Sew a Medical Protection Mask
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Adjustable side face mask
I am working with my local hospital network that serves the 800,000 people living in my valley and beyond to galvanize the sewing community to make cloth face masks that they plan to use to cover their limited supply of N95 masks. I am in contact with the director of supply chain to drop “loads” of these with her in the coming weeks and I need the help of my local community sewers…but frankly…anyone can send them to me. Additional drop sites will be added as I get them.
This is the specific pattern requested by my hospital, and chosen by the Director of Infectious Disease Control. They want the adjustable sides, because it can be made to fit all size faces with fewer gaps. The pattern is for either 1/4″ elastic or long 40″ fabric ties, so the only real supply you need is good quality, freshly washed, tightly woven 100% cotton fabric and a big heart. Update: the hospital network is approving several other mask patterns. I will provide links to these other patterns at the bottom of this post and continue to edit it as this effort gets more organized.
Yes. I definitely made octopus masks
There are lots of face mask patterns out there and a lot of awesome people making them. A word of caution however before any well meaning sewer starts these.
- Do not make them until you know where they are going and what is specifically needed.
- Do not overwhelm your local health centers with each person with a sewing machine calling them. I assure you, they have MUCH better ways to use their time. Instead, call your local quilt or sewing guild. They likely have a point person already. One email from the single community service chairperson is all that is necessary. Alternatively look up the “volunteer coordinator” for your health system.
- If you do not have a way to help locally but still want to make masks, then you are welcome to send them to me, as long as you are using my pattern. My area is in the next major metropolitan ring outside of the NYC area. The anticipated need will be high here. My hospital wants the network to start rationing the limited N95 masks by covering them with fabric masks, effective immediately .
EDIT: TIP!! Several makers have had trouble using a safety pin with the pleats. Instead, they are threading the tie through the holes, pinning it out of the way, THEN pleating and adding casing seams, making sure the tie can still “slither” in the casing before the tack stitch.
