Why wear a mask?
Watch www.tiny.cc/masks4all to see how Czech Republic reduced virus spread.
Homemade Masks Tutorial
A washable protective mask to wear in shops, dropping off groceries and around people. Make it with clean hands.
A note for perfectionists and novice makers. Remember the purpose of the mask is to help contain droplets of COVID 19 from infecting you and another person. It’s not a sewing competition and there are no points for style. This project doesn’t require specialist materials and there are suggestions for substitutions made from whatever you have at hand. It will still function if it’s a centimetre or half an inch smaller or larger.You can sew this by hand too.
These instructions are in centimetres and inches. I have tried to keep the measurements as simple as possible.
You will need:
2 rectangles close weave 100% cotton. The lining and the top fabric. These are to encase the ‘filter.’ A great use for ‘fat quarter’ quilt pieces but also a handkerchief, a shirt, a napkin… no, not the curtains perhaps.
1 rectangle non woven cloth. This acts as an extra level of filter. Mid weight interfacing works but so will a floor or surface wipe that is rinsed and dried.
About 15cm /6 inches of wire. This is sewn into the mask and can be pinched around the nose to make a closer fit. A pipe cleaner works, so does thin garden wire or straightened paper clip wound with a strip of cotton fabric.
Straps. 2 x 22cm x 5mm elastic/ or 40cm x 1/2 inch ribbon. You can use elastic from a bath cap or use shoelaces as ribbon.Look around for other alternatives.
Cut
2 rectangles in cotton fabric 20cm x 18 cm or 8” x 7”
1 rectangle in non woven fabric 20cm x 18cm or 8” x 7”
STEP 1: Attach the wire nose clip (stitching shown in red)
Place the pipe cleaner on the wrong side of the fabric that will touch your face. 2cm or 1/2inch is about the same as a finger width from the top of the fabric. Use a wide zigzag stitch on the machine to secure it.
BY HAND Use a needle and thread to bind the pipe cleaner to the wrong side of the fabric about 2cm / 1/2” from the top. Secure with two stitches over the other at the beginning and end of the strip. No wire? Skip step.
STEP 2: Attach the straps
Pin the elastic or ribbon/tape to the right side of the lining about 2 cm/ 1/2 from top and bottom of fabric. If your machine doesn’t like to sew over pins, then hand stitch in place.
STEP 3: Sew the pieces together (bagging- we will turn them inside out next)
Make a sandwich with the filter, then the lining with straps on top then place the top fabric with right side down (right sides together) Sew a line about 1cm from the edge around three sides of the rectangles. Start just before the strap on the short side and continue around the mask to the strap below the one you started. Leave a hole to turn it inside out. You may find it easier to slow the machine down and curve the corners, I find this easier to trim afterwards and push the corners out.
STEP 4: Turn inside out
Turn the ‘bag’ inside out. Push your finger or a pencil into the corners to flatten and press with an iron. Sewing is much more precise if you can press the work. Don’t confuse it with housework. An iron is a very useful tool here. Fold the open edges in so that they lay flat. Secure with a pin if needed. The next line of stitching will close the opening as well as the folds.
STEP 5: Marking the fold guides
Mark where the folds will be with pen or pins. If you are going to make more than one mask, it’s much faster to make a strip of paper with the measurements of the folds on it. You can learn how to free fold once you have the idea. There is wiggle room in these measurements.
STEP 6: Pinning the folds in place
Hold with a pin on each fold.
STEP 7: Stitching the folds
Stitch all round the mask close to the edge to secure the folds. If your machine is less willing to navigate the folds, use a small flat screwdriver to ‘persuade’ it under the foot or sew by hand.
Making more
Unbelievably, not everyone has a sewing machine. So, you can sew some more. Give them to neighbours, local shopkeepers and anyone who wants one.
Batch making is a self competitive sport, but lots of us find it fun and relaxing to melt into a repetitive process. Form a mini production line consisting of fabric, a bunch of pipe cleaners and elastic, all cut to size and ready to go. You can get other family members to help with this process too. Pace yourself. Leave all the thread cutting to do at once when you stop for a tea. It is almost as fast to zigzag five pipe cleaners onto the lining as it is to make one. Try making five masks and see how long it takes. Improve your personal best. Enjoy what you are doing.
Packing
If you are giving them away, remember you only want your goodwill to travel not your germs. Give each mask a super steam press as a finale, and wait to cool before putting into a ziplock bag. I write my name and email address as I want people, especially if they don’t know how super clean my hands are, to know who I am. I date them too.
Would you like to download these instructions from a google doc so that you can print them out? Be our guest and get them here.
Please share this with a friend or even people you don’t like.
