-
12th May 20, 05:55 AM
#41
Originally Posted by Taskr
The issue with elastic is that it pulls in a straight line and with a mask we are trying to get the cloth to take a shape. I've used four wire types, all about 6" in length with the ends bent back and crimped:
electrical - being copper and coated, the individual wire is less likely to oxidize with washing, but its too thick
pipe cleaner - very comfortable, but will it rust?
jewelry wire - shapes light cotton nicely, but very thin and a bit of a job to fix it in place
aluminum craft wire - not thin, but extremely pliable. holding shape and comfortable... longevity?
Yes, this was my worry with the elastic as well. However, as I said, I had at least one instance in which the wire left a mark on my nose-- which turned out to actually be a scrape, which explains why it remained for more than a week. Mind you, my wire is a florist's type that is covered in soft plastic and this still happened. Wire also makes my nose run more while I'm wearing the mask (I think the pressure irritates it; the elastic only putting pressure across the top made it not so bad). Hence why I was hoping elastic might be a better alternative.
Here's tae us - / Wha's like us - / Damn few - / And they're a' deid - /
Mair's the pity!
-
The Following User Says 'Aye' to Katia For This Useful Post:
-
14th May 20, 02:01 PM
#42
'Nuff said!
Mother Bill is a wonderful seamstress and much appreciated!
Rev'd Father Bill White: Retired Parish Priest & Elementary Headmaster. Lover of God, dogs, most people, joy, tradition, humour & clarity. Legion Padre, theologian, teacher, philosopher, linguist, encourager of hearts & souls & a firm believer in dignity, decency, & duty. A proud Canadian Sinclair.
-
The Following 7 Users say 'Aye' to Father Bill For This Useful Post:
-
14th May 20, 03:41 PM
#43
-
The Following 2 Users say 'Aye' to Tobus For This Useful Post:
-
28th May 20, 10:11 AM
#44
For those of you WITHOUT sewing skills...
While I'm impressed with the efforts of the DIYers in this thread, I DO NOT possess any particular skill with needle and thread, so I found another route:
I happened across as site selling custom-printed masks, so I uploaded my art (Maxwell hunting tartan, on the bias) and was off to the races. I replaced the elastic strips that fit around the ears with longer strips that fit around the head/neck, similar to the SportKilt version — which is about the limit of my sewing skills!
Cheers,
SM
Shaun Maxwell
Vice President & Texas Commissioner
Clan Maxwell Society
-
The Following 3 Users say 'Aye' to ShaunMaxwell For This Useful Post:
-
3rd August 20, 04:54 AM
#45
I thought I would update this thread, now that a couple of months have passed.
When I started making these masks, I was working from home. My department was called back to full-time office duty at the beginning of June. So I've been wearing my homemade masks (and making more) for two months. Our rules at work are that masks must be worn in common areas and if there is more than one person in a room. I don't wear a mask while I'm at my desk, alone in my office. But any time I leave my office or if someone comes in, I've got to don my mask. I'm putting it on and taking it off all day. I've learned several things along the way.
First, my wool tartan masks are fairly comfortable and breathable but they don't last terribly long with regular washing. I've had to toss a couple of them in the rubbish bin as they started fraying and shrinking (my wife insists on using hot water to launder anything I wear in public, which is of course death to wool). For this reason, I've stopped making masks from wool tartan scraps and am now just using cotton.
Second, I abandoned hand-stitching and started using my antique treadle sewing machine and my wife's modern electronic sewing machine. I hadn't used a sewing machine for a few decades, so there was a learning curve. But I've gotten the hang of it and can now whip out several masks within a few hours. I like to have at least a dozen masks so I can coordinate with my work attire, as well as coordinate with the laundry schedule. There's no way I could keep up with that making masks with hand-stitching.
Third, I have moved away from wanting my masks to be soft and pliable. I now prefer them to be more on the stiff side. This keeps the material from flexing between my nose and chin so that it stays off my mouth and maintains a bit of an air gap. So instead of using thin interfacing for the middle layer (all my masks are three layers), I've started using a heavy, stiff nonwoven interfacing that is typically used for stiff collars and such. It is still breathable, and actually feels very similar to the material used on N95-type masks. I couldn't say whether the heavy interfacing filters near N95 levels, but it certainly holds shape like one and has about the same level of resistance when breathing through it. With that as a middle layer and heavier cotton (quilting weight) for the other layers, it should be about as good as a cloth homemade mask can get in terms of protection.
Fourth, fit over the nose is critical. While the two main patterns I've been using are fairly well fitted to my face, the gap on either side of the bridge of my nose was not acceptable. So I've started adding a nose wire to all my recent masks. This is quite easily done during the construction process. When I'm sewing the layers together, before turning the mask inside out to bring the seam allowances inside, I stitch a narrow channel within the seam allowance. Then I snip a few inches of copper wire, bend their ends over to a tight loop so there are no sharp edges, and slip the wire into the channel. A short closing stitch on each end after the wire is installed keeps it captive in the channel. Once that wire is in there, I turn the mask out, press the seams with an iron, and finish the ear loop pieces. So each time I put on the mask, I can simply press on that wire over my nose and it keeps that shape all day. Much better for eliminating the gap, and it reduces fogging of glasses as well. Some people prefer their masks to barely cover their nose (or they pull it down under their nose which renders it useless), but I prefer my mask to cover the bridge of my nose and come down just below my eyes.
Fifth, ear loops. I was using boot laces or 1/4" flat elastic band. The boot laces had to be looped around my neck from the bottom and then tied behind my head over my ears, which is a pain to put on and take off every time. The flat elastic is simpler, but it's uncomfortable over my ears and will bend the tops of my ears down. So I've gone to a 1/8" round braided elastic. It's very soft and stretchy and fits nicely over and behind my ears. I size the ear loops on my mask so that they hold my mask snug but not tight when they're looped behind my ears. If I need a tighter fit (like if I'm going to be in a meeting room with several other people for a couple of hours), I use an "ear saver" strap as I described earlier in the thread. This stretches the loops tighter since they have to reach further around my head, and draws the mask tighter all around. I figure this is a decent system for making my masks somewhat adjustable in tightness as needed.
This is what my masks are looking like these days with cotton inner/outer layers, stiffer interfacing, nose wire, and thinner ear loops.
-
The Following 4 Users say 'Aye' to Tobus For This Useful Post:
-
3rd August 20, 09:27 AM
#46
Originally Posted by Lady Grey
I’ve made at least 100-150 masks (probably more)
They are for myself, friends, family and I have a little stall set up on the lawn for all the neighbours to grab 1-2 as they walk past.
And yet my fabric stash hasn’t really decreased.
Looks like you're providing an amazing social service. To achieve it without decreasing your fabric stash sounds miraculous!!
-
-
3rd August 20, 02:23 PM
#47
Originally Posted by Kiltedjohn
Looks like you're providing an amazing social service. To achieve it without decreasing your fabric stash sounds miraculous!!
Shhhh...... I keep buying fabric but only small amounts.
Masks were made compulsory a few weeks ago so I’ve been tethered to my machine again as everyone is asking for masks.
I keep buying fabric to match the person eg:Instruments for the music teacher, horses for the equine therapist, Fluro for tradies!
We’re in stage 4 lockdown now in Melbourne with a curfew (which should have been bought in earlier IMO) so no more fabric purchases as the shops will be closed for six weeks at least!
Hopefully I will be able to decrease the stash this time?
I’m in a bit of a strange situation with my job as it’s an essential service but I’m limited in how I do it with Stage 4 restrictions..... so I think my clients and I shall drive around delivering face masks! Contactless Delivery of course - if Uber Eats can do it we can!
It’s going to be an interesting few months, thankfully it’s winter so staying home most of the time is no real hardship at the moment.
-
The Following 2 Users say 'Aye' to Lady Grey For This Useful Post:
-
4th August 20, 10:11 AM
#48
wow wished I'd seen this earlier
a lot of good information here. We spent a lot of time researching and developing our masks. We settled on a rectangular mask with parachord and a slit to put in a filter.
DSC_7428_00003-denoise-denoise800.jpg
The material isn't a particular clan I don't believe but some pajamas I picked up once. I used coffee filters at first but then cut up some micro fiber cleaning clothes.
The front was grizzlies
DSC_7431_00006-denoise-denoisea800.jpg
The top loop goes over and behind the head over the ears then the bottom straps are pulled tight and tied behind the neck
-
The Following 2 Users say 'Aye' to grizzbass For This Useful Post:
-
4th August 20, 04:43 PM
#49
[QUOTE=Tobus;1386902]
First, my wool tartan masks are fairly comfortable and breathable but they don't last terribly long with regular washing. I've had to toss a couple of them in the rubbish bin as they started fraying and shrinking (my wife insists on using hot water to launder anything I wear in public, which is of course death to wool). For this reason, I've stopped making masks from wool tartan scraps and am now just using cotton.
I'd think that after the first one had to be binned, I would do the laundry myself. I do wash anything wool myself and she'd happily let me. Cone to think of it, I do most of the laundry.
-
-
5th August 20, 04:31 AM
#50
Originally Posted by Brian Rose
I'd think that after the first one had to be binned, I would do the laundry myself. I do wash anything wool myself and she'd happily let me. Cone to think of it, I do most of the laundry.
Heh, that has been a source of debate at my house. My working in an office full of people during the peak of the pandemic (Texas being a hotspot) has put my wife into hyper cleaning mode. I have strict decontamination rules when I get home from work which involve leaving my shoes outside on the porch, stripping off all my clothing and dumping them directly into the washing machine (including my mask), and heading directly to the shower while she disinfects everything else I have brought into the house (like keys, wallet, phone, etc.). It is not an option for me to hand-wash my masks in cool water with Woolite; she insists everything be laundered in hot water with industrial-strength detergent. She's a former nurse who spent many years having to strictly enforce sterilisation protocols in hospitals and elder-care facilities. So my vote means precisely nothing. Since she is in the high-risk category for COVID-related complications due to her age and health conditions, I must comply with the rules she has set. Losing a few home-made wool masks is trivial to me compared to making her feel safe.
The hot-water washing of all my work clothing is taking its toll on my good trousers and shirts too!
-
The Following 2 Users say 'Aye' to Tobus For This Useful Post:
Posting Permissions
- You may not post new threads
- You may not post replies
- You may not post attachments
- You may not edit your posts
-
Forum Rules
|
|
Bookmarks