Wednesday, July 22, 2020

What I've Learned About Masks So Far....



https://www.etsy.com/listing/777286224/tutorials-of-3d-face-maskcomfortable
This is my current favorite, especially for jobs where you have to wear it all day and talk. It doesn't touch your mouth so it's easier to speak clearly and cuts down on dampness. For a sculpted mask style it is very easy to make. I am making it with an outside of quilting fabric lined with stiff interfacing and an inside of flannel.

If you work in a job where you have to wear your mask basically every day all day long get enough that you can wear one per day and wash them in between. We don't wear socks or underwear more than one day in a row. Ew.

For a quick trip to the grocery store it doesn't matter so much, but for all day wear it's helpful to put a flannel layer somewhere in your mask to help absorb extra moisture from breathing. It keeps your mask from getting damp and irritating your skin.

Leave ear loops almost cartoonishly long until the mask has been washed a couple of times. Otherwise it will shrink and end up pulling on your ears, and it's much easier to remove elastic than add it.

Something very similar to this is what I have been using for nose pieces and it works great. It's basically a cut to length reusable twist tie. The wire is coated in rubber. I have seen them in two different diameters, closer to 1/16 of an inch and the 1/8th of an inch. https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/hme-products-rubber-wire

The primary purpose of a mask is to prevent you from potentially spreading disease that you may not know you have. To that end almost anything that physically blocks your mouth and nose will work. The secondary purpose is to protect yourself. You can increase the protective power of your mask by using more layers of fabric, three is a good compromise between easy breathing and protectiveness. It's good to use different kinds of fabric for each layer because each one will have different properties that help block different particles. In general tighter weaves are better (batiks, silky polyester, interfacing). Remember anything that would not feel good against your face or look attractive can be used as a middle layer.

Thank you for keeping yourself and others safe!

8 comments:

  1. Same style, different tutorial as the ones I've been making (and wearing.) Best homemade face mask EVER!!!

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  2. I made a dozen masks for my grandsons yesterday using Shabby Fabrics tutorial. My favorite so far.

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  3. What a great looking mask. Thanks for the tips about the interfacing & flannel.
    I just discovered the 3-D masks last week. I use this pattern here:
    https://hellosewing.com/3d-face-mask-diy/
    They are very easy to make. I've been using colored/craft pipe cleaners for the nose piece & just zig-zag it to the top outside when I finish making the entire mask. It makes a good "visual" so that it's easy to tell the top from the bottom at first glance. I used to put the twist ties in a little casing at the top but it was harder to detect the top for the bottom. I'd love to see others links to the 3-D pattern. Stay safe & cool.

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  4. Thank you for all the great info! DH is asking for a different mask that fits his nose better :)

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  5. “Leave ear loops almost cartoonishly long...” Thanks for the giggle. DH likes to shake his head to show off earrings. If you are topstitching a front nose clip pocket (like Johns Hopkins mask pattern), the double wire ties from coffee bags work very well.

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  6. Since I ALWAYS prewash every fabric that comes in, I won't need to leave the ear loops cartoonish long. Love your kitty fabric. I've read that one should not wear the same mask more than 30 minutes at a time without changing out to another. Let it dry out while you wear another.

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  7. I bought the pattern and made some of these masks. The medium and large size are really small. I found the XL worked for me and my husband. I am making some for my daughter (professor) and daughter in law (preschool teacher) so they can talk clearer. I found the directions ok, and was able to shorten some of them. Chinese into English is a bit awkward. Price was reasonable.

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