Seamstress turns her business to face-coverings

By timesecholife on in All News, Community News

A seamstress from Blythe Bridge is producing face coverings for sale after putting her skills to use making scrubs for NHS staff. Jill Birks runs Ready Steady Stitch from her home in Blythe Bridge, but was forced to call a halt to her usual work when the UK went into lockdown. As NHS workers battled with the coronavirus pandemic, Jill volunteered as a hub for ‘Scrubs for Stoke’ making scrubs for medics on the front line at Royal Stoke Hospital.

A seamstress from Blythe Bridge is producing face coverings for sale after putting her skills to use making scrubs for NHS staff.

Jill Birks runs Ready Steady Stitch from her home in Blythe Bridge, but was forced to call a halt to her usual work when the UK went into lockdown.

As NHS workers battled with the coronavirus pandemic, Jill volunteered as a hub for ‘Scrubs for Stoke’ making scrubs for medics on the front line at Royal Stoke Hospital.

Now, after having to self-isolate for 14 days, Jill is back at work and creating face coverings for sale after the Government recommended cloth coverings in enclosed public spaces.

Jill said: “I have over 30 years’ experience in dress-making tailoring, clothing alterations, sample making and soft furnishings, but my business came to an abrupt halt since lock down as I’ve not been able to let my customers visit because of the Government guidelines.

“To keep myself occupied I volunteered to run a hub for the charity Scrubs for Stoke and in total myself and a group of fantastic dedicated ladies have made over 3,000 scrubs, wash-bags, hats and headbands.

“I’ve become friends with one of the ladies who runs the hub in Wetley Rocks and hopefully when this is over we will be able to meet up.

“Unfortunately I had to cease doing the hub and making scrubs as my son had Covid-19 symptoms and my family had to self-isolate for 14 days.

“After the 14 days I got asked by a couple of my customers if I could make them some face coverings, which they were delighted with, so I carried on making them for others.

“I have used the same system as I did for the hub, through a collection box on my front porch with no person to person contact.

“Until things improve and I can start to do clothing fittings in my home again, I can keep my business going through making face coverings.”

To find out more about her face coverings, search for ‘Jill Birks’ on Facebook.

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