You didn't really think I wasn't going to be making masks!?

When I was composing my blog post "I ain't making no stinking masks" last week, I was doing a ton of research and making those stinking masks. Who am I fooling.

I broke through my ambivalence, but we still need to remember when it's time to vote that our federal government has let us down and should have put in place a Defense Production Act months ago.

OK. I'm off my high horse.

After my post, a doctor friend sent me some information saying that in the next 10 days, the CDC is going to recommend we all wear masks in public.

Let's save the sterile masks for the professionals on the front lines.

My suggestion is that everyone who has a sewing machine, no matter how rudimentary your sewing skills are, make 2 masks for each member in your household: One for wearing and one for the wash. These masks would not be enough protection for healthcare providers on the front lines, but would be more than adequate for you and your family to run to the grocery store or wear in a doctor's waiting room. I put a coffee filter in my mask for extra protection.

I definitely have opinions about what type of mask to make and wear.

After wearing the standard rectangular mask pattern that has been going around the internet for a trip to the grocery store, I found wearing it challenging. It kept shifting, my glasses fogged up and I found myself constantly tugging at my chin... which defeats the purpose since your not supposed to touch your face!

I found another mask pattern that I much prefer. It fits snugly around the face and does not shift as I wear it.

I modified the directions a little and since my printer is out of order, I had to create my own pattern.

So I decided to create my own little tutorial video. I start out showing how to make the pattern using a dinner plate and a ruler. Then I try to quickly show how to make the masks as easily and as efficiently as possible.

Many of us are in mass production mode right now so there's no harm in using short cuts during a Pandemic... and many have dusted off their sewing machines and their skills are a little rusty... so let's just follow the K.I.S.S. principle in making these masks.

I know everyone can't sew. There's also a video going around on how to make an "origami" mask. (I'll post it below) Again, it's not for the front lines, but adequate for us regular civilians to wear in public to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

One more thing about the home made masks: When giving them to friends and family outside your household, make sure they wash them before wearing. Wash masks every time after you wear them! That's why I suggest everyone has two.

After I visited my father with bags of groceries, I put water in a pan on the stove top, turned it off when it was at a boil and let my mask soak in the water for 5 minutes.

See you next Fashion Friday when I'm planning on posting something whimsical and fun.

Stay safe, stay sane, stay healthy!

denise

Here's images of the patterns and the link to the "origami" mask.