MASK FAQs

Here are some of your questions on the mask tutorial answered.

General

Why make masks?

Masks are useful to protect ourselves and others from the virus. These are routinely used in hospitals, of course, but also in surgeries, care homes and by community carers.

While government advice does not yet advise individuals to wear masks in the UK, it has been suggested that other front-line workers, such as shop workers, could benefit from wearing a mask. Many people who do not work on the front lines are beginning to feel safer wearing a mask when they go outside, too.

So – of all the items of PPE we can make, these are going to be in highest demand and the easiest to distribute, so by making masks we can help reduce the .

Fabric masks can be washed and reused. So, if we can supply the community, we can reduce the strain on supplies of single-use PPE. This is urgently required in high risk places like intensive-care.

What fabric should I use?

Masks are really versatile, and can be made from just about anything. The best materials though are a good quality woven cotton or poly-cotton. Not only have these proven more effective than other fabrics at filtering out particulates, but they are also easy to work with and readily available.

If your mask is going to be re-usable, it needs to be made of fabric that is safe to wash at 60 degrees. It’s worth washing your fabric at this heat before getting started – that way, not only can you be sure that your fabric will survive this treatment, but you’ll get rid of and shrinkage before you cut and make.

Can I re-purpose fabric I no longer need?

Yes, you can use ‘pre-loved’ fabrics to make masks. Sheets and shirts can be ideal for this purpose. But, before you do, you should consider the quality of the fabric you are using and the purpose for which you are making masks. Old, thread-bare sheets that are no longer fit for purpose aren’t going to make effective barriers against germs or particulates, so won’t make great masks. It’s also going on your – or another’s – face. Before re-purposing your fabric, ask yourself whether you’d be willing to wear a mask made of the fabric you’re considering.

It is also important to note that pre-loved fabric is not appropriate for hospital use, where requirements are very specific. If you’re making for a hospital, you’ll need to use new fabric. Pre-loved fabric is, however, accepted outside the hospital setting – your local coordinating teams will be able to confirm requirements in your local community.

How do I contribute to the PPE effort?

I recommend getting involved with your local ‘For the Love of Scrubs’ group on Facebook. They’ve set up local networks to deliver the PPE made in the community to those that need it, and can confirm the specific requirements for the recipients in your area.

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Pattern-specific questions

Why use two pieces of fabric?

So, there are lots of patterns out there that advise you to use a single piece of fabric for your masks. This does have its advantages – you’re saving about a 1/2″ of fabric with each mask, which adds up, saving thread, and reducing the work you need to do.

However, I am using two separate pieces for several reasons:

1. it makes the pretty fabric go further;
2. by using pretty fabric on the outside and a plain fabric for the lining, it makes it much easier to tell which is the outside and which is the lining. This makes it safer to wear as you can easily tell which way to put it on (see below) and safer to handle as you can easily see which side is safe to touch.

Why use pipe-cleaners?

It is important to include some means of shaping the mask around the nose. A mask is significantly less effective when air can get in through gaps at the edges. A shape-able bridge is also a requirement for masks going to the NHS.

I’m using pipe-cleaners because that’s what I have access to. They’re available from amazon and eBay at a relatively low cost, so I’ve been able to get hold of more since I started at an affordable rate. But – that doesn’t mean you can’t swap them out for another material that that you’ve got available to you to serve the same purpose.

Why does the elastic go on the outside?

The elastic goes on the front for two reasons:

1. it reduces the gap between the mask and the cheek, which reduces the risk of contamination bypassing the mask;
2. it makes it easier to put on and take off without touching the face.