Double Up: New Mask Advice From The CDC

 Today's guest author is the CDC website

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/mask-fit-and-filtration.html

(For more detailed information, go visit that link up there!)

or check out this video

https://www.nytimes.com/article/double-masking-tips-coronavirus.html?

Or this one

Mask Click Bait

 

So I clicked on "Learn How"

and this is what I got

Nope. Nothing.

Sheesh. Let's try an outside search

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-to-make-cloth-face-covering.html

A sewn version

and a nonsewn one!

Keep staying safe kids.

I would love to go back to work in my lifetime.

And am I the only person making masks as presents?

(will add photo later, I promise)

HEY! Go read this

https://cloningcouture.com/2020/12/17/make-your-own-professional-pressing-tools/

All that felt on that buck made me swoon!

What the hell is this photo about?

Plague Doctor, Health Screener Edition 2020

https://www.etsy.com/listing/236325647/plague-doctor-mask-pattern-pdf-download

Cartoonist/illustrator Erica Henderson prompted this project, after her Toucan Sam Plague Doctor, 

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_8DBpgh16Q/

I figured I could make a fabric one for my job as a health screener.

I sewed the paper pattern together to test it

It just seems like the right costume at the right time at the right job.

This style has the added ridge down the nose which gives it more structure. I had considered adding a wire in that ridge if necessary, but on trying it on I realized it wasn't necessary.  The proportion of the width of the face portion vs the length of the nose, plus keeping this in as light a fabric as possible (I used muslin) keeps it from being too heavy. 

I took off the forehead piece and eyepieces, and contoured the upper seam to fit my face with my glasses on. The glasses definitely do the work here, I didn't need to duplicate 'eye coverings'.

Adding a second layer (one of the light poly cotton pieces from my regular face mask) makes it feel more like a real mask and reinforces the structure around the face. And adding the straps to hold it in place keeps the shape open and stabilizes it.

And it would be nicer if I had planned on adding it when I was sewing this together.

I could make it washable and finish it more nicely, but I'm hoping not to get a lot of use out of this one.

Getting a Snuffalupagus vibe here

This took less than an hour. Which shows, and you'll be more careful.

I modeled it with various hats. It needs the broadbrimmed original.

Frankly, I like it better out of paper. You could make this out of oaktag or craft foam and do fine.

The only sad thing is that the day before Halloween is going to be a very quiet day at work with hardly anyone to see the costume. And after polling the neighbors, we're not going to get any trick or treaters. This is my favorite holiday, I can't deny how sad this makes me.

To cheer myself up, I'm going to plan a sewing project for an outdoor decoration that is appropriate for every holiday. I mean, these things are SEWN.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Warner-9-5-ft-Pre-Lit-Beetlejuice-Sandworm-Animated-Airblown-Inflatable-224336/308475547

One last minute costume suggestion:

https://wintercroft.com/

You can cut them out of paper and decorate them and wear them and hang them on the wall.

They make splendid things.

Masks continued

I am actually wearing the mask that matches the shirt. (Also a color coordinated Pekka jacket, and pants that coordinate absurdly well. This doesn't happen much except with black fabric, so I'd like an OOOOH, please.)

I am wearing the mask that matches my sister's pants

The pants of my sister, in progress in July

A batch of masks for my son and his tribe

The dress that matches this mask is done, but too summery for chilly October.

Yes, matching masks and seasonal masks will be a thing for the foreseeable future.

Hey, Ann!

I have continued to refine the process, cutting out second and third layers in batches and just roughly pinning them together, tossing them in the project box, sewing them together when it needs to happen. I have still not drunk any White Claw, but my corner store sells a lot of it, thus the free project box. I'm not worrying about the thread matching on the interiors, or even having a dark interior for a dark mask.

I cut out a lot of interior parts, and then I cut out exterior parts, and then I match them up and sew a batch.

The interior piece is a teeny bit smaller, to fit inside it a little better. I just recut the pattern piece to acknowledge I was doing this at the machine each time.

Chain sewing

Mostly I want my interiors to be comfortable and a cotton poly blend for evaporation. That's been less moist wearing them at work for hours and hours and hours.

I am cutting knit fabric to make straps

You pull on the cut strips to make them curl in on themselves (I learned this trick from Steph C at Cake) and they make pretty stretchy and comfortable straps, either around the head or around the ears. The lycra jerseys have more bounce to them for the 'around the ear' models.

I bought these on Amazon. They are not that bendy, so I'm not linking the product

Wire continues to be a pain. I have a lifetime supply of 10 gauge jewelry wire, so I can use that, but it is fiddly to get in once I have made a channel for it, or even goofier if I try to sew around it. I bought wire strips which are not heavy gauge enough to stay bent.

This is another instance of Amazon being inadequate to the supply chain. No inperson vetting for products new to market. I would buy from a known supplier if one were available. I have whined about Amazon's lack of interest in it's vendors and customers before, that complaint is still holding true if not more so now.

If you are going to shop with them, please leave reviews for products AND answer the questions about them if queried (and do ask those questions). I amuse myself by leaving short stories about the plastic crows I have purchased, but I do give prompt and accurate answers to more important product queries. If we are stuck with this ridiculous service after it has taken down all the real businesses that have cared about our custom, then we have to game it in our favor.

And for getting this far, a reward (with a tip of the hat to Threads for reminding me about this project)

https://www.instructables.com/Plauge-Doctor-Mask/

I am going to make one for work, because it's kind of inevitable that I would. 

I am a health screener now, you know.

https://erniekdesigns.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-mask-post.html

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-10-04/amazon-jeff-bezos-protest-beverly-hills

The Mask Post

I am not an authority on this topic.
For more information, and more links, please go see Julie

https://jetsetsewing.com/2020/03/31/information-regarding-mask-covers-for-n95-masks/

I like this one. It fits me. My family wears it. Your results will vary.

https://twin-cities.umn.edu/news-events/diy-face-masks-during-covid-19

I extended the side bit to make it fit better and ease the channel making process.

Spouse here modeling the original

He is not capable of wearing this properly on his nose. At least in this photo he has it over his nose.

A long shoe lace goes around your neck, up through the channels and back behind your head. You can tie it or use a cord lock.

Longer side bit, zigzagged to prevent unraveling, make inserting lace easier

The shorter inside piece, the longer outside piece

I put fat fleece below the nose wire, to improve the fit and prevent unduly glasses fogging. It mostly works.

My favorite. I gave it to my son. NICE MOM. 

This went to the other son.

It's funny seeing my family and neighbors wearing masks that match my summer dress wardrobe. Hopefully this situation won't go that far into summer where we can match on the same day, but I won't be surprised if we do for some time to come.

Perhaps it will be the new style?

This one did not fit

Love them little bathing beauties!