Ever since the CDC recommendation came out about people wearing face masks in public, there have been loads of videos, articles on and written instructions created about how you can make your own. I didn't even consider trying to buy one or more online.
Youtube is the place for me to go because I watch someone actually doing it. I learn better by watching somebody make something than reading instructions. And so, after watching several and deciding that hand-sewing was my best option (not the no-sew bandana mask), I decided today was the day. Of course, the part that took the longest was the hand sewing. Thank goodness for my thimble, which enabled me to push my needle through multiple layers of material without hurting my fingers!
This is the video I used (the actual directions start at 4:22):
I cut out my material per directions, a 7.5" x 7.5" square and a 9.0" x 7.5" rectangle and placed them good sides together as shown in the video:
I then cut my iron on hemming tape to 7.5" for the top and bottom hems, placed the tape between the two pieces of material and ironed the pieces together (dry heat only) per directions on the package. Then I turned the pieces right sides out and ironed down the top and bottom hems:
I then pressed in a teeny little fold along each of the raw edges of the unfinished sides, as shown in the video. I will probably be making another mask or two for myself and I will cut the rectangle longer than 9.0" when I do them - it will make the side pockets (where the elastic is threaded in) much easier to work on for my not so nimble fingers and hands!
I then hand-stitched along the edge of the first side pocket:
and then hand-stitched the edge of the other side pocket. I used a nifty little threader tool I fished out of my ancient (from the 1960s, woo woo!) sewing box and threaded a 10" length of 3/8ths inch elastic that I'd cut in half length-wise to make sure they would easily slide through the pockets. I'm glad I did this, the 3/8ths width would have been too large to easily pull/thread through the side pockets. That's why I will cut my rectangle larger next mask, to allowing for more generous sized pockets through which the elastic is threaded.
Below are "outer" and "inner" photos of my completed mask (after I knotted each elastic piece as shown in the video and turned the knot into the pocket so it won't be rubbing anywhere behind my ear or on my face:
It worked! I didn't think it would fit, frankly - I thought it looked small. But when I tried it on it fit well and gave full coverage underneath my chin (as recommended by CDC), the top sit comfortably across the bridge of my nose and just on the ridges of my cheekbones underneath my eyes (as recommended by CDC), resting snugly on the sides of my cheeks with no gaps (as recommended by CDC). For my half-hour or less forays in the supermarket, it will be fine, I'll take it along with me and slip it on just before I enter the store. Thank goodness though I don't have to wear one inside my house or out in the gardens!
The finished product on yours truly (yes, I AM smiling and boy oh boy, I've got to do something about those skimpy little bangs, geez):
 |
| Hola! |
No comments:
Post a Comment