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Here is some information that I have gleaned for making face masks and sent out to some other friends and family. For time, I will likely use the first pattern but adapt it with ideas from the other. I had a pair of black dress pants, still solid woven, not worn fabric, but the zipper had broken. I will be turning it into "acceptable" color for my sailor, and hopefully, he won't have to purchase any. I will likely use black elastic, I happened to find in my sewing drawer and just make ties, since I can't fit them. I may make a few with the elastic wrapped around. But I also have plenty of ribbon for ones for the family. I have some flat wired Christmas ribbon I never used and found. I will see if that can work for the wire, as I believe I donated any leftover pip cleaners to our children's ministry. (And my family wonders why I don't throw things away!!) Tight weave seems to be important, but also breathable! Filters have to be removable, to wash the mask or you have to sanitize differently. 

DO NOT microwave masks in a Ziploc bag!!!  - Yes, someone posted that someone had done it!!

Personally, I will be carrying a bandana handkerchief in my pocket, until I can get masks made for my sailor - who may also do the same if I am reading some other information correctly. I know how to keep my 6 ft distance from others  - so yes, I am the rebel at the moment, but I have also been monitoring my temperature 2x / day since DoD first sent that directive out. And I do wear gloves in public, the simple food handler gloves are relatively cheap, easily pulled off and thrown away quickly and before I get back in my car, which now carries a pump of hand sanitizer in the cup holder. Which I have been known to also put on my face which I might have just touched because it itched and I forgot. I am getting better at that. I also have a container of disinfectant wipes in my car. And we wipe down items I bring home from the grocery store, as well as remove fresh fruits and vegetables from packaging. Not trying to be arrogant, just sharing my precautions. I figure until they start requiring the clerks at the store, to wear masks and gloves, and there isn't a direct "law" then I will be mindful and I have started training myself at home to sneeze inside my shirt. To me that is much more effective at preventing spray than into my arm or shoulder. 

Here are the links - 

This is the basic pattern that I am going to use and adapt.
https://www.marywashingtonhealthcare.com/documents/PDFs/Cloth-Face-...

This next one is the CDC recommendation but I don't think their stitched one is as easy to do and it does not use a wire.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-...

This came from a Homeschool freebie. com a week ago -. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3O69cyI8WNw&feature=youtu.be  - She offers a good suggestion for using air filter paper, but this one is NOT washable.  If it doesn't have the pattern send me a PM and I will see if I can share it with you. 

This one uses bias binding -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqjlY0XjIZk

Allows for the wire, stitched in, I think and pocket for adding a throw away filter. Uses a pipe cleaner for wire. Since using one piece of fabric to reduce cutting and stitching, suggests marking on the back side "BACK" with marker, or use embroidery floss to place initials of the person using.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNX0cRrYj6U
https://leahday.com/pages/how-to-make-a-face-mask-free-pattern - pattern link and other comments.
https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/best-materials-make-diy-face-ma... - materials to use

Not likely to use the pattern, but shows using ties only instead of a bias binding edge.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4USPU1Trz4

The pattern for the T-shirt that I liked was to cut the arm holes of a T-shirt to the inside of the shirt, that is leaving the stitched seam as a part of the face mask. Then you slipped the sleeve, outer cuff on the top, over your head and pulled up over your face. She is another one that suggested using a coffee filter, which I believe I still have some in my cabinet. Some people are saying a paper towel, but not sure how effective that is, but again, it is an option. The paper is disposed of and the mask is reusable. I would find this hard to deal with, without some adaptation, but wearing two is probably as good as a bandana.

My understanding is that pillowcase and tea towels (the old style non fussing one) have tight weave, as well as batik material (which I am wondering if that is actually made from cotton muslin),  are things I am hearing and reading about but not an expert on. I would definitely make sure you can breath through it easily if you are going to need to wear for a long time. Personally, I still have cloth diapers I can use!! 

Keep in mind, it is just as important how you remove the face masks, and contain it until you are able to wash it. My suggestion, keep a butter bucket or such with a lid in your car. Put a solution of soapy water and at least vinegar (not know to kill the virus but not harmful to fabric as I have heard alcohol can be.) If you have access to the Liquid Lysol Concentrate (comes in a brown bottle and is a brown liquid) you could put it in the tub. I used it when washing cloth diapers and still use with towels and bed sheets. You just need a little bit. Or a Ziploc bag. Remove the mask and place it in that, in your car before driving, if you are very concerned that it is contaminated. And wash when you get home. Hot soapy water may or may not be effective, but is better than nothing, to wash the germs down the sink. It is why we are to be washing our hands all the time and not touching our faces.

