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| My stuffie modeling my no sew mask... |
The answer likely depends on where you live and how hard the pandemic has hit your particular corner of the world. I'm in a city where — in a vast metro area of over 3,600 square miles (or over 9,400 square kms) with about 1.3 million people — we've only had 574 cases to date.
We've been fortunate and lucky. Given our low numbers and low population density, I would estimate that only about 30% of us wear masks when we're out. I've always been protective of my personal space, so I'm quite good at the physical distancing thing and have all kinds of patience to wait until store aisles are fairly clear before I head down one.
Since the start of all this, I had purposely resisted making masks. (People who knew I was a sewer were asking if I was doing exactly that, but for personal and practical reasons, it was never a plan.) And of course, I certainly hadn't been wearing them, since they weren't even recommended in the beginning. In light of our low infection rates, it wasn't much of a concern even as attitudes towards the value of face masks shifted.
In early May, however, a small grocery chain required the wearing of a mask to gain entry and it forced me to rethink making a face covering for myself. If — as businesses reopened — requirements for such protection became more popular, I'd better have something in my pocket to meet the need. For one thing, with hair salons opening up, hubby was hoping to get a haircut soon and wearing a face mask in that situation would probably make everyone involved feel safer.
But back to my original question. If you're a regular face mask wearer, are you doing it to protect yourself or to protect others?
My thought is that unless a mask is made out of the right materials, fits well and is taken care of properly, it's not meant to protect the wearer. The average homemade mask is worn to prevent others from being accidentally or inadvertently "sprayed on", when physical distancing is difficult to maintain.
With that in mind, I asked myself, what sort of a mask can I make to achieve the altruistic goal of protecting others while keeping my own discomfort to a minimum?
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| As simple as a mask can be... |
The CDC website used to have an option for making a simple no sew mask by cutting into a t-shirt. For whatever reason, it's been removed and now the only no sew version they show is the one made out of a folded bandana.
But the idea that I would subject myself to breathing through six layers of cotton is simply too much altruism. I'm just being honest here. If I were to wear such a thing, you can bet that my primary objective would be to protect myself.
Since as early as late January, I've been inundated by face mask tutorials on my YouTube feed. I didn't click on them, knowing that the number of recommendations would simply multiply like rabbits if I did so. However, I did recall seeing at least a couple of DIYs that appeared to have been cut from one piece of fabric and that looked like elongated ovals with holes at each end; i.e., pretty much like what a traditional face mask looks like without all the folds.
I searched through my box of scrappy fabric and found the remains of a t-shirt that had been previously repurposed for a scarf project. I was primarily interested in the sleeves.
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| Recognize the sleeve? |
I cut away the underarm seam and placed the fabric across my face to estimate the total length I would need. Hubby would need a slightly bigger one, so I didn't stretch it when I did this.
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| Prototype no sew mask that's totally usable... |
After cutting out the basic shape, I determined where the ear loops should be placed and cut holes into the fabric. Then I had my other half try it on for size.
It seemed to work, so I made a template and used it to cut a mask out of our yellow you just can't fix stupid fabric for him, and my maple leaf multi 3D on red fabric for me. (Both fabrics are stretchy knits, Spoonflower's performance pique.)
Of course, the t-shirt sleeve version is totally usable and therefore this qualifies as a repurposing or recycling project.
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| Making a template... |
As you can see from the above, my template measures about 7" across and about 7" high in the middle. (And of course, it's meant to be used on a folded piece of fabric; i.e. 14" long.) It's something you can DIY easily.
And here's a tip about achieving a snug fit: you can twist the loops before pulling them over your ears if there's too much give in the fabric.
So that's my concession to wearing a face covering where mandated or in circumstances where it's impossible to maintain a two metre separation. It's only one layer, so it's not meant to protect me from incoming microbes. But it will offer a level of protection for others. And I won't have to suffer too much discomfort wearing it.
It's a level of altruism that I can handle. ;-)
'Til next...
Looks comfortable
ReplyDeleteAs much as a mask can be. ;-)
DeleteLove your mask.
ReplyDeleteI feel like I have made every style mask imaginable, except one like yours. My first masks were attempts at medical quality ones from discarded autoclave material, intended for my daughter and her frontline work. The long ties were inconvenient for a quick in and out at the grocery store. The next attempts were from woven cotton, one versus two layers, filters or not and then tee shirt materials. Some sort of nose wire always seemed needed and was always the construction challenge. Too flimsy vs too firm and keeping it where it needed to be without slipping or poking made the projects a mental exercise. All that to say I prefer a cone shape that does not get sucked up against my mouth or nose when I breathe and easily slips over my ears with enough tension to stay there. Mask requirements are making for short and precise errands. Otherwise I stay mask free in my yard and neighborhood, hoping for consistent assurances that social encounters are not risky behavior.