The Middlebury Costume Shop in the Time of Covid-19
On March 12, 2020, the last in-person spring classes were held in the costume shop. Since then, the Costume Shop has been making protective face masks for Middlebury College students, employees, and Porter Hospital. Armed with mask-making instructions from Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and the generous support from President Laurie Patton’s own discretionary funds, staff, faculty, and friends of MIDD’s Department of Theatre have produced 2,321 in just a few weeks.
Besides sourcing the hard-to-come-by cotton, flannel, and coveted elastic, materials must be pre-washed, pressed, cut, and distributed to sewers.After sewing, all masks get laundered one last time, size marked, and bagged by 2 for distribution. Robin Foster Cole, Associate Costume Shop Director, proudly shows off her handy work, after spending a long day cutting and sewing masks in the costume shop. Our group’s skills range from sewing a face-ready mask in 3 minutes to learning more about sewing through this project. Some have become quite skilled at quickly marking mask sizes and bagging; others are now specialists at the side pleats.All have selflessly donated their time to this necessary project at keeping Vermont healthy and safe! Thanks to everyone involved!!
