Question: Coronavirus & home sewn masks?

Have you observed how many times people touch their faces just to keep the mask in place when they're talking on their mobiles or just by habit? Many times. I commented earlier that wearing gloves would be more effective (?) to remind people to avoid touching their face.

 

I agree. I cannot see that it can be worse than no mask. I am using a scarf, bandit style.

 

https://twitter.com/user/status/1240123838320558088



They are also making face shields.


https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...e-masks-covid-19-shields-from-office-supplies

 

Oh dear Dr. Edwards, you made my day! I needed a laugh with all this. A photo????

 

People Are Trying to Make DIY Ventilators to Meet Coronavirus Demand
As countries face shortages of important medical equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic, makers are desperately trying to fill the gaps with open source designs.
https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/...ke-diy-ventilators-to-meet-coronavirus-demand

 

https://twitter.com/user/status/1240477341740138497

 

Other clever medical supply solutions hashtag-

https://twitter.com/hashtag/macgyvercare?src=hashtag_click

 

@Roy S You beat me to it. I was just coming here to post that.

I wonder about using two or more layers in a mask. Cos having spent sometime, when I was first ill, buying fabric that I haven’t ever got around to sewing up, I have rather a lot of material.

The limiting factor is definitely the sewing time here.

 

A useful page here:

https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/best-materials-make-diy-face-mask-virus/

They make the point that in order for the mask to be worn, it must be easy enough to breath through. So although things like towelling and vacuum cleaner bags are effective, they are not the best as they are hard to breathe through.

Tee-shirt and cotton seems to be the best.

 

Here's one I made earlier:


A few details: I made the fabric by sandwiching an old T-shirt (quite thick fabric) between 2 old shirts (originally for another project). Loosly quilted together (you can see the running stitches). Then cut it out to about the size of an A4 piece of paper, iron in the folds, stitch up the edges and bind with enough room to fit some elastic through (I did the same on the bottom to aid fit under the chin), then thread elastic through and bingo! It took about a day of fiddling to make (not including the time to make the quilted fabric).

I've already been slammed for even daring to think that this might be in any way protective, but my aim was always to protect others if I have to go out not knowing my own infectious status.

Anyway, hope that helps. Do ask me for more details if you need it.

 

I think it’s excellent!

I intend to make a few myself.

 

https://twitter.com/user/status/1240493640444776448

 

Seems some top down honesty would have been a good idea.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/17/opinion/coronavirus-face-masks.html#click=https://t.co/JOYRFzvVwD

 

I found this site which has a useful pattern for a mask that looks fairly neat fitting, and I think I’ll try making a couple of these.

https://www.craftpassion.com/face-mask-sewing-pattern/

The lady has also updated with a disclaimer re coronavirus.

 

https://twitter.com/user/status/1240465267597045761

 

My effort today. This has 2 layers. Fine to breathe through for a few minutes, but it wouldn’t be good to work in.

Article here:
https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/best-materials-make-diy-face-mask-virus/ (same as article I linked a few posts above)

suggests 1 layer only to make it wearable. (With not much reduced capacity.)

 

https://twitter.com/user/status/1240996863643451392

 

not such a ridiculous idea
Coronavirus: Deaconess asks public to sew CDC-compliant face masks for staff

"
"This does follow CDC protocols that you can find on their website that if all other supplies are not available, that handmade masks that meet certain criteria are acceptable," Deaconess spokeswoman Becca Scott said.

The release with the video, pattern and instructions was posted to the Deaconess Facebook page Thursday morning and is available at www.deaconess.com/masks. A PDF of the pattern is available here and embedded at the bottom of this article. "
https://eu.courierpress.com/story/n...public-provide-medical-face-masks/2865273001/

might be only a matter of time before similar is needed here(?)

maybe @Keela Too you and others could see if there might be a demand (via twitter)?

eta: see Roy S post above