Apologies for the radio silence, friends.
I haven’t been away on holidays (remember those days?), or pottering in the kitchen, delightful as that would be. Instead, I’ve been frantically sewing masks.
As COVID19 continues to spread in parts of Australia, NSW Health has urged us all to wear masks whenever we’re unable to socially distance, and I’ve been trying to make enough for our family and friends. I’ve got the process quite streamlined now, having churned out nearly a hundred in the past few weeks. Here are some thoughts…
#1: In my personal opinion, ties work better than elastic ear loops. It does, of course, depend on head shape, but we’ve found that ties give a snugger fit with less gaping.
Stretchy cotton lycra makes extremely comfortable ties which tend to stay in place. We’ve been cutting 3cm (1¼”) strips across the width of the fabric (selvedge to selvedge), then giving them a good tug until they curl. I thread a 90cm (36″) continuous strip through both sides of the mask and then tie behind my neck. I’m actually using bamboo lycra which I found as a remnant at The Sewing Basket, and it’s gloriously soft…
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#2: Fabric masks can be a sustainable alternative to paper ones. We’ve made masks from old jeans, rescued scraps, and materials sourced from The Sewing Basket (which I’ll henceforth refer to as TSB as I’ll probably mention them another ten times in this post).
These ones were made from Big Boy’s old jeans, lime green binding, interfacing and lingerie elastic that I found at TSB, and straps cut from Small Man’s old tshirts (see this post)…
The denim ones were so popular that I made a second batch. I was able to cut ten masks from a pair of $2 Salvos’ (thrifted) jeans, and lined them with fabric from a Japanese cushion cover that I also picked up for $2 from the Salvos Store in Croydon. All the components – including the interfacing and straps – were sustainably sourced from rescued and donated materials…
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#3: Very little fabric is actually needed to make a mask, so they’re the perfect project for leftover scrap. My darling friend Dan recently made me this patchwork quilt from a $30 donated kit that I picked up at TSB…
She then gave me all the excess fabric back, and I was able to turn the scraps into nearly thirty masks…
Including a pair for these little monkeys…
I’ve had these pieces of Schoeller Dryskin Extreme in my sewing room for nearly two decades. When it was first released, the fabric retailed for an astronomical amount – over $100/m from memory – so I’ve hoarded these rescued manufacturing scraps like gold. The high tech material was originally targeted at adventurers hiking in the Swiss alps, so naturally I made pieced jackets for Pete and the kids from them. It turns out they’re perfect for masks, because water runs off the external surface but they’re still reasonably breathable and comfortable to wear.
I’ve said it a dozen times, if the universe doesn’t want me to be a quarter hoarder, then it really needs to stop positively reinforcing me for it…
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Finally, something to make you laugh. I sneezed inside my fabric mask the other day (it was seriously gross) and basically proved the truth of this graphic which Jess sent me. Stay safe, folks! ♥
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
You have some lovely masks! I never thought about using Jean’s to make masks. Sounds like you’ve been very busy. I find the elastic over the ears uncomfortable. Ties sound better. My son has problems with his glasses fogging up whenever he wears a mask. Do you have a similar problem?
The graphic gave me a good laugh. Very true though! Sneezing in a mask is not a pleasant experience. Lol
I made two fabric masks for my daughter who lives in Sydney and posted them to her. I used the Spotlight pattern. The first one took more than an hour but once I knew what I was doing the second took 20 minutes. I adjusted the pattern a little. My daughter says they’re very comfortable.
You are such a busy lady. What an incredible amount of masks you have made and they all look terrific too as well as making use of rescued fabric.
Laughed out loud at the graphic at the end of your post.
Great job (s) and lovely colours. Great graphic haha Glad you are OK.
Love the graphic – it certainly drives the point home. I haven’t made any masks yet as living the area of Queensland I do has not made it necessary as yet (no cases of Covid-19 in our region.) However I have gathered my supplies in case that situation changes.
You are the master not only of bread baking also of beautiful mask making.
“if the universe doesn’t want me to be a quarter hoarder, then it really needs to stop positively reinforcing me for it ”
Amen to this! lol
You are officially a wonderful person to making all of those masks. Still nutty, but wonderful 😘
Ties can be more comfortable but can be difficult if one’s hair is the length to get knotted into them! Options include top and bottom elastics that