With the novel coronavirus spreading throughout the country, many municipalities are requiring residents to wear cloth face masks to run essential errands. Creating a homemade face mask is relatively easy even for those lacking sewing experience. These tips can help you create one that looks good and protects those around you.
Photos from Unsplash
Fabric
Fabric stores Long Beach CA offer a variety of colorful materials perfect for creating a fun, stylish face mask. If you have to wear one, they might as well look good. Be the envy of the town by choosing bright, fun colors. Or go with something more neutral. When choosing a fabric to use for your mask, choose tightly woven 100% cotton material. Choose two pieces of fabric, one on each side. This makes it easy to use either side after washing. If unsure, hold the material up to the light. Then choose one that allows minimal light through.
Pattern
Surprisingly, there are many different patterns to choose from. Use a cone-shaped coffee filter to draw a pattern onto the fabric of your choice then sew it together. You can also cut out a rectangle about 10 inches by 6 inches. For larger faces, make the rectangle larger to cover the nose and mouth properly. Put two pieces of fabric back to back. You can then sew on your ties or feed the elastic through side loops created in the fabric.
Measurements
You’ll want to be sure you have the right measurements for the person you are sewing the mask for, whether yourself or someone else. The mask needs to fit snugly onto the face.
Attachment
You can use elastic sewn into the sides to loop around the ears. The best elastic is small in diameter and soft. Don’t cut the elastic too small otherwise it may be too tight and cause pain to the ears. If elastic is hard to find, opt to make ties instead. Bias tape makes easy ties. Or you can use ribbon sewn onto the four side corners to then tie in the back. One tie should secure near the base of the skull while the other should tie at the crown of the head.
Maintenance
After wearing the mask, be sure to properly remove it. You need to wash the material in hot water to remove any viruses or bacteria. A good face mask should last about 100 washes if properly sewn. Make multiple masks to make switching out easier. For those in the sewing mood, consider making some for all your family and friends. They will likely be thankful for the effort.
