The Great Maskapade

First: When you hear something that doesn't make sense, you can easily find answers (and if you are not careful conspiracy theories).  I have a good inside voice that knows when things I hear abrade against facts.  So when COVID first came out, I knew that the admonishments that masks would not protect you were false, and that it was simply a ploy to prevent a run on supplies.  A reading of the medical literature regarding contagious  diseases point to personal protective equipment and hygiene as the two most important things that you can do.  And those are simple facts that any can rely on.

Second: If you don't have a mask, getting a good one is nearly impossible. They are priviledged for our healthcare workers, and I don't disagree with that.

Third:  If you want to make a mask, materials are in short supply.


The Fabric Patch had some great videos on making masks.  In addition to having a quilt shop, she is a nurse. From her site and from Craft Passion and another site, I have come up with the following.

Craft Passion has an excellent pattern.  I'm linking you to my download here.  I have made the women's mask and they fit well--to include men.  Click here to see detailed constuction, but please continue reading below for what I believe to be important changes.  And she has posted a video which you can see below. I am making these masks but with interfacing.  Because the stiff interfacing that I had made the mask hard to turn inside out, I put a band on the bottom.  (And I did not create a pocket) .  (UPDATE:  I abandoned this pattern for the Olson masks pattern (PDF) which  you can find here.  I have found this method easier for inserting the wire and finishing than the video below.)

Here are the amendment that I think should be undertaken.

• Use nonwoven (fusible or non-fusible) interfacing on both sides of the mask.  This addition will give you  particulate protection while being breathable.  This is information from  The Fabric Patch. 
• If you are using nonwoven interfacing that is stiff, turning the mask is difficult. (I had the stiff stuff!). So I simply put a band on the bottom of the mask using 1.5" wide cut fabric folded in half; sewn to the bottom, flipped over and top stitched.
• Elastic cannot be found. I saw another video where the maker was using a 45" ribbon/bias tape etc.  To duplicate,  I made a fabric cord by cutting a 1" WOF strip (not on bias), pressing in half (which makes is feed faster) and ran it through my bias tape foot which I've had for years.  It takes less than a minute to sew once you've threaded it.  This gives a continues loop of 45".  Rather than creating a tie for the top of the mask and one for the bottom, run your  a loop from the bottom of one side of the mask up through the top hole, and then thread it down the top to the bottom on the other side.  Adjust your ties so that right and left hang evenly.  The wearer will adjust the bask and the top of the head loop.  
• I had some electrical wire to use as the nose wire.  It is a heavier gauge than needed, but worked fine. I'll get a smaller gauge wire. I used my zipper foot to create a pocket by topstitching to encase the zipper.

My mask is being washed now, so I cannot snap a picture.  I will once it is out of the washer.

Keep yourself safe...