As PPE (personal protective equipment) supplies necessary for fighting covid-19 are running low, some medical facilities are asking for home sewists to create fabric face masks. Kim at Sweet Red Poppy has a DIY sewing tutorial for a face mask that would be easy to create in bulk. It uses basic sewing materials that you probably already have sitting in your stash. And what better way to use up those fabrics that have been sitting for a while but you’ve never found the right project for. Her tutorial includes written instructions as well as a video showing how to put it together. Go to Sweet Red Poppy for her DIY sewing tutorial and video.
Please remember that FABRIC MASKS ARE NOT MEDICAL GRADE and cannot provide the same protection as the N95 masks or medical surgical masks. But they do provide more protection than no mask at all.
IF YOU ARE MAKING THESE TO DONATE, please check first with the facility to make sure they do indeed need them and to see what requirements they have for the masks.
[photo from Sweet Red Poppy]
For more information about making masks check out this article which covers details about suitable fabrics and filters.
In the last few weeks, sewing supplies have become hard to obtain, including Elastic. If you are looking for supplies many Handmade crafters are selling off their stock of Elastic on Etsy
