The lady behind the Paisley mask

Sandra is using 17-year old equipment

An old sewing machine is glowing red-hot as it crafts stylish Paisley pattern virus masks.

Pro-machinist Sandra Fernie, 63, has turned volunteer work into a commercial enterprise using the town’s famous teardrop patterns.

She explained: “I’ve sold hundreds and actually ran out of fabric.

“Thankfully, my new rolls have arrived and I can take orders again.”

Sandra is charging £ 5 each for the distinctive, washable masks.

She said: “They’ve become a bit of a fashion must-have in Paisley.

“People seem to love them and I am delighted.”

The mum-of-two and gran-of-three is turning them out on her trusty 17-year-old Juki sewing machine.

Proud Buddie Sandra, now living in Linwood, took voluntary redundancy three years ago after spending 27 years as a machinist.

At the start of the lockdown she was making medical scrubs, including trousers and tunics, free of charge after a plea for help from the NHS.

Her husband Les spent time in hospital being treated for coronavirus, but has made a full recovery.

Now Sandra is loving creating the masks and earning a small amount.

She said: “I guess I missed being at the machine so much I had to get back to doing something.

“Nobody was able to visit Les in hospital, so it helped me to keep busy while I was stuck in the house.

“When I had finished all the scrubs, I started making face masks for all the family.

“I have nine different colours and patterns and everybody always asks where to get them.

“At the beginning, I could hardly keep up with demand and people were buying two and three at a time.

“I was advertising them on Facebook as the new everyday accessory.

“Just yesterday I received my new supplies of Paisley fabric, so I expect an uptake again.

“I am just so lucky my employers allowed me to take my machine with me when I left. “It has become an old friend to me.” You can order your pattern mask on Sandra’s Facebook page, which is called Made for You in Paisley.