:-)

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Replies to This Discussion

What a fabulous, helpful email!  The one thing I'd add--and I don't know where you are, but I'm in New York (not NYC, thankfully), and we're discussing this topic a lot-- is that you can use a vacuum cleaner bag as a filter.  There is an article that has tested these and found them to be next-most effective after surgical masks (https://evacuumstore.com/p-34466-how-to-make-a-face-mask-from-a-vac...). The article IS from a vacuum cleaner store, though, so take it with a grain of...dust.  But the HEPA filters in these bags are designed to filter out small particles, certainly better than paper towels, I'd think.  If you leave an opening in the top of the mask, you can remove and discard the filter after each use, then wash the mask.  These aren't meant to be surgical grade, they're to contain the wearer's "germs" and, maybe, to protect from getting anyone else's.  Stay safe, SeaSisters!

SailorsLIMom - The smartairfilters.com link above - does mention the Vacuum Cleaner Bags for filters. Thanks for pointing that out. And also, the YouTube link, in that comment is one that is a pleated mask with an opening to put your filter inside, as well as uses the Pipe Cleaner for a wire, which I think is a great idea, compared to just wire. But I haven't had a chance to see if I have any left on hand.  Glad you found this helpful.

Well I made a prototype of the mask for my son. I laughed to myself as I was thinking about saying that, I think I have been a Nuke mom too long. But I had my husband try it out (no elastic, that is a valuable commodity at the moment). I had cut it too narrow! That is what I get for not making a template to cut around that I have measured out with a ruler instead of my cutting mat that I tend to forget to add the 1" extra since I don't have my fabric at the edge of the mat!. Also, I went to get my black thread out of my sewing box, assuming I had some. Well we all know about assumptions versus verifying!! I do have black thread, just not where it is supposed to be and my daughter was gone to do her online video dance class. She also assumed, in her text back to me, that her black thread was on her sewing machine!

Needless to say, I made another trip to the larger Wal-Mart store 45 minutes before they closed at 8:30 pm and there was no thread in site, not even black DMC floss!! I did find two packages of the multiple tiny spools. So I bought those and made sure I kept the receipt. I did get Easter candy after all. Just FYI - There is likely to be LOTS on clearance after Easter! Their overflow was where the paper products usually are and it looked hardly touched! I then stopped by the Dollar General on my way home as they were still open till 9 pm, again only a small spool in a multi-pack.  I did buy inexpensive  Easter cards as a last minute thought. Those now need to get in the mail as well as b'day presents to my TX kids & g'baby  who are not trying to move this month after all, because of everything. And some cute little clothespin clips.

After all was said and done, it was late, I was hungry, because I left dinner in the microwave, realizing I needed to get to Wal-Mart before it closed. It wasn't even dark out yet!! When I got back home, my daughter was home and low and behold in her thread box -she is redoing her craft shelves- we found a spool of black thread!! Never used, wooden spool, probably cost all of $0.25, yes, one of those inherited items, but hey, it will work so that my top stitching is black and not some other color!! After all, we are suppose to learn something from the past and I feel like I am reliving one of the first Kindle books I read. It is about three women,  one became a spy and the other was a seamstress that repaired and turned collars and cuffs on their clothes because fabric was rationed in WWII. I am off to work on more masks for the "war" effort.

What an adventure that turned out to be Chipmunk!

Part of our new norm!! And it doesn't help that the only other craft store, that is nearby anymore is Hobby Lobby and they closed their stores last Friday, only doing online. I have found large spools of black or white thread at Family Dollar store, as a last minute, dance recital need, but they had also closed at 8:30 pm and I was too late.

FYI - after making my prototype and even with my cutting error, I still decided to increase the size to 10 x 7". Also, I was using the 1/2 " seam allowance, I think I will back it back off to the 3/8", since you have to trim it some anyway for turning. Remember to trim your corners, and I will likely trim with my pinking shears, even if it is turned so all of that is on the inside, with lots of wash and wear, it will just help.

I also have a thin older tea towel that I am cutting and adding as a middle layer. I may make some with the T-shirt / tea towel on the back layer, so it is softer against the face, but I found some orange fabric yesterday that I had purchased for something else for my son and never used. I am going to see if I can use that as an inside layer on a couple and maybe make a few with it as the front. That way, a couple can be reversible (only if clean) and also so he can have some of his favorite color for when he is not in uniform but on the base. 

At NNPTC, most of them will be walking around in uniform, but as I understand, I think my sailor dresses on the ship, not sure - never really asked the questions, just something I inferred from other comments. I still have no clue whether or not they are wearing these while working on the ship.

Middle layer: - I am going to see if I can just stitch that at the top and bottom and hope that when I make the pleats and stitch that will catch the sides. I am going to cut that just a smidge less, so that it is not as wide and adding to the bulk of the pleats. We shall see.

Linking my discussion in BC Mom to here - for easy reference. Refer to both, as I am not necessarily copying and pasting information. As I told those ladies, even if you are not a member of the group, you should be able to read the information. If you want to comment on something, feel free to do so below.

https://navyformoms.ning.com/group/bootcampmoms/forum/topics/making...

I finished one mask in my sailor's favorite color in time to stick it in his Easter card and get to the PO before 5 pm!!

This is the inside of the mask. I modified the first linked pattern above and decided to make mine so that my sailor could remove the wire easily, if need be, whether to heat in a microwave to disinfect, (I think preferred method is still to wash) or be able to replace the wire. This is a piece of single fold bias tape, which is large enough for 20 gauged jewelry or floral wire to be inserted into it (bend the ends in a loop fashion so not sharp. If you look closely, the end of the bias tape is only stitched on one end. Because of how you have to fold the tape over for a clean edge, it forms a "pocket" on the other end. Your tape should be folded so that you have just a little more than needed. When you insert the wire, wiggle it so that it is sitting between the layers of the bias tape, not the tape and the mask. This will keep the wire from falling out. When it needs to be removed, you should be able to push on the mask and wiggle the wire out from underneath the bias binding and then you my replace the wire, or remove for cleaning. 

Also, I measured the elastic as it said, my younger son was trying to help me but when we measured the elastic it seemed tight. So, I added an inch almost, and then after stitching, it seemed too loose. I debated on how to fix that and decided to stitch across the middle of the elastic in a colored thread. If they need to loosen it back up they can easily see the stitches to remove them.

I found wire plant twists at my local hardware store in the garden department  that I have been using for the wire insert.  They are 8 inches long and plastic coated so hopefully will not be affected by washing them like uncoated wire might.

Great Idea!! Thanks for sharing.

The top mask is the back side. I stitched bias tape on three sides so that I could slide the floral wire in and it could be removed if need be. The bias tape is folded under so it makes a "pocket" for the wire to stay secure, but if you wiggle it, you can slip it underneath that folded part and slip the wire back out.


The first one secures with fabric Velcro - not my ideal but I had purchased it and wanted to try it out. The middle one is secured with two ear loops, I made two of those. The hardest part is my elastic is smaller than my sides, so I had to "gather" up the sides a little as I was stitching. I finally basted the top and stitched half way around then I basted the bottom and finished stitching, leaving either the side open or the bottom. I highly recommend going back and doing the top stitching. Topstitching is also helpful to keep the top layer "folded" over the under layer to the orange does not "peek" through. I also stitched the pleats down on the side twice. First about 5/8" away and then about 3/8" - just where my presser foot was hitting the inside seam bump.

The bottom one has an elastic slip over concept and then it ties at the bottom with ribbon. The ribbon and the Velcro were the only two things I purchased. Everything else I happened to have on hand - including the black elastic! I did stitch the ribbon all the way through (don't ask me to explain), I wanted to make sure it was secure and would not come loose. The elastic through is cut at the seam edge on the inside.


This mask is three layers, the black fabric is from a pair of my husband's dress pants, the orange is 100 % cotton that was a piece I had purchased for something else for my son but did not cut up, and the middle layer is a cotton tea towel (old fashioned non-fuzzy variety.) I also increased the size of my mask by 1" so I cut 10" x 7 ". My husband said it was comfortable and he could breath and it not fog up his glasses.

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