Since asymptomatic carriers of COVID-19 can still infect people, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises using simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus — especially when in public settings that are difficult to maintain proper social distance, such as pharmacies and grocery stores. Some states require the wearing of face masks in public, and experts are calling on all states to mandate masks or face coverings of some kind.
While you can buy cloth ones (sometimes from your favorite stores), you can also make face masks at home instead of buying disposable masks — this keeps medical masks available for the more vulnerable. Here are some tips for making your own face masks — and why they are so important to protect yourself and those around you.
The importance of wearing masks
Best fabrics and other tips
Mom Tomika Bryant recommends cotton blends for the outer later and broadcloth for the inner layer, as her friend Scherrie Donaldson uses in the masks she makes and sells. “The corded elastic works better for around the ears and the flatter elastic is good for around the head,” Tomika added.
For a better fit, you can also try pipe cleaners or the twist ties that come with electronics to make a nose wire. “Having a wire to fold over the bridge of the nose makes for easier wear for long days when you are talking since it helps to hold it in place,” teacher Sandi Lawver Francioch explained to Mom.com.
If you’re making masks in bulk, mom of three Emily Lai recommended a couple of tools to expedite the process. “Invest some time to make yourself a pleater board and bias tape maker,” she told Mom.com. “You can DIY from cardstock and do a search on YouTube.”
Natasha C. Nicholes, who has churned out hundreds of masks for her local community and friends, suggested a time-saving tip. “Chain stitch the masks in groups of 10, and then work the assembly line out of all pieces! It beats completing them one at a time.”
