Facemasks . . . The Learning Curve

During WWII, my grandmothers did what they could to help; rolled bandages and lodged soldiers, made food basket for the needy. So when Mom and I heard there was a need to sew facemasks, we jumped at the chance to help. I am sharing what we learned, hoping it helps others who want to take up the cause. 

The Bottom Line

• use a pattern from the Fabric Patch in Ephrata, Washington ​
  • they are weeks ahead of us
  • have a pattern that is continually revised 
  • the designed nose clamp
  • medical professionals wearing them in the hospital
• only making masks to fill requests 
• trust medical professionals to know how to use them
• a request was made to keep the women's pattern the same width but make the depth the same as the men's pattern, so it fits under the chin bette​

Sewing Tips

The Fabric Patch's video is very detailed and clear to any person who sews. Mom is  has used her machine for repairing clothing, but is not a sewer. I found some ways to simplify the process for Mom and me.

Pattern Cutting

• glue or tape the pattern to cardboard so it is easy to trace
• fold several layers of interfacing and trace the pattern on the top layer ( I used a colored pencil)
• Pin through all layers before cutting
• the freezer paper they suggest in the video is fabulous
  
  • you iron the waxy side to the top piece and cut.
    
  • If you don't have freezer paper, trace the pattern like the interfacing.
• flipping the pattern saves materials

Interfacing

• Note - according to the Fabric Patch, interfacing adds a layer of protection because it is non-woven making it harder for the virus to pass through
• place wrong sides of the fabric together
• position the interfacing on both sides of the fabric pieces
• pin once through all layers to hold in place​
• iron both sides - this allows for any interfacing that is sticking out to fuse to itself and not your ironing board or iron!!
• leave the pin in

• sew a 1/4" seam allowance
• Note: Fabric Patch says to sew the outer at 1/4" and inner at 3/8" to make it lay better. It is a good idea, but we did not find it necessary
• remove pin

Our Education

• researched a pattern, it's source & effectiveness. Our first choice was all cotton fabric.
• reached out to medical professionals knew to see if they had a need. Siara, an RN, said, "Yes, 55, please."
• read a report from the National Library of Medicine that cloth masks can do more harm than good. I shared this with Siara, and they still wanted them. We completed the masks for her and stopped sewing.
• started again when we learned Joann Fabric chain was distributing mask sewing kits for free in all their stores. But our store is closed, and they do not ship the kits.  
• thanked Molly at fabricsandtrimming.etsy.com for the fabric they donated. She shared a video from the Fabric Patch.  ​
• my niece Carrie, needed masks for Hospice and Reading Hospital.  
• we got back to work.
• Siara told us they use them below their N95 masks. My cousin Deb, and RN, said that would help keep the N95 clean.
• sewed a 114 for Hospice and Reading Hospital, they asked for the pattern revisions stated above​
• sewing will continue when more supplies arrive tomorrow

The Support Staff

Annie patiently waiting to go play ball.

Murry is in charge of quality control.

A great view and good company is a plus!