Crafty Tasmanians provide frontline healthcare workers with scrub caps

Crafty Tasmanians have answered calls for help on social media, making scrub caps to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

CRAFTY Tasmanians are coming to the aid of the state’s frontline healthcare workers, making scrub caps to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Hospital nurses have put out calls on social media in recent days, particularly on good karma networks and other community groups, asking if people with sewing skills could make hats for staff.

Scrub caps are worn by many nurses and doctors in hospitals across the globe.

They not only keep hair off the faces of staff while they treat patients, but they also reduce a staff member’s risk of infection by providing an added layer of protection. Scrubs and hats can be easily removed at the end of a shift and thrown into a hot wash.

Sandra Taute of Lindisfarne has started sewing scrub caps for healthcare workers. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

The added risk of coronavirus has led many staff, like those working in hospital emergency departments, to start wearing scrub hats for the first time.

Which is why staff put out a call for help, sharing printable patterns on Facebook.

Staff are asking for the caps to be as brightly coloured as possible, with one Royal Hobart Hospital emergency nurse saying that as well as offering an extra layer of protection, the hats provided a colourful pop of cheer in a situation that could often seem quite bleak.

Cotton fabric is ideal as it can withstand high wash temperatures.

A large number of sewing enthusiasts have responded, with some even planning group craft sessions using video-conferencing platform Zoom.

Those who can’t sew have been donating fabric.

Meanwhile, Spotlight in Hobart is providing a 50 per cent discount on suitable fabrics (5m or more) to customers making scrub caps.

Sandra Taute, of Lindisfarne, is one of many sewing enthusiasts embracing the challenge.

She is on leave from her public service job and is about to start a 12-month position as an enrolled nurse.

“I had a few weeks off between jobs and thought while I’m home here’s a way I can help out,’’ she said.

For more info visit the Adopt a Healthcare Worker – Tasmania Facebook page or download a pattern at brimmingwithlove.com/pattern