Our Face Mask Sewing Patterns Article Linked in NY Post

We were delighted to see that our recent Face Mask Sewing Patterns Roundup has been linked to from none other than the NY Post!  For readers not familiar with the US media scene, the NY Post is a pretty widely read publication, especially in the NY area, so we're delighted they found our content useful enough to link to.

The article by Hannah Sparks highlights the concern that doctors in New York are now running out of face masks to help protect themselves from the deadly new novel coronavirus and that there are alternatives like making your own.

Read the Article HERE

She was kind enough to note that the sewing blogger community is trying to do its part by making available all sorts of free patterns and instructions about how to make your own face masks.

Look for this link in the article.

Also, the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention issued new instructions recommending homemade masks if no alternative were available.

We put together what I think is the largest collection of free DIY Face Mask Sewing Patterns available.  I hope that you use this resource if you need to make some of your own masks.


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Kristin Morrison
Kristin Morrison

I am glad to see the coverage you received and appreciate that you put more effort into educating people on the limitations of cloth masks than most of the disclaimers out there. I am wondering if you would be willing to take that one step further and post about how to safely use a mask please? The WHO has an excellent resource on this – but when not used and disposed/cleaned properly, masks can have a high risk of transmitting the infection.

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/when-and-how-to-use-masks

Sandy Stephens
Sandy Stephens

I have been making masks for my daughter and I am using the fabric that covers medical equipment in the OR room! No raveling and more protective than regular fabric! She works at a COVID 19 hospital so protection is necessary as they ONLY get 1 N95 mask and 1 cloth mask PERIOD

Kristin Morrison
Kristin Morrison
Reply to  Sandy Stephens

I am a physician and have been researching this material to use in our reusable masks for our front line workers – unfortunately, washing these with any detergent significantly decreases the effectiveness of the protection, but they can be decontaminated using dry heat or steam at a temp of 70 C/160 F for 30 minutes. I am trying to get a hold of some of this material – Hayland 600 here, and plan to adapt our mask design to be able to insert a layer of this material inside the cloth mask. After decontamination, the filter layer can be removed and inserted into a clean mask while the outer cloth mask can be laundered to remove any remaining surface dirt etc. We have a very limited supply of this material so I am trying to make it go as far as possible.

Currently trying to test a redesign of the cloth masks to try to improve the fit and seal to give better protections as well as hoping to add the H600. My notes and sewing instructions are being posted on the facebook page PPEforPEC if you want to have a look. I have also posted directions for a reusable cover to put over the N95’s that can easily be changed between patients etc to help protect and prolong the N95s – simple and quick – hopefully helpful but no way to test. Good luck to all out there fighting this disease

J R SMITH
J R SMITH

Better than nothing. At least you will be keep friends and family a little safer than have nothing at all.

silvervg

I think you did good. Congratulations on the nod from a widely read newspaper.

linnie
linnie
Reply to  silvervg

NY is a bias paper not worth distroying a tree
i make my mask because i have problems breathing mine are very light just enough coverage to get me thru the stores

JOAN Dredge
JOAN Dredge

Working on masks for our hospital now.
Unfortunately no 1/4″ elastic or even twill tape anywhere, even online that would get to me this week. I am zigzagging the center of single fold bias tape to make ties. They will need to be secure, since they will be washed in a hospital laundry.
Any other suggestions?

Suzanne
Suzanne
Reply to  JOAN Dredge

Pony tail holders

Maricela
Maricela
Reply to  JOAN Dredge

You can use Lycra fabric and cut 1” strips as long as you like and stretch it several times and it will turn out to spaghetti strap then cut the lengths as you desire for the masks, I found this idea from a blogger and it works perfectly fine as elastic..

Christin W
Christin W
Reply to  JOAN Dredge

I’ve been cutting 1 inch strips of tshirts, 11 to 18 inches wide. Pull the strip to curl edges end sew 4 into each corner of mask for ties. My masks are going to local Neonatal unit in hospital.

Ardith
Ardith

Thanks posting all the pattern options. I checked almost all of them.

Donna Nemeth
Donna Nemeth

Awesome that you got acknowledged for the wonderful articles and help that you always give us Sewists! Thank you for all that you do for us and the sewing community!

Lori Samuelson
Lori Samuelson

Awesome they gave you credit. I made 4 today before I saw your pattern. I used scrap material and doubled batting inside with ties of bias tape. My adult kids are both in health care and have no masks. The one that’s a doctor recommends taping it to your face to insure a tight seal if you’re with the very ill. Stay safe everyone!

Linda Madden
Linda Madden

Thank you for the patterns. Last night on her show, Rachel Maddow also made an appeal for sewists to get busy making masks.

Robbie
Robbie

I love it! I shared it a few weeks ago and pinned it. Then shared again today when our local news station had a report of local medical centers asking for handmade masks. So very helpful, at this time particularly. this is an invaluable resource. Thank You for sharing. I know many people will be helped. ??

Anne Evans
Anne Evans

Excellent. I read an article where several types of fabric were tested for homemade masks, they sprayed the fabric with some bacteria, not Covid-19 but still useful to compare against droplet size. All provided some protection, they best fabric was teatowels, which I found surprising as some are quite an open weave; so I suppose it depends which type they used. Silk was the least effective but still provided some protection.

Lesley Anne Smith
Lesley Anne Smith

That’s great x

bettyeking
bettyeking

It is great when a “lowly” skill (which is how some folks think of sewing, unfortunately) gets wide coverage and is able to help out in a crisis! I believe the skills of sewing are important and should be required in schools again. The ability to understand and use a skill to help others is a gift all the way around. Please keep the good work you do!

Ro
Ro
Reply to  bettyeking

It has so many applications and allows people to understand how difficult their clothes can be to make, especially by underpaid labor. Completely agree it should be part of school curriculum!

Marilyn Ackerman
Marilyn Ackerman
Reply to  Ro

I am old enough to remember my first sewing project in 5th grade. (First cooking project was hot chocolate and mashed potatoes) I loved Home Economics, so different for kids today..

Susan August
Reply to  bettyeking

Agree 100%!! Another ‘lost’ skill
l

Marge Miller
Marge Miller

Congratulations on getting this kind of coverage from a major publication. Love your work. Please keep it up.

Tonya A. Wohlever
Tonya A. Wohlever
Reply to  Marge Miller

Excellent!!! And thank you ❤️