A Sewing Pattern for Fabric Face Mask (original) (raw)
Advertisement
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load.
March 31, 2020
How to Sew a Fabric Face Mask
A sewing pattern to use with common household materials
Image
Guidance on whether to wear a face mask varies locally. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that all Americans, healthy and sick, wear basic cloth masks in public — a result of concerns that as many as 25 percent of people infected with the new coronavirus may not show symptoms.
It is still most important to limit trips outside and wash your hands frequently. Civilians should not use medical-grade masks, which are in short supply and must be reserved for health care workers on the front line.
But wearing a mask can help limit the spread of respiratory droplets, which in turn spread the new coronavirus. The Sewing and Craft Alliance is continuously updating a list of health care facilities that have asked for fabric mask donations.
Here’s what you will need for this pattern:
Tools
- Needle and thread (and a sewing machine, if you have one)
- Scissors
- Pins or clips to hold fabrics in place (safety pins and paper clips will also work in a pinch)
Materials
- At least 20 by 20 inches of 100 percent cotton fabric, such as a flat tea towel (scroll to the end for more information about materials)
- 4 strips of cotton fabric for ties, about 18” long and ¾” wide
OR
- 4 flat, clean shoelaces
OR
- Two flat (1/4”) sewing elastics that are 7” long each
Prepare your materials
Step 1
Image
Credit...Illustration by Tracy Ma/The New York Times
1 page, 0.16 MB
Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access.
Already a subscriber? Log in.
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Advertisement