Facial Masks - Coronavirus

[Tbone144]

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.

I have one coming from my quilt fabric store too. Hopefully it will work well because I only have enough bias to make 84 masks and my mom just put in a request to send a bunch that way. If I make 5 per person..uff da that’s a lot of sewing. I hate to change up my pattern if I can make them that fast to something slower. Checking with my friend to see if she needs specific kind. I may send her a few to try and then we can work from there.

ETA: I was late to the elastic game. Not sure I want to sacrifice my hair ties when I’m keeping it up all the time now and always manage to lose them.

 

[Tbone144]

Let’s see if this picture works. This is the second one I made. I was able to use a single layer of the high thread count sheet material and quilting fabric on the future ones. No light gets through, they can double as blindfolds.

ETA: The purple one is what most of them are. I did 12 today, completed with ties. About to go up a do another batch so all I have to add is the bias when it arrives.

 

[Deleted member 158085]

Let’s see if this picture works. This is the second one I made. I was able to use a single layer of the high thread count sheet material and quilting fabric on the future ones. No light gets through, they can double as blindfolds.

ETA: The purple one is what most of them are. I did 12 today, completed with ties. About to go up a do another batch so all I have to add is the bias when it arrives.

I started adding interfacing. One of the hospitals is requesting it as an added layer.

 

[Deleted member 158085]

But then I started doing the Olson masks, as nurses were requesting them. I am very tired of that pattern now and starting to do the ones like Payrollnerd is doing. My images of the Olson masks won't upload, unfortunately. They are too big even though they are phone pics. Frustrating.

 

[PayrollNerd]

I was looking at the bias tape my friend used. The emoji fabric is one of hers. It looks to me like she cut it really long. It’s about 34”! I know it needs to be adjustable but that seems excessive.

I have the bias tape maker but I’ve never used it. I’ve made ties before. I just roll, stitch and iron. When I run out of elastic, I’ll make them.

The blue anchor mask is mine that I made for me. The elastic is 24” long and I decided that is too much. I’m going to make them 22” instead. I wear glasses and can’t hook loops behind my ears. Plus running it thru the side channels makes for a snug fit.

 

[Gardenista]

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.

Do you have any bungee cords you could cut open and use the elastic that is inside?

 

[SugarQueen]

Payrollnerd, do you find the straight fit makes it hard to talk without it pulling the mask down?
I took that pattern, added a bit extra angled on the side, and a bit more length. It gives me the fitted top, and 2 pleats in the mouth area.
I think I’ll steal your idea of running the 22” piece of elastic on a few.

 

[PayrollNerd]

Payrollnerd, do you find the straight fit makes it hard to talk without it pulling the mask down?
I took that pattern, added a bit extra angled on the side, and a bit more length. It gives me the fitted top, and 2 pleats in the mouth area.
I think I’ll steal your idea of running the 22” piece of elastic on a few.

No not at all. Mine was snug but very breathable and I could be understood when speaking. The nurses at the cancer center were impressed with it. I left it open on the sides to add a clean dry baby wipe as a filter but I don't find that necessary. The nurses told me the whole point of wearing one, is so that I don’t infect others, not to prevent them from infecting me. If no one knows who the virus carriers are, then it makes perfect sense for everyone to wear one. JMO.

We cut out and made one of each size. The most popular size was the women’s. We tested 4 adults. Even my daughter, who is thin and has a heart shaped face, needed the women’s size (large). It has to be long enough to tuck under your chin so it doesn't creep up and block your vision.

Face Mask Pattern - Free Sewing Pattern • Craft Passion

 

[PayrollNerd]

But then I started doing the Olson masks, as nurses were requesting them. I am very tired of that pattern now and starting to do the ones like Payrollnerd is doing. My images of the Olson masks won't upload, unfortunately. They are too big even though they are phone pics. Frustrating.

When you select the photo, change the size and it will upload.

 

[Deleted member 158085]

When you select the photo, change the size and it will upload.

I don’t see that option when I click upload a file.

 

[SuziQ]

Good morning everyone.

This is the easiest mask pattern yet. Moo.

How do you make your own face mask? 2News Mary Nickles shows you

 

[PayrollNerd]

I don’t see that option when I click upload a file.

I have an iPhone and I have that option but on my iPad, I don’t see that option. I’m not sure why but maybe it’s a device related thing?

Maybe there’s an option to compress files for uploading in your settings.

 

[SuziQ]

Moo. The easiest mask pattern yet. Especially for personal use and lacking supplies.

How do you make your own face mask? 2News Mary Nickles shows you

 

[rogue ant]

Do you have any bungee cords you could cut open and use the elastic that is inside?

No, unfortunately I don't.

 

[SandyQLS]

I think you have to use the "HEPA filter vacuum bags", because they capture the tiny micron size. Others have mentioned this, above. I see several brands on Amazon, I'd buy right now if I were you, for yourself and for other sewing minded friends if this turns into a long haul. I see on Amazon the Kirby vacuum bags are billed as "Allergen reduction filters". Maybe someone else could weigh in if these are the style to get.

• Kirby Generation 3, 4, 5, 6, Ultimate G and Sentria cloth HEPA Bags 6 Pack
• Disposable Kirby vacuum bags
• Traps 99.97% of particles as small as .1 microns
  

I finally found a couple of allergy vacuum bags in the house. I cut one open and found that it has a white liner/filter. We are only supposed to use the white liner/filter part inside of our masks not the exterior bag? Thank you.

 

[SandyQLS]

1. I found an old bikini top. Keep one cup on ribcage string, discard other cup. Cut off neck string and tie it to rib string to increase length. Wear upside down - point goes over chin, ribcage string goes over nose and ears, tie in back. Maybe not the best material because it is a poly blend, but it has a lining sewn in and it is easy to cut a slit and add a filter. Small, but super easy.

2. I found some old cloth napkins, the kind you might have to iron, cotton linen. I think this material is very good and can be used for the simple Korean no-sew scarf mask.

Thank you for the thread.

 

[SandyQLS]

Make Your Own DIY COVID-19 Face Shield (Version 2.0)

That's a great video. I found some flexible weather stripping and had the same idea to use it somehow- now I know what to do with it. Instead of elastic & velcro, I found some old tennis headbands or sweatbands to keep secure on head.

He spent $25 on those plastic sheets. The best material I found at home ( $0 and no shopping) is the lid of an old box for Hallmark Christmas cards. It is very clear plastic and the correct flexibility, 10" long piece.

Other office supplies look clear but were too opaque when placed over face. A 2-liter soda bottle is curved but very stiff, only 9" after cut aways.

 

[SandyQLS]

Good morning everyone.

This is the easiest mask pattern yet. Moo.

How do you make your own face mask? 2News Mary Nickles shows you

LMAO. That's perfect. You could even insert a filter between the layers.

She mentions that she heard that cotton blend is better than 100% cotton, interesting.

(LOL Here is my gardening combo face mask + hair covering, No Scissors needed: Put t-shirt over head with neck hole around face. Tie sleeves behind head, yes short sleeves and yes one knot will hold just fine. Pull bottom of neck hole up over nose and mouth, you can make a fold to double-layer; pull top down to eyebrows. Your neighbors will think you are a Muslim terrorist, but you won't get insects, dirt, debris in your nose or hair.)

 

[Laughing]

Fabric choice:

Polyester & most synthetic fibers are smooth, silk & linen are also smooth. These fibers do not filter as well as cotton, unless the synthetic was made to have a less-smooth surface.

Wool is fuzzy as a fiber, but would be hot on your face & would hold that heat & moisture of your breathing, good for a scarf in the winter, not ideal all day in the spring!

(And -- higher quality wool is not itchy. Lower quality wool is generally not itchy -- that generally is the sheep poo that wasn't removed well during cheaper production process!)

I do some living history & we're aaaallll about fiber.

Have you seen this one:

DIY Sew Quick Face Mask aka Buff Tutorial Instructions

YMMV

 

[PayrollNerd]

8 mask bodies finished today. Now they need something threaded thru the channels. I have some elastic but probably not enough. I took the bias tape out of one that my friend made and measured it (48”). Then, I put it on to see if it really was too long. I guess for an adult head, to tie it in a bow at the back, 48” isn’t overly long. I’m going to go thru all my leftover ribbon, trim, and strips of fabric. I may just roll a piece of fabric, use an elongated zig zag stitch and call it a day. Stay tuned.