Homemade masks

[vito]

This coronavirus has impacted about everything in our life. My wife is an avid quilter and sewing fanatic, and today she received an email with instructions for making homemade face masks to protect against the virus. I guess any barrier is better than none, although viruses are small enough to easily pass through any fabric that might be used to make a mask. I told my wife to make me a mask by using two layers of fabric, laid with the grain of the material at a 90 degree angle to each other. She was amenable to that request. But then I asked her if she could embroider "N.R.A." on the front of the mask and I guess now I am out of luck! I tried to tell her that it was a tribute to the icon of the left, FDR for his major socialist program to fight the Depression, the National Recovery Act, but she didn't buy it.

 

[finesse_r]

Should trap many viruses and keep them close to your nose, eyes, and mouth since they can live on fabric for hours or even days.

 

[TBear77]

Here's an option your wife might consider. 3M, the major supplier of masks, also makes HEPA filters for furnaces. Buy one at your favorite hardware store and disassemble the parts. Keep just the filter material. Cut the filter material to fit between the 2 layers of fabric. Should be enough material for several masks.

Ted

 

[Bull Barrel]

I use the filters for my coffee maker.
I call it a "coughy filter".

 

[LDM]

Some doctor recommended using bandana as makeshift masks. Just make sure you wash them in soap and how water every day.

I wouldn't recommend walking into a bank while wearing one.

 

[protoolman]

Some hospitals are asking local quilters to make them for them. My wife got the pattern and made 3 today. I did the research and they are quite effective. 2 layers of any cotton fabric. Put on to go to the store. When you get home wash your hands, throw your mask in the wash also with your shirt. US officials discouraged mask use out of fear people would cause a mask shortage for healthcare workers. That is changing as the seamstresses are finding out about the sewn ones.