300 Masks in 30 Days...Let's Do It!

Been working on face mask 'covers' for the past couple of weeks now for immediate family/personal needs, and to comply w/request from one of my daughters who works on the front line in public service.

After the CDC/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidelines on wearing face masks in public with their latest announcement on April 1, 2020 recommending we ALL start wearing cloth/homemade face masks to slow/control the spread of this wicked virus, decided to 'up' my production game, and share what I've learned from creating homemade face masks.

Cloth/homemade face mask covering

If you'd like to follow along to create your own face masks for your own personal needs OR for someone in the Health Care Service that has requested face mask coverings, Please feel free to join in!

First - the pattern I've chosen to use comes from the generosity of Craft Passion and their face mask pattern and the Mods that Lisa's at Carolina Handmade implemented, w/ a few of my own for good measure ;-)

You may choose ANY face mask pattern design you wish.  My advice is to first decide who/why you are making the face mask(s) for and check and see IF the intended recipient(s) have preferences and in MANY cases their own institution-designed face mask pattern they prefer.  Additionally, MANY are already being provided online for F R E E w/download options.

Recently, a call for face masks went out from one of our medical centers.  Their request was for the 'pleated' design-type mask.  Since that is currently NOT the design I've chosen to work with, will be checking with them to see IF the design I'm currently working with and 'tooled-up' for w/fabrics and supplies, will work for them.  If not, will still create masks for them per their face mask design request, once I finish up w/latest 100+ requests for my current face mask design.  (Actually, have over 300+ current face mask requests, some are not in as dire need as others.)

Most of the sewing for this face mask design is fairly straight forward, and I enjoy doing fifty (50) at a time for efficiency and speed:

Chain-piecing face mask 'outside/pretty side'

I'm using cotton surgical sheeting for the inside/lining side that touches the face, that was generously donated:

100% cotton surgical sheeting fabric for lining of mask

With this surgical sheeting/lining, I also create a 'sleeve' for a potential filter to be slid into the mask by the recipient/wearer:

Mask w/filter sleeve getting ready to be sewn

Right-side of face mask

Been cutting these out four (4) at a time in bunches of fifty (50).  It's been a bit slow going:

Cutting in bulk

Soon, will be able to cut up to ten (10) layers of fabric at a time with this latest AccuCut/Studio die:

Face Mask Die

This die is now available from AccuCut HERE: https://accucut.com/products/face-mask

There are several sizes to choose from, in addition to several face mask design options.  If you are creating masks in BULK and you have a Studio/Grande Mark type cutting machine, this could be a wonderful option for you and/or your organization.

In the meantime, time to choose some 'pretty' fabrics for the outside of our mask:

FUN face mask fabrics

Whichever face mask design you choose, Please join us in creating 300 masks in 30 days.

First batch of face masks complete - created four (4) of each fabric = 64/300 total masks:

1st batch of face masks

Just 236 left to go...back to cutting/sewing!

Later,
~Deb