Sewing masks - what fabric and pattern to use?

[Anonymous]

I made some masks a while ago using a cotton pillowcase and a cut up t-shirt for a filter. Is there any updates on what fabric is best to use? I read that Chiffon is good for the filter. I have seen so many masks online that are not cotton and some that dont even have a filter, so I am wondering what other people have used. I am also lookong for pattern recs. So far I have only tried the pletted rectangle ones and they are pretty easy to sew.

[Anonymous]

Quilting cotton fabric is the best and easiest to sew. And, use a non-woven interfacing as a filter. The pellon in a 900 number - 911, 950 (I forget the other numbers) work well depending on what you can get. I have no idea why people are not using interfacing. I prefer the pleated as I don't want seams by my nose and mouth. Plenty of youtube videos how.

[Anonymous]

I don't use a filter. I use cotton woven fabric, but I'm going to try a cotton knit just to see what it is like.


I cut two rectangles of 9" x 6". I use 7" strips of elastic.

I pin the elastic into the corners (and between the two pieces of fabric) before I sew them together.

I sew them with right sides together and leave a little unsewn space to flip them right side out.

Then I add pleats down the side and sew down the short sides twice.

I know this may not be popular, but the best fabric is mens boxer shorts! Washed, of course. The fabric is cotton, but it's thinner than some cotton fabrics. Ends up being very comfortable for a mask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't use a filter. I use cotton woven fabric, but I'm going to try a cotton knit just to see what it is like.


I cut two rectangles of 9" x 6". I use 7" strips of elastic.

I pin the elastic into the corners (and between the two pieces of fabric) before I sew them together.

I sew them with right sides together and leave a little unsewn space to flip them right side out.

Then I add pleats down the side and sew down the short sides twice.

I know this may not be popular, but the best fabric is mens boxer shorts! Washed, of course. The fabric is cotton, but it's thinner than some cotton fabrics. Ends up being very comfortable for a mask.

Two thin pieces of fabric is a mask just for show and completely useless. You need interfacing as a filter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't use a filter. I use cotton woven fabric, but I'm going to try a cotton knit just to see what it is like.


I cut two rectangles of 9" x 6". I use 7" strips of elastic.

I pin the elastic into the corners (and between the two pieces of fabric) before I sew them together.

I sew them with right sides together and leave a little unsewn space to flip them right side out.

Then I add pleats down the side and sew down the short sides twice.

I know this may not be popular, but the best fabric is mens boxer shorts! Washed, of course. The fabric is cotton, but it's thinner than some cotton fabrics. Ends up being very comfortable for a mask.

Two thin pieces of fabric is a mask just for show and completely useless. You need interfacing as a filter.

Actually your filter is useless. These are not occlusive airtight masks. Air is going in the all sides of the mask.

[Anonymous]

Best and easiest:
I am not a sewer and have perfected this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inJQexwK8Yg

[Anonymous]

"Researchers at Florida Atlantic University have experimented with different materials and styles of non-medical masks and found that a well-fitted stitched mask made from TWO layers of quilting fabric was the most effective in stopping the spread of droplets from emulated coughs and sneezes."

https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/30/health/masks-homemade-design-trnd-wellness-scn/index.html

No suggestion that you need a filter or that there were three layers in the masks that they recommend (which are two layers of cotton cloth).

[Anonymous]

I've found this one to be the best for us, and worked well with my limited sewing skills:

https://www.craftpassion.com/face-mask-sewing-pattern/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't use a filter. I use cotton woven fabric, but I'm going to try a cotton knit just to see what it is like.


I cut two rectangles of 9" x 6". I use 7" strips of elastic.

I pin the elastic into the corners (and between the two pieces of fabric) before I sew them together.

I sew them with right sides together and leave a little unsewn space to flip them right side out.

Then I add pleats down the side and sew down the short sides twice.

I know this may not be popular, but the best fabric is mens boxer shorts! Washed, of course. The fabric is cotton, but it's thinner than some cotton fabrics. Ends up being very comfortable for a mask.

Two thin pieces of fabric is a mask just for show and completely useless. You need interfacing as a filter.

Actually your filter is useless. These are not occlusive airtight masks. Air is going in the all sides of the mask.

Its not supposed to be air tight but protect the mouth and nose. Sure it can get in on the sides but it still decreases the entry points. I want to protect myself from people like you who are just doing masks for show.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Best and easiest:
I am not a sewer and have perfected this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inJQexwK8Yg

That is overly complicated for a simple mask. Make a rectangle, do the pleats, sew.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't use a filter. I use cotton woven fabric, but I'm going to try a cotton knit just to see what it is like.


I cut two rectangles of 9" x 6". I use 7" strips of elastic.

I pin the elastic into the corners (and between the two pieces of fabric) before I sew them together.

I sew them with right sides together and leave a little unsewn space to flip them right side out.

Then I add pleats down the side and sew down the short sides twice.

I know this may not be popular, but the best fabric is mens boxer shorts! Washed, of course. The fabric is cotton, but it's thinner than some cotton fabrics. Ends up being very comfortable for a mask.

Two thin pieces of fabric is a mask just for show and completely useless. You need interfacing as a filter.

Actually your filter is useless. These are not occlusive airtight masks. Air is going in the all sides of the mask.

Its not supposed to be air tight but protect the mouth and nose. Sure it can get in on the sides but it still decreases the entry points. I want to protect myself from people like you who are just doing masks for show.

you are a mask-snob.

Instead of tearing down people who bother to make masks and share the process with others, maybe you should just put your superior mask on all day and make the world a better place for all of us.

[Anonymous]

I found this to be easier than doing a pleated one.

https://healthcare.utah.edu/healthfeed/postings/2020/04/homemade-cloth-face-masks_web.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't use a filter. I use cotton woven fabric, but I'm going to try a cotton knit just to see what it is like.


I cut two rectangles of 9" x 6". I use 7" strips of elastic.

I pin the elastic into the corners (and between the two pieces of fabric) before I sew them together.

I sew them with right sides together and leave a little unsewn space to flip them right side out.

Then I add pleats down the side and sew down the short sides twice.

I know this may not be popular, but the best fabric is mens boxer shorts! Washed, of course. The fabric is cotton, but it's thinner than some cotton fabrics. Ends up being very comfortable for a mask.

Two thin pieces of fabric is a mask just for show and completely useless. You need interfacing as a filter.

Actually your filter is useless. These are not occlusive airtight masks. Air is going in the all sides of the mask.

Its not supposed to be air tight but protect the mouth and nose. Sure it can get in on the sides but it still decreases the entry points. I want to protect myself from people like you who are just doing masks for show.

you are a mask-snob.

Instead of tearing down people who bother to make masks and share the process with others, maybe you should just put your superior mask on all day and make the world a better place for all of us.

I did, do the pleated kind and put interfacing in. Simple. As long as you are sewing it, its easy to sew or iron in interfacing.

[Anonymous]

I use my 1000 thread count (old ones) pillow cases and sheets. It was heartbreaking but it's supposed to be the best. I double layer and kept them long so I can tie it behind my head and keep it on with a hat. I cannot breathe well so I go in, do shopping, and leave. When my son ended up at the ER (yes in the midst of this pandemic), they gave him extra children's masks and me some extra adult masks (to wear over my mask). I then wore them later and they are useless. I can see my breathe go in and out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I use my 1000 thread count (old ones) pillow cases and sheets. It was heartbreaking but it's supposed to be the best. I double layer and kept them long so I can tie it behind my head and keep it on with a hat. I cannot breathe well so I go in, do shopping, and leave. When my son ended up at the ER (yes in the midst of this pandemic), they gave him extra children's masks and me some extra adult masks (to wear over my mask). I then wore them later and they are useless. I can see my breathe go in and out.

They are now saying that the high thread count isn't best.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/30/health/masks-homemade-design-trnd-wellness-scn/index.html