DeKalb County

Mask makers forced to get creative amid elastic shortage

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Toilet paper isn't the only thing in short supply right now.

As many people are making their own protective masks at home, Channel 2′s Wendy Corona learned there are more items that are in high demand -- items you may not have expected.

Sanah Sayani told Corona remotely about her trek to go get supplies for making masks. She and a team of dedicated volunteer went full-throttle into making personal masks once her Thread Beauty Spa in Tucker became a “nonessential” business.

Channel 2 Action News has brought you numerous stories of people who have shifted careers to a new calling of creating masks out of fabric and elastic. But now, on social media feeds like on the Nextdoor app and even in email, there’s a call for help: People can’t find one key piece.

“Every time I’ve been in there, I’ve seen so many people picking up mask-making material,” Sayani said. “The biggest shortage right now is elastic, but like you can see, I made it with a T-shirt.”

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In Cobb County, Joyce Jiang is using bedsheets to bypass elastic for masks she's making for hospital workers.

People are making common household items work in this crunch time.

Corona called numerous craft and fabric stores Tuesday. Many were out of stock of elastic and fabric. Sayani says it’s time to pivot, and she’s even found the silver lining in using T-shirts.

"It's actually more comfortable than an elastic because it doesn't pull on your ear and you can adjust it, loosen it, tighten it," Sayani said.

Sayani said using t-shirts is easy to do and worth trying.

Corona found a way to make a mask, no sewing involved, using what you have at home: