Face Mask Profusion

With the constant pandemic news updates and extended quarantine announcement, there are a lot of us dealing with anxiety. I am normally a pretty stoic person, but yesterday I was feeling worried and helpless. My parents are not in great health and due to preexisting health issues, they will be at a hospital for a necessary surgical procedure. It's a really scary world right now.

One way to deal with anxiety is to do something creative or take steps to mitigate risk of a bad outcome. I decided it was time to sew some face masks, which is both creative and a positive step. Like most of you, I have seen lots of different face mask patterns and conflicting claims on which style is best, who should be wearing them, and what fabric and nosepieces are best.  I decided to use the pattern from craftpassion.com, specifically the pocket version.  I printed the Mens and Women/Teenager sizes to try. The instructions were okay and my first two turned out pretty good.

I have a big spool of 1/8 inch elastic, ordered from Amazon in February when I saw what was happening in China. The thin elastic worked great with these face masks. There are a couple options - a double strap which hooks behind your head, or loops which fit behind your ears. My husband liked the full head strap; I liked the ear loops.

So after testing the pattern, I made four more face masks.  Yes, I washed all the fabrics first in hot water.  I did not insert a metal nosepiece ... yet. (I need to find my craft wire spool)  If a metal nosepiece is needed later, I can sew a little channel and insert the metal piece through the main pocket. The mask fits nicely without the metal.

THANK YOU, dear readers, for reading and commenting on this blog. Your comments have been encouraging and downright fun to receive. It means the world to me that you took the time to reach out.  

Special thanks goes to Joy of "The Joyful Quilter". She sent a pile of orange strips so I can finish up Awesome Land. I sent back a mug rug, some scraps in colors she wanted, and a long piece of the thin elastic so she can make face masks, too. I will share a pic of the mug rug after she receives her package.