making masks have said that the medical facilities are preferring strings for tying vs. elastic because of the hot water washing. So, the masks can still be made even without elastic!
cindilb says
My mom was born in 1932. She said during WWII there was no elastic, so her mother made her underwear with a button on it. She was walking down the street, the button popped off and her underwear hit the sidewalk. She said she stepped out of them and kept walking, just pretending it hadn’t happened. Thank you for making the masks, and good luck on your elastic hunt.
Judy Laquidara says
Oh, no . . another story I’ll never get out of my mind! 🙂
Sandi B says
I read on someone’s blog they took an old t-shirt and cut 1”strips across the bottom to use as ties/elastic. I’d think, if you did a small zig zag to close it, it could easily take the place of elastic. I’ve not tried it yet, but I will.
Cathi says
Elastic looses its elasticity even in storsge after a few years.
Judy Laquidara says
Maybe but I have clothes with elastic that I’ve worn for years and years (pajama bottoms specifically and they’re still stretchy. I do have some that are probably 10 years old or older and it’s time for them to be turned into dusting rags.
Liz says
I ordered some elastic so until I get it, I’m making the larger masks (Mask for a nurse by a nurse, modified for insert) that my doctor liked. And then I’m making the smaller ones with elastic to give to her so she can hand out to her other patients.
Cilla says
No elastic around here either and I just finished using all that I had on 8 masks. Tomorrow I’ll make a 1/4″ binding to insert instead in place of the elastic. Someone mentions shoe laces, another mentioned craft rolled string or cording. That’s a few alternatives.
Nelle Coursey says
When I worked at the bank in the 70’s there was a woman who was coming in to make a deposit and she had on those stretch pants with the elastic waist (not sewn in, just pulled through) and I guess the elastic broke because she lost her pants walking up the steps. She stooped down, pulled them up and held them until she got back to her car! LOL Then when I was in TSTC they came in one day and told a student who was always wearing sweats that he was being expelled for terroristic threats to some students and teachers. He was not wearing the sweats that day, he was wearing jeans and they were tight on him so he unbuttoned and unzipped them! When he got up he was so mad he forgot to rebutton and rezip and his pants fell down! No one laughed because that guy was nuts. After he left the teacher just said, Well that was interesting!
Val says
I just ordered some 1/8th inch elastic, a spool of 125 yards my fear is that I am going to use it all. It’s going to be 2 weeks tho, so fabric ties it is starting tomorrow.
We have been home for 2 weeks already, but live in the country so can get outside although it is still very much winter with lots of snow yet.
Betty Edwards says
I have used all my 1/4” elastic and using the one pack of 1/8” I have. What funny is I had a cleaning urge a while back, 8 have a bag full of 1/4” elastic and some other sizes from years ago. Well Good Will got that whole bag. If my hubby would let me out of this house I would go see if Good Will still had it! I also have a huge roll of 1/2” elastic…a friend son tried it and said it wasn’t uncomfortable. So that will be used next! One day I might give the ties a go! Lolo
We all do what we can! We are quilters, sewers, knitters and crocheted…we love what we do and if anyone can be helped we do our best!
Susan Nixon says
And the hospital here doesn’t want any home made masks! They refused them. I was so surprised.
Judy Laquidara says
I’ve heard of many that are. I know they’re not the best but they are better than nothing and some are using them to extend the life of N95.