Sewing community making scrubs and bags for NHS workers

Hundreds of sewers across Scotland are working hard to make sure NHS and frontline carers are properly dressed for the job.

They are helping to make a wide of essential items – from scrubs to uniform bags.

In Fife, bridal gown designer Mira Jankowska, from Mirka Bridal Couture, has temporarily moved her focus away from making wedding dresses to helping key workers.

Ms Jankowska, who helped set up volunteer sewing group ‘For the Love of Scrubs Scotland’, said: “I really wanted to help in any way possible as lots of my brides and other clients work for the NHS.

“Someone let us know about the group that’s covering England so I spoke to the organiser and offered to take care of Scotland.

“It’s taken off from there. I never knew this group would grow so quickly,” she added.

The team has been working closely with hospitals and fabric suppliers to make sure the garments meet the necessary safety standards.

‘For the Love of Scrubs Scotland’ has already made more than 1000 sets of scrubs for frontline staff and has received more than 9000 requests.

Meanwhile in Aberdeenshire, volunteers have been busy sewing “scrub bags” for frontline workers.

Gaynor Wylie, who lives in Laurencekirk and runs Miss Molly’s Fabric Closet, has been donating fabric to keen sewers to make scrub bags.

In the last four weeks, they’ve made more than 400 bags.

Ms Wylie said: “The aim of the scrub bags is to help prevent further contamination when workers are washing their uniforms.

“I took 40 metres of fabric and starting dividing it into smaller pieces to make up a craft bag with everything sewers would need to make a scrub bag.

“Those went out very quickly and then a local shop donated more fabric and it’s just taken off from there.

“It’s an easy pattern so anyone with basic sewing skills can get involved,” she added.

In order to keep the scrub bags as clean as possible, volunteers are asked to wash the bags before placing them in a sealed plastic bag and bringing them to a drop-off point.

They’ve been distributed to care homes and GP surgeries across southern Aberdeenshire.

“We’ve been inundated with requests and as of this week been asked to make protective shoe bags too,” said Ms Wylie.

For more information on how to help For the Love of Scrubs you can visit: https://www.fortheloveofscrubs.scot/

For more information on making scrub bags you can visit: https://www.facebook.com/Missmollysfabriccloset/