Cooling Wraps & Sew-alongs
Join us in protecting farmworkers from heat stress. Our goal is to deliver hundreds of cooling wraps to farmworkers across the state, via our community partners, before June. They're simple to sew -- if you can do a straight stich on your sewing machine, you can make these! See below for instructions, locations, and sew-along times to join us in person.Download the cooling wrap pattern.
Sew-alongs
Come sew with us! If you're able to bring your sewing machine, fantastic. If you don't know how to sew but you can cut fabric or add beads in, also fantastic!
When: May 9th, 1-3pm
Where: Georgetown Seattle Recreative, 6521 5th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98108
Bring: Sewing machine if you're able; cotton fabric scraps/lengths; yourself and your willing hands. We'll provide the hydrating beads.
More sew-alongs to come -- check back here, join our mailing list or follow us on instagram to get updates!
Cooling Wrap Drop-off
Where: Stitches Seattle, 711 E Pike St
When: During store hours through May 27th.
To coordinate drop-off or pickup of a batch elsewhere, contact our Sew-along Lead, Kenna Kettrick.
Instructions: You'll need cotton fabric and hydrating beads. (These are the ones we're using). Each wrap is made with a strip of fabric and just a spoonful of beads. For full instructions, click here for our PDF (skip step eight though -- no need to hydrate them now!)
What is heat stress?
Heat Stress is when the body cannot get rid of excess heat leading to heat-related illness. Heat-related illnesses include heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat rash, or heat stroke. Symptoms can be sweating to dizziness, cessation of sweating, and collapse. If untreated, heat-related illness can lead to heatstroke and become life-threatening. One can die from heat stress in under two hours.
Farmworkers die of heat-related illness 20 times greater than the entire U.S. civilian workforce. They face risk of heat stress in the fields, packing areas, and housing. On the average day the fields are 8-10 °F degrees hotter than the reported daily high. Farmworkers work 12 hours or more during peak season (July and August). Those who feed us deserve safety, equity, and dignity.
Get In Touch
If you're interested in hosting a sew-along, please send us an email.