Homemade Covid 19 mask patterns and resources?

[900ss]

I just bought a sewing machine with the idea of starting to make masks in the evenings after work. Post up your mask patterns please. I have started by making a rectangular pleated one and want to move on to a cup-style.

I am new to using a sewing machine (my mom showed me how to use an ancient Singer in the '60s), and have some skills to develop.

Thanks!

If there is already a thread for this please delete.

 

[boney]

JoAnne fabrics has a nice square pleated one that works nice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgHrnS6n4iA

Kaiser has a smaller rectangular mask with ties for sizing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aMCFnK5bHk&t=318s

Somewhere my wife pulled a pattern from Blue Shield that has a couple of pleats and a dart for the nose and chin. It's a bit better fitting but it rides too high and gets up under my lower eye lids.

I've been wearing one a lot lately, and think the best mask has a quick elastic ear bands like the JoAnne one above but with a solid keeper strap, like old lady's glasses, so you can drop it off your face and not have to fold it, or tuck it in a pocket or something.

 

[900ss]

JoAnne fabrics has a nice square pleated one that works nice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgHrnS6n4iA

Kaiser has a smaller rectangular mask with ties for sizing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aMCFnK5bHk&t=318s

Somewhere my wife pulled a pattern from Blue Shield that has a couple of pleats and a dart for the nose and chin. It's a bit better fitting but it rides too high and gets up under my lower eye lids.

I've been wearing one a lot lately, and think the best mask has a quick elastic ear bands like the JoAnne one above but with a solid keeper strap, like old lady's glasses, so you can drop it off your face and not have to fold it, or tuck it in a pocket or something.

Many thanks, that's a good start.

 

[thepretender]

Make plenty of them a clean one should be put on every time you take one off.

 

[mean dad]

I've been seriously thinking about finding a cheap machine and making some. :thumbup


Use two different fabrics so the inside/outside is identifiable.

 

[Yakoo752]

Finding elastic straps are becoming more difficult.

Mine arrive on Sunday along with 6 yards of fabric. While I’d like to do different fabric, good quality quilting cotton is becoming difficult to find as well. I did buy a pattern so I’m hoping it’s one sided

 

[Climber]

High end home air filters, MERV 13 and up filter out many particles. MERV 16 is about equivalent to N95.

 

[Yakoo752]

High end home air filters, MERV 13 and up filter out many particles. MERV 16 is about equivalent to N95.

I’ve been hearing mixed on this.

Cutting up the filter and sandwiching between cloth introduces the risk of inhaling fiberglass.

After 1 washing it deteriorates too much to be equivalent.

 

[Climber]

I’ve been hearing mixed on this.

Cutting up the filter and sandwiching between cloth introduces the risk of inhaling fiberglass.

After 1 washing it deteriorates too much to be equivalent.

You don't necessarily need to wash them, just put them aside for a day and use another....unless you slobbered all over it. :laughing

 

[900ss]

I've been seriously thinking about finding a cheap machine and making some. :thumbup


Use two different fabrics so the inside/outside is identifiable.

Here's the one I bought for $81.93 delivered. I set it up last night and played with the various stitches. It's simple to use and so far is doing a good job. Now to hunt for supplies.....

http://https://www.walmart.com/ip/Singer-Promise-II-1512-Electric-Sewing-Machine/938833857

 

[900ss]

I have read that good quality coffee filters may make a fair secondary filter. Some are advertised to filter down to 10 microns, others to 5 microns; not fine enough to filter out the virus, but another added layer is desirable.

I have also read that good quality dish drying towels (known as tea towels in England) make an effective filtering media.

 

[Climber]

Just to put things in perspective.

 

[augustiron]

Another thing to factor in, the denser the filtering, the more restriction to airflow you may experience.

Be aware that your airflow will be reduced wearing just about any mask so watch strenuous activity and pay attention if you feel shortness of breath.

A poorly designed homemade mask out of the wrong material could cause respiratory distress.

 

[two wheel tramp]

I have a machine at home, I should find all its parts so that someone who knows how to use it can make some masks.

 

[bojangle]

Another thing to factor in, the denser the filtering, the more restriction to airflow you may experience.

Be aware that your airflow will be reduced wearing just about any mask so watch strenuous activity and pay attention if you feel shortness of breath.

A poorly designed homemade mask out of the wrong material could cause respiratory distress.

I'd rather have that kind of respiratory distress than the covid-19 kind.

 

[phil turdwater]

I'd rather have that kind of respiratory distress than the covid-19 kind.

me too, until i rip my mask off gasping in an air starved panic.

 

[bojangle]

I ordered some of these. Should be here on Friday. They are three layers and the center later is non-woven. https://bk-textiles.com/

 

[bojangle]

me too, until i rip my mask off gasping in an air starved panic.

I rode my bicycle to a drycleaner wearing an N95 mask. It wasn't too bad. Probably wouldn't do it again.

 

[phil turdwater]

I rode my bicycle to a drycleaner wearing an N95 mask. It wasn't too bad. Probably wouldn't do it again.

did it have the exhale checkvalve? that makes it much easier to breathe but it's defeats the purpose of protecting others.

 

[bojangle]

did it have the exhale checkvalve? that makes it much easier to breathe but it's defeats the purpose of protecting others.

No. It looked like this.

They just start getting moist inside from the humid air of your breath. Doesn't really restrict breathing all that much.