Sew at home face masks...

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

Wearing a face mask while out and about is the very least we can do to try to stem the spread of this virus.
A lot sorts of homemade mask idea at YouTube...all skill levels, different patterns, materials so forth. This is just one...

[liberalmuse]

1. These are super easy.

Last edited Thu Apr 2, 2020, 11:55 PM - Edit history (1)

And if you want to be super safe, cut up a Hepa filter/vacuum bag (unused, of course, and make sure it does not contain fiberglass!) and stuff it in there. "Filtrete" is a good brand to use and is the type of filter used for N95 masks.

Edited for clarification and important information.

[Rorey]

2. I just made one, with a revision

I cut up a t-shirt I didn't want. It was a pretty heavy one, so the pleat thing was difficult. I decided to try something different with a second one I made out of the same t-shirt. Instead of the pleats, I basted the sides while it was still inside out. Then I pulled the threads to make gathers on each side, and then sewed through the gathers along the same seam. Then I turned it outside out and voila, it was done.

Also, instead of using elastic, which is not available here now, I used thin strips of the same t-shirt and pulled on them so they curled up.

A bonus to my method was that I didn't have to worry about what thread color I used because none of it was visible. The t-shirt was deep purple, and the thread was black. So I didn't have to change anything on my machine.

When I make some with a thinner material, I'll do the pleats, but what I did was a lot easier with that thick material of the t-shirt that I used.

[liberalmuse]

3. Ingenius!

And you didn't have to go out and buy anything. I'm going to keep your method in mind since I have a few t-shirts a friend sent me I won't wear (essentially they all have slogans telling people to "fuck off" and that's too misanthropic even for me.)

Now to have the guts to wear these in public. I get out of quarantine later tonight so will be able to go to the store again. I plan to bring my mask.

[Rorey]

4. I am proud of the result

I'm planning to continue to use up things that I already have here, and then if I get really good at this mask making, I'll buy specific fabric so I can personalize them a bit for family members. I saw some cute Harry Potter fabric that my daughter-in-law would like, but she's not on board with wearing a mask yet, in spite of the fact that she works with the public.