Mask pattern

This web page has lots of links to good info ; instructional videos ; etc

John T.

After much fumbling, I found that the pattern for the pleated mask that looks like what the surgeons on MASH wore is very simple.

One begins with a nine-inch by seven-inch piece of fabric that is finished on the long edges. I did that by cutting a nine-inch by fourteen-inch piece of gauze and sewing the nine-inch edges together, then pressing the seam open and flattening the cylinder with the edge of the seam allowance in one crease.

Optional: Make the top hem wide enough that you can insert a piece of metal to shape the mask to your nose.

One way: stitch across the hem where one end of the metal will be, stick the metal in through the open end of the hem, stitch across at the other end of the metal. Second stitching probably quicker to do by hand than by machine. (I'm not speaking from experience here because I shape my masks to my nose by putting my glasses on over them.)

Then press the fabric flat, then fold it in half with the finished edges matched, press in a crease.

Then unfold it and fold each finished edge in to meet the crease, press in two more creases.

Use these creases to form three pleats about a quarter inch wide. Pin the pleats at the ends and in the middle.

Assorted ways to add ties and ear loops discussed at

I think that the nose-wire is essential for people wearing eyeglasses

- to reduce fogging up.

For our early masks - we scrounged the house and found a great source for the nose-wire - coffee / coffee bean bag - closures ! Plastic coated & very bendy ; I made a tiny fold-over at each end to avoid the sharp corner points doing damage during laundry.

The first ones we found - worked great - they were almost double the size of the normal ones - perhaps from some other larger bagged product - long forgotten ... sometimes the pack-rat actually packs away something useful !

The normal-sized ones will work fine also.

Just sew a "pocket" for the nose-wire onto the mask - sew 2-long 1-short side ; insert the wire ; sew off the end.

Just thinking of sewing up a batch of child-sized masks for the grand-kids back-to-school .. the young ones will need a generous supply ..

John T.

Here's an article on some testing that was conducted that might give some useful insight into materials. It looks like the best option after an N95 or a commercially produced surgical mask is three layers with cotton on the outside and polypropylene of some sort on the inside. And stay away from fleece.

My wife sews a 2-layer version ; I sew a single layer mask -

- during the recent heat wave - I was standing in line for

10 minutes longer than usual - and was glad I was wearing a single layer mask - I would have been pulling-down anything that was more restrictive .. .. and a simple dirty bandana is acceptable in most places. Endless debating of the intricate scientific efficacy of home-made mask materials - is a stupid distraction . and a political hot-button-issue in the US of A.

Hand washing and distancing are also very important !

Get with the program .. everyone. John T.

There dozens of mask patterns on YouTube.