Elon staff member Robin Plummer puts her sewing talents to work making surgical masks for health care workers battling the COVID-19 pandemic.
Robin Plummer was just 10 years old when she made her first piece of clothing.
“It was a yellow plaid mini-skirt in 1969. I wore it to school and it looked good with my little penny loafers!” Plummer recalled with a laugh. “My mother taught me how to sew. I would sit and watch her make clothes for us and for other people, and I’ve been sewing ever since.”
Administrative assistant to President Emeritus Leo M. Lambert, Plummer has also built a robust quilting business during the past 10 years, making beautiful quilts for church and school raffles, and for her shop on Etsy, Robbienae Quilts.
Plummer has set aside that work to sew surgical masks for nurses and other health-care workers on the frontlines at UNC Hospitals. Her cousin, a nurse at UNC, sent out a plea to friends and family to fire up their sewing machines and help address the critical shortage of face masks due to the coronavirus.
“When someone needs something, you go into action and you help,” Plummer said. “That’s what we all do at Elon and that’s why we work so well together.”
Plummer sorted through her stash of fabric from previous sewing projects, researched patterns online and then got to work. When she ran out of elastic, she switched to fabric ties to make the masks functional. It takes her about 15 minutes to make one mask, which includes two layers of tightly woven cotton plus an inside layer of cotton flannel for comfort.
During the past week, she’s stitched more than 80 masks, choosing bold prints and bright colors to bring joy to the doctors, nurses and other front-line heroes who will wear them.
“I’m hoping when people grab one of my masks that maybe it’ll give them a glimmer of joy in their work,” she said. “I’ll keep making the masks until they’re no longer needed.”
Plummer has worked at Elon for close to 20 years, serving in various administrative roles in the accounting office, University Advancement and President’s Office.
“When adverse situations like this come up, people’s character reveals itself,” Lambert said. “I think this is true to form for Robin that she’s thinking of others and figuring out a way to use her skills as a very talented seamstress and quilter to benefit other people. It reflects the level of care, selflessness and kindness that Robin demonstrates every day in our office.”
Plummer sews early in the morning and at night. It’s become therapeutic during a time when staying at home and social distancing have become the norm.
“It’s a time of meditation and prayer for me,” she said. “I’m praying that we can get through this situation and for all the first responders. It makes me feel thankful that what I am contributing is needed and appreciated.”