White House officials now recommend that Americans wear cloth masks in public as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The new CDC protocols make clear that surgical or N95 masks remain off-limits and instead call for reliance on homemade masks.
Last month, the government told the general public to stop buying surgical and N95 masks because health care providers need them to treat infected patients.
Studies have shown that while homemade masks aren’t as effective as medical-grade masks at protecting people from coronavirus, they’re still a better option than wearing no mask at all.
Several readers have asked Curious Texas: How do you make a mask, and how do you take care of it?
How to make a cloth mask
Crafters have taken to the internet to create video tutorials on how to make masks, even uploading patterns for them.
Weneedmasks.org, a website started by the Sewing and Crafting Alliance, connects health care organizations in need of fabric masks with volunteers who can sew and are making masks with their own machines and supplies. The website also has detailed instructions on how to make a surgical mask.
To create a surgical mask, you will need a needle, thread and two 6.5-inch by 9.5-inch pieces of tightly-woven fabric, like a T-shirt or a tea towel. You’ll also need four strips of cotton fabric for ties that are 18 inches long and 2 inches wide.
To make the ties:
For each strip, fold each long edge toward the center so the raw edges meet. Fold it again in the center so the folded edges meet. Stitch it closed.
To make the mask:
Start with one of your larger fabric layers with the “top side” (the side with the pattern) facing you. Pin one end of the fabric strips in each corner, slightly angling them toward the center of the mask.
Place the second piece of cotton fabric on top, with the right sides together and matching the edges. Pin them so that they don’t move as you sew.
From the center of one long edge of the fabric, sew around the perimeter making sure to catch each layer of fabric. Stitch over the thin strips back and forth several times to secure them. As you make your way around the mask, stop about 1.5 inches from where you started.
Use the open space to turn the mask inside-out. Then, gently tug on the strips to ensure they are secure.
Make three paneled tucks on one short side of the mask and pin in place. Do the same on the other side, and make sure the tucks are going in the same direction on both sides of the mask. Sew completely around the mask twice to ensure that everything is secure.
How to wear and care for a mask
Even when wearing a mask, it’s still important to follow shelter-in-place rules and social distancing guidelines and to wash your hands frequently. In fact, the World Health Organization says that masks are only effective in combination with frequent hand-cleaning.
To wear the mask, cover your mouth and nose, and make sure there are no gaps between your face and the mask. Avoid touching the mask while using it. To remove it, use the elastics or untie the straps. Don’t remove the mask with the part that covers your face.
Experts say that after each use, you should wash your mask in warm water and soap. Dry it in a place that does not collect moisture.
Who in North Texas is making masks?
Hospitals and medical staff across the country have asked for donations of medical-grade masks as the shortage continues to remain a concern during the coronavirus crisis.
In North Texas, several businesses and fashion designers have stepped up to make homemade masks for the general public in an effort to free up surgical and N95 masks for the proper facilities.
One designer, Julie McCullough of the Oak Cliff clothing and fragrance shop Harkensback, says on her website that the masks she’s creating have a cotton exterior and two layers of polyethylene, which is the same fiber used to make surgical masks.
A new community Facebook group called North Texas Mask Makers is assembling masks to donate to North Texas medical facilities. The group has more than 2,700 members and donates to medical facilities all over North Texas.
Where to donate homemade masks
Some hospitals and nonprofits are accepting donations of cloth masks. To donate, be sure to call ahead of time to make sure the organization can accept the masks.
Weneedmasks.org has a running list of health organizations all over the country that accept fabric masks. The North Texas Mask Makers Facebook group has a spreadsheet of hospitals in the area that are using sewn masks.
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