Facial Masks - Coronavirus

[bears10]

Are you able to sew at all? Hot glue would work, but it’s not going to wash well. If you can sew at all, I recommend just stitching in a piece of fabric at the top the you can put your pipe cleaner in.

This might be a stupid question. I really have zero experience in sewing, or really any crafting. Can I hot glue two pieces of the blue shop towels together to use as a filter? Since I will be throwing them out after each use anyway?

 

[Deleted member 158085]

This might be a stupid question. I really have zero experience in sewing, or really any crafting. Can I hot glue two pieces of the blue shop towels together to use as a filter? Since I will be throwing them out after each use anyway?

Sure. If they are disposable, no problem.

 

[SugarQueen]

We have a whole case of those shop towels! Woohoo!

 

[Tbone144]

Broke into my jelly roll packs for ties. They are a little longer and a little wider but save me cutting time. Made a dozen just mask portions this morning. Each one takes about 7 minutes. That’s before the ties. 2 hours later and I’ve completed 6 of them..so slow. My bias tape is in transit from my quilt fabric store. With that I figure it should take about 10 minutes per mask. My stitching isn’t perfectly straight but I don’t think anyone is going to care.

 

[MsJosie]

Surgeon General makes face mask with T-shirt and rubber bands | Daily Mail Online

Someone asked how to make a face mask when they don’t sew....well here is a quick video....a piece of cloth, folded and 2 rubber bands
NO sewing

all from the Daily Mail...

 

[Rose in SC]

Feel like we won the lottery! So DH was rummaging around the garage looking for more blue shop towels and to his amazement he found … an opened pack of Moldex N95 masks! Twelve out of 20 still in the pack - never used, look brand new. Thing is, the box says "use by August 2010" (!!!) Seriously, though, they look brand new. Even the elastic still looks good. DH tried one on and the elastic held just fine. We're going to keep 2 for ourselves, send 2 to daughter/son-in-law in Columbia, SC, and send 8 to DH's daughter/my stepdaughter in Rhode Island who is a nurse.

Question though … the "use by August 2010" doesn't mean the mask is no longer effective, does it? Isn't it more a concern that the elastic may have deteriorated? My stepdaughter the RN didn't seem to care, she was thrilled!

We're still going to make some shop towel masks for ourselves, just in case. A doctor in the comments of the video posted above actually tried them in the lab at the University of North Carolina. They used two sheets of the shop towels instead of just one and got excellent results. Plus I still have the cloth masks with the pocket so I'll be using two layers of shop towels as a filter.

What a crazy world this is now … to be so excited about face masks! Would never have imagined such a thing just a few short weeks ago.

 

[weepingangel]

Making your own face mask? Some fabrics work better than others, study finds — NBC News

 

[PayrollNerd]

I am actually going to break out my old machine, I have a Silohuette, and a pattern for cutting out masks. I am going to use up the stash. But, I also believe that this is going to be not only a fashion trend, but quite possibly required.

So, I am going to find some "man" fabric for my sons. Not just black. Something fun.

Some of my “guy fabrics” from my stash. My friend made the completed pile of finished masks. I’m still in progress with mine.

 

[crhedBngr]

Here is a link with 100% cotton sports teams fabrics:

Home Décor and More by BBCraftsCollectables

 

[Tbone144]

How many masks do you think per person? I was thinking 3, that way they can be cleaned but you don’t need to do laundry every day. I have a friend in medical field who has requested them. She said she would take what ever I have but trying to figure out a ball park. I’m staging it like quilting, cutting lots of fabric at once and then just assemble. Oh and I really hate ironing. I don’t mind pressing the pleats but that’s about they extent of my ironing desire.

 

[Deleted member 158085]

Broke into my jelly roll packs for ties. They are a little longer and a little wider but save me cutting time. Made a dozen just mask portions this morning. Each one takes about 7 minutes. That’s before the ties. 2 hours later and I’ve completed 6 of them..so slow. My bias tape is in transit from my quilt fabric store. With that I figure it should take about 10 minutes per mask. My stitching isn’t perfectly straight but I don’t think anyone is going to care.

What pattern are you using that only takes 7 minutes?

Edit - I see you mention pleats, so maybe the deaconess surgical masks? Those can go quickly.

 

[Deleted member 158085]

Making your own face mask? Some fabrics work better than others, study finds — NBC News

Heavy quilters cotton is recommended and t-shirts are not.

 

[Deleted member 158085]

Some of my “guy fabrics” from my stash. My friend made the completed pile of finished masks. I’m still in progress with mine.

I’m having real trouble finding guy fabrics in my stash or from friends so I just broke down and ordered some solids online.

 

[rogue ant]

I received the wrong kind of elastic. It's a clear plastic type thing, think "invisible bra straps". I wrote the retailer and they made a mistake, and they're out of the regular elastic.

Is it me or is finding elastic almost impossible? Everything on Amazon is from China.

 

[PayrollNerd]

How many masks do you think per person? I was thinking 3, that way they can be cleaned but you don’t need to do laundry every day. I have a friend in medical field who has requested them. She said she would take what ever I have but trying to figure out a ball park. I’m staging it like quilting, cutting lots of fabric at once and then just assemble. Oh and I really hate ironing. I don’t mind pressing the pleats but that’s about they extent of my ironing desire.

I’m thinking 5 per person because they’re working so many hours they’re going to be too tired to do wash after working 3 days straight.

I do an assembly line too. Cut all fronts, cut all linings, assemble, wash, iron, then add elastic. I have a high quality soft cotton for the liner piece so skin isn’t chafed after 12 hours.

 

[PayrollNerd]

I received the wrong kind of elastic. It's a clear plastic type thing, think "invisible bra straps". I wrote the retailer and they made a mistake, and they're out of the regular elastic.

Is it me or is finding elastic almost impossible? Everything on Amazon is from China.

You can use bias tape, trim or strips of fabric instead of elastic. Cut it 22” and thread it thru if you’re going for a behind the head or over the ears fit. The wearer can tighten it to fit.

 

[Tbone144]

What pattern are you using that only takes 7 minutes?

Edit - I see you mention pleats, so maybe the deaconess surgical masks? Those can go quickly.

I’m making this one for the first ones.
https://www.joann.com/on/demandware...ic/landingpage/assets/MaskInstructions_V2.pdf
I’ve made 14 with this pattern. Thinking I might switch it up. Everything but the ties I can do in 7 minutes.

 

[Deleted member 158085]

I received the wrong kind of elastic. It's a clear plastic type thing, think "invisible bra straps". I wrote the retailer and they made a mistake, and they're out of the regular elastic.

Is it me or is finding elastic almost impossible? Everything on Amazon is from China.

It’s been almost impossible to find for weeks. The 1/8 inch went first. Crafters are just cutting wider stuff down to size at this point.

 

[Deleted member 158085]

I’m thinking 5 per person because they’re working so many hours they’re going to be too tired to do wash after working 3 days straight.

I do an assembly line too. Cut all fronts, cut all linings, assemble, wash, iron, then add elastic. I have a high quality soft cotton for the liner piece so skin isn’t chafed after 12 hours.

Same. I cut one day, sew the next. I hate cutting. A friend has kids and truly has an assembly line going. She cranks our masses.

 

[Deleted member 158085]

I’m making this one for the first ones.
https://www.joann.com/on/demandware...ic/landingpage/assets/MaskInstructions_V2.pdf
I’ve made 14 with this pattern. Thinking I might switch it up. Everything but the ties I can do in 7 minutes.

The ties take forever, so I ordered one of those bias tape makers. I haven’t used it yet, though. I mostly made them with elastic.