Elastic has been flying off shelves in Border shops with many residents opting to make their own face masks.
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The sewing essential has now been stretched to its limit, with stocks running low at retailers such as Albury's Spotlight, Lincraft and even BCF.
Spotlight's department team manager Deb Clancy said shoppers were now looking for elastic alternatives, with stockings and t-shirt fabric both popular options.
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"Everybody's getting creative thinking about what else they can use," she said.
Ms Clancy added the sale of fabric had also skyrocketed since face coverings became mandatory in Victoria.
"For 99 per cent of customers at the moment that's all they're buying fabric for," she said.
"It hasn't stopped in the sew department, it's just a constant flow of people coming in."
Lincraft store manager Jody Muir agreed saying one fabric in particular appeared to be the most sought after for face coverings.
"Everyone wants black cotton fabric," she said.