Dixie Parker has two sewing machines, one for the masks and the others for her wild rags, satin scarves for cowboys. She has been making masks for about seven hours a day since the end of March. She is approaching 700 masks.
SWAN VALLEY – "I love to sew and I love to feel like I'm helping people," said Dixie Parker of Condon who has made more than 671 cloth masks since mid-March.
Parker, who was encouraged to start making masks by daughters Casey Graham and Kellie Auchenbach, is giving away the masks to help those in need during the coronavirus pandemic. Not only has she supplied masks to those in her community but veterans in Colorado and health care workers in Colorado, Washington and Arizona.
"I was just so tickled to help them out," said Parker.
Parker started sewing in ninth grade. She has sewn clothing, blankets and most recently potholder sets and wild rags.
Parker came up with the idea to make potholder sets and sell then while working in the school kitchen in Sequim, Wash. The money she raised went into an account that she used to help students in need. One year she raised $1,200 that she used to provide Christmas presents to children.
"Knowing that that money is going to the kids was such a thrill for me," said Parker. "Especially when I got to go and do the Christmas shopping."
After moving to the Swan Valley, she continued making potholder sets. She uses the money to support students at Swan Valley School.
"I love it. I think it is great," said Parker.
When the coronavirus pandemic hit Montana in mid-March, Graham and Auchenbach encouraged Parker to start sewing cloth masks.
"When this came up there were a lot of people that were really scared," said Parker. "They were concerned and they couldn't find anything."
Parker found YouTube videos on how to make masks and adapted them to make masks for all ages. Being a self proclaimed "crazy fabric lady" she had enough fabric on hand to make the masks out of cotton on the outside and flannel on the inside. She also makes four-inch wide "ear savers," bands with buttons to connect the elastic from the mask so it doesn't rub the ears.
"I really have not left my sewing machine since I started," said Parker who estimates she sews for seven hours a day. "It's been so fun. My family thinks I'm crazy. My grandchildren think I've lost my mind because whenever they come to visit this is what I'm doing."
Initially Parker made her masks available at the Mission Mountains Mercantile north of Condon starting at the end of March. However, when her box of 20 masks was cleaned out in a couple of hours she decided to offer them by order from her home. She places the masks in bags with a name on them in a tote at the end of her driveway. She also includes one ear saver and a pack of pocket Kleenex that can be used in addition to the mask for added protection.
"People just love it and it has worked out just great," said Parker.
While Parker continues to make and sell her wild rags, satin scarves, through her Facebook profile "Just Hors'in Around," she posted about offering cloth masks March 21 saying, "No charge for masks, just shipping." She received her largest order of 50 masks for a veterans' home in Colorado and orders for medical offices in Washington, Colorado and Arizona.
"I was just so tickled," said Parker who added the veterans' home has been her largest order. "That was really cool to be able to help them out."
Parker accepts donations but it is not an expectation. She has been extremely grateful for the donations of elastic "it has been like trying to find gold," fabric, buttons and money. The donations she collects goes into an account that will be used to replenish her fabric to make more masks or be used for another project to help others.
"I have no idea what the expenses are because that is not why I do it," said Parker. "I just did it because I wanted to help."
To order masks contact Dixie Parker through her Facebook page.
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