Hawaii's COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Friday is this:
Yes, yes, I've heard how you should only use a mask if you are caring for someone who is ill with the COVID-19 virus or if you yourself are sick. However, my cousin in Japan says everybody in Japan must wear a mask. In fact many countries are requiring everyone to wear a mask. Granted, most people there are probably wearing the appropriate one-time use types. Maybe.
I'm not saying we should hoard masks here because our front-line workers NEED them more. And to all our doctors (my friends), nurses (my nephew and friends) and hospital workers, I want to send you my heartfelt thanks for your dedication and courage.
Most hospital personnel in this country are running dangerously low on masks and other equipment. (I won’t go into why. You know why.) I saw in the news that nurses in Texas have come up with a way to prolong the use of their masks. They are covering their N-95s with a cloth mask they are sewing themselves.
I found one
website that talks about DIY face masks.
This website talks about some research they discovered.
https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/diy-homemade-mask-protect-virus-coronavirus/
I got this from
Reuters about Thailand:
“The droplet from coughing and sneezing is around five microns and we have tested already that cloth masks can protect against droplets bigger than one micron,” Panpimon said, adding that the masks needed to be washed daily."
I did see some warning that a cloth mask could be more harmful because of the moisture that gets collected on it. Then again... another cautions that you just have to make sure you wash it after every use. So what to do? What to do?
I have time now since I'm in self-isolation.
I decided to make some with a few of my tea towels. Here's the pattern I used.
Face Mask Sewing Pattern
I printed the pattern first and then modified it a little. I wanted more chin coverage.
I just thought it would be good to have some extra coverage under the chin.
I got my materials. I can't believe I actually had some elastic. I do save things in case I might need them at some future, far off date. Yay!
Instead of putting the elastic behind the ears, Art wanted it around his head. He thought it would be easier to wear with his glasses.
I added the lining to create an insert in case he wanted to put something inside for further protection. Coffee filters, HEPA filters, etc. I don't know and don't know if it's actually necessary.
I saw another website that showed how you could add some wire at the nose so it can be more form fitting.
Hmmm....
I'm going to check out Art's tool shed.
I know it’s all unproven conjecture whether it is truly helpful, but I have time and I have a few tea towels.
Then I decided to make one for me with the ear loops. You're supposed to put the elastic loops inside the casing to hide it, but I took it out because I made it too tight. I don't care if it's not as pretty.
After loosening it, I tried it again but it kept drifting down my nose.
They also recommend making the masks with pretty material, BUT I can't go out to buy pretty material can I?
POSTSCRIPT 1: There are so many different styles of masks to choose from so then I tried this one. It called for an elastic band. I followed the directions, but it was too loose around the neck. If I tightened the bottom elastic, it would have made it too difficult to put over the head.
(I couldn't find a thinner elastic in my sewing case.)
I decided to use ribbons which I could tie instead which worked somewhat better. Somewhat.
POSTSCRIPT 2: Then my daughter sent me a video and pattern from St. Luke's Hospital. St. Luke's is asking people to make and send these masks to them because they don't have enough supplies.
This is the link to their website and mask pattern.
https://www.unitypoint.org/cedarrapids/sewing-surgical-masks.aspx
So I decided to try making their version too. No, I don't have enough material to make any for them and I promised the kids I wouldn't go out for a good long while to buy supplies.
POSTSCRIPT 3: And here it is.
I guess medical people know best. This is, by far the best fit of all three designs that I tried.
There is also the option to make a flap for the inner lining. St. Luke's said they had their own nonporous sheet to insert into that space.
The hospital also uses double sided tape to seal around the edges. I inserted some wire I had for the nose instead.
POSTSCRIPT 4:
I got the following video from Marcia's blog
Birds, Blooms, Books, etc:
He really explains COVID-19 well. He did this video on March 23rd and what he predicted is coming true. It's scary.