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Coronavirus Kent: Margate teacher Harriet 'Bun' Johnson makes headbands to stop soreness from face masks for NHS staff

A teacher's crafty headbands are saving nurses and keyworkers getting sore patches from their protective masks.

Coronavirus and the Easter holidays have given Harriet 'Bun' Johnson, 25, of Margate, the impetus to get out her needle and thread and make 135 headbands.

Harriet 'Bun' Johnson with some of the headbands she has made
Harriet 'Bun' Johnson with some of the headbands she has made

She said: "It was a colleague who tagged me in to something on Facebook.

"Nurses were getting sore ears where they are wearing elastic masks.

"How it works is they put a headband on and loop the elastic behind the button that's on the headband to stop it irritating them."

The teacher at Drapers Mills, Margate, has used up materials she already had in her sewing box to make the first 30.

When she ran out she had to call on her nan, grandma and mum.

"They were leaving materials on the doorstep to pick up..."

"Nan first had most of the elastic and buttons, and then when she ran out I went to grandma, and when she ran out I went to mum.

"They were leaving things on the doorstep to pick up.

"When the demand went up for the headbands I was leaving the finished headband on my nan and grandma's doorsteps and they were adding the button part so I could get on with making more."

Growing up in Sandwich Ms Johnson has always enjoyed crafts and baking, coming from a family of women who taught her the pursuit.

But it was last year that she rekindled that love.

She added: "My sister-in-law gave me the mission to make bunting for my nieces.

"I got the bug and bought a sewing machine.

"I didn't do much over the winter but this has made it pick up again.

"My mum and nan really liked doing things like that so I grew up doing things like this."

Now, working a reduced timetable teaching the children of essential workers, she has time to continue taking more orders from her home on the Timperley Place estate, Deal.

If you have materials you can donate like elastic and buttons, please contact her by searching Bun Johnson on Facebook.

For the latest coronavirus news and advice, click here.

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