Face mask - handmade

We are talking about making masks today. While it's not entirely food related, it is mouth related. Mouth we need for eating.. yes? Since CDC announced its recommendations to wear face masks, I started to look into how I can make a couple for my own use. As COVID19 is in full swing in the world, as a transit rider, I can always use this extra layer of protection. If not for me, for others at the very least. After I made these I'm getting lots of comments and a few people asked how these are made - Let me share with you how I did it.

Inspiration: internet. Oh how did we ever function without internet. I spent about 5 hours looking for different patterns, reviews, fabric selection, sewing instructions.. oh did I mention I do not have a sewing machine? This was a bit of work but the results are really nice. Since I did the research and hope to save you some time if you are thinking of making some yourself.

Fabric:
- 100% cotton or cotton blend fabric. This material is not as effective as medical grade face mask but will be about 50-60% ish effective when you use a double layer. The goal here is to choose something that will filter droplets, yet breathable. You don't want something either with too many holes in the fabric (does not filter anything), or too densely woven and you can't breathe (Yes breathing is good). So I went on a few websites, consulted credible sources, like the CDC. I simply cut up an old t-shirt that I got like no wears from it the past year or so - well let's re-purpose this baby then.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html

Pattern:
- I am attaching my pattern here. I found some that are comparable but most out there require elastics to be sewn in for ear loops. I don't like those as much. A) I don't have any elastics laying around, since I don't often sew. B) Given my actual medical grade mask-wearing experience, my ears get sore with the rubbing of ear loops very quickly. So I decided to use the fabric itself as the ear loop as it's cotton and softer/gentler on the ears.

Steps:
- measure top of nose to bottom of chin. This is the width of your mask. Everyone is a bit different but there's some universality in this. In case you couldn't figure this out, just use what i have there on the pattern.
- Measure from nose to the back of your ears. This is the length of your mask. Again, use mine if you had trouble. This part would be adjustable even if it's imperfect the first time.
- Cut the pattern x 4. It kind of looks like the top of an ax. No no we are not making a fabric ax.

- Hand sew all 4 pieces along the width. Simple straight "running stitch" will be fine. I did this like twice back and forth - in case my sewing gap is too big.
- Then hand sew 2 pieces at a time, along all other borders of the fabric. I used a "blanket stitch" so that the edges of the fabric is covered and less chance to have a loose fabric edge. This is a bit tedious so put on some good music and just take it slow. It took me a while to do this.
- Cut the ear loops. you can do the blanket stitch or leave it be. I think I actually wore my masks for a week before i went back and sewn those. Not totally necessary. You can shorten the ear loop bit if it falls off a bit, cotton can get loosen over time especially if you wash it a few times. just fold over the ear loop and sew that in if that's the case.
- The last step, and a bit of a magic step which makes the masks fill well - is to sew some pleats in the bottom. I sewn 4 little pleats(see diagram) along one edge. The makes your mask hug your chin without choking.
- Wear them, wash them daily - with soap and warm water!

There you have it. Not too hard to do while you listen to some music. Pretty rewarding and worth it. It doesn't have to be perfect. Mine has lots of flaws and some loose threads. The best part is - you just made these by hand and contributed to stop the spread of virus. Yay you!