Sister Masks
– When you wear a mask, think about safety, vulnerability, and your connection to your community.
The Navajo word for maternal aunt, shimá yázhí, literally means “little mother.” And aunties sew – at least in my family – and while my sister-in-law was in labor, I began to sew my new niece a quilt. It’s less about sewing and more about armoring the people I love. I secretly believe that the quilts I’ve made for my nieces, my sister, my husband keep them safe in my absence.
The pandemic arrived; again all I could do was fuss from afar. The pandemic arrived; so did my depression and anxiety. The pandemic arrived; I had so much time, and in my anxiety, I began to sew masks like so many others.
These “sister masks” are made from the leftover squares and bits of precious fabric I used to cover my loved ones in quilts. They are a small offering in the hopes of “no more stolen sisters,” the cry amidst the missing and murdered Indigenous women (MMIW+) epidemic. All proceeds from their sales have gone to support the work that the Urban Indian Health Institute does to provide COVID relief and incredibly important data collection about MMIW+.

Front: Red chino
Lining: White jersey

Front: Red jersey
Lining: White jersey

Front: Khaki & red chino
Lining: Beige linen

Front: Cotton flannel
Lining: Blue jersey

Front: Cotton flannel
Lining: Various (blue jersey, white jersey, or denim spandex)

Front: Spandex blends, khaki, linen, jersey, & sweatshirt
Lining: Red jersey

Front: Cotton flannel blend
Lining: Denim spandex

Front: Linen & spandex blend
Lining: White jersey

Front: Light canvas & yellow sweatshirt material
Lining: White jersey

Front: Citron spandex blend & grey heather jersey knit
Lining: White jersey

Front: Cotton & spandex blend
Lining: White jersey

Front: Rayon, cotton sateen, jersey, & spandex blend
Lining: White jersey with some print

Front: Cotton, rayon, jersey, & mesh
Lining: Royal blue jersey

Front: Cotton, rayon, jersey, & mesh
Lining: Royal blue jersey

Front: Jersey
Lining: White spandex blend

Front: Rayon, khaki, cotton, flannel, sateen, & linen
Lining: White jersey with some silkscreen

Front: Khaki & cotton print
Lining: White linen

Front: Khaki & denim
Lining: beige linen

Front: Khaki & linen
Lining: White jersey

Front: Cotton & linen blends
Lining: White linen

Front: Khaki & linen
Lining: White jersey

Front: Linen & khaki
Lining: White jersey

Front: Khaki & linen
Lining: White jersey

Front: Linen
Lining: Beige cotton

Front: Khaki
Lining: Striped cotton

Front: Khaki & linen
Lining: White jersey

Front: Blue chino & green khaki
Lining: White linen

Front: Cotton & khaki
Lining: White jersey

Front: Cotton & khaki
Lining: White jersey

Front: Cotton & sateen
Lining: White jersey

Front: Cotton & linen
Lining: White jersey

Front: Cotton
Lining: White jersey

Front: Cotton & grey khaki
Lining: White linen

Front: Chino blend & jersey
Lining: Black spandex blend

Front: Chino blend & jersey
Lining: Black spandex blend

Front: Denim, chino, & cotton
Lining: Blue jersey

Front: Denim & linen
Lining: White jersey

Front: Denim & cotton sateen
Lining: Blue jersey

Front: Denim & cotton sateen
Lining: Blue jersey

Front: Denim
Lining: Various (orange cotton blend, denim spandex, or black flannel)

Front: Denim
Lining: Various (denim spandex or black flannel)

Front: Denim, blue chino, and rayon
Lining: White linen

Front: Blue sport material
Lining: Black jersey

Front: Cotton, sateen, & linen
Lining: Blue jersey

Front: Cotton, linen, & polyester
Lining: Blue jersey

Front: Cotton & linen
Lining: Blue jersey

Front: Cotton & linen
Lining: Blue jersey

Front: Linen & cotton
Lining: White jersey with some silkscreen

Front: Cotton, linen, & sateen
Lining: Blue Jersey

Front: Cotton, jersey, & linen
Lining: White linen

Front: Knit spandex, chino, & rayon
Lining: White jersey

Front: Linen, chino, & cotton
Lining: Various (white jersey or denim spandex)

Front: Linen & flannel
Lining: White jersey

Front: Khaki & cotton
Lining: Turquoise jersey

Front: Flannel & chino
Lining: White jersey