Something is Better than Nothing

I've been carefully watching the homemade mask discussion over the last few weeks. We went from "they don't do anything" to "you should wrap a bandana around your face" and finally to "wear a mask when you go to the grocery store". It was a social experiment set on overdrive. I collected a few links to tutorials along the way. Everyone had their idea of what a mask should be. By the time the CDC announced people should wear face coverings when going out, the number of tutorials and free patterns was mind numbing. Domesticity, a Baltimore fabric shop, is working with several Maryland medical centers to supply face masks for their healthcare workers. That seemed a pretty good place for me to start. I'm making these masks for my own use. I decided to try patterns A and C. 

Pattern A: I thought pattern A could support another layer of cotton so I grabbed some muslin to go with my prints. I layered the three fabrics like this before sewing together. In the end, I don't think that extra layer of muslin was worth it. It makes the mask somewhat heavy; I don't think I will add that layer again. I made a couple modifications from the published pattern.

Modification 1: I only sewed along the top and bottom before turning. Then, pleated and stitched down the side pleats. This reduces the bulk in the side seams.

Modification 2: I used two pieces of binding (cut width of fabric) to enclose the raw edges and create ties. Since it is cut width of fabric, and left the selvage on, the tie ends won't unravel and don't need to be finished. 

I didn't mind the fit of this design but those ties were not something I could handle with all this hair. So much hair. I was due for my March haircut when this business started and I'm certainly not going to get that haircut anytime soon. So, I either wear a hat or wear a mask with elastic. 

Pattern C: This mask is slightly fitted and can easily be made using ties or elastic. It fits me better than it fits my foam head.

The use of channels at sides of the mask make it super easy to use a single tie, two ties (one on each side), or elastic for over the ears. This one used a single 47" shoelace to create the tie. You just feed the lace in from the bottom on one side and down through on the other side. Again, this had the hair problem. Both designs show you how to add a sleeve for a piece of wire across the bridge of the nose. I used pipe cleaner cut to length as that is what I have on-hand. Remove and dispose of pipe cleaner prior to laundering.

In the end, I made Pattern C and used 1/4" elastic (because that's what I have). If I had 1/8" elastic I would have tried that.

Articles
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Recommendation Regarding the Use of Cloth Face Coverings, Especially in Areas of Significant Community-Based Transmission (includes references to recent studies on the use of cloth masks to prevent transmission)
NPR: Coronavirus FAQs: Is A Homemade Mask Effective? And What's The Best Way To Wear One?

Mask Patterns
Domesticity Fabric Shop (three free patterns linked)
Craft Passion (Pattern C)
Delectable Mountain Quilter's Guild (several patterns and references)

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle
Creative Grids 6.5" Square Ruler
Creative Grids 4.5" x 12.5" Rectangle Quilting Ruler
Fiskars Rotary Cutter
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
Juki TL-2010Q
Oval Shoelaces Half Round 1/4"
Clover 2-Type Bodkin