Junior sews to stop spread

Since starting a cloth mask business in April, Junior Ashley Shamblen estimates that she has made about 1500 masks, which she has sold to people throughout the community to prevent COVID-19. 

Ashley said she recognized an enormous opportunity when the CDC began recommending masks to slow the spread of the disease. At the time, there was a shortage of masks, and she thought she could help the community while saving money to attend college, she explained.  

“We sell all our fabric masks for $5,” Ashley said. She added that she sells masks with her aunt and mother at the Lewisburg Farmers Market and her mother’s tanning salon, The Tropicana Tanarama in Milton. 

They sell a variety of sizes for children and adults. “We sell masks with teams, characters, colors, and patterns on them,” Ashley said. 

 “It gives me something to do and it keeps me occupied,” she said.  “I started making masks for my elderly neighbors in need and family friends.”  

 Ashley explained one challenge was a shortage of fabric and elastic in stores. She also said that bad weather sometimes prevented her from selling at the market. 

However, she had some bright spots. “We have had a lot of people come back and we have also received good reviews,” Ashley said. “Everyone has been supportive.”  

“I learned how to sew from the Family Consumer Science Class,” she said. “I used YouTube to try and figure (machine sewing) out rather than hand stitching.” 

She said it takes her 20 minutes to sew a mask. 

“My pattern was mostly just experimenting. I used a YouTube video to base a starting (pattern) off of and adjusted the measurements and proportions for different sizes,” Ashley said. High School Music Teacher Alyssa Williams and Spanish Teacher Angela Hunter both said that they wear their masks from Ashley almost every day. 

 “They are great quality and have never broken,” said Ms. Williams. “I highly encourage anyone that needs a mask to try out some of her masks.” 

“She has a great company started; she’s efficient, reasonably priced and has a good variety of patterns,” said Ms. Hunter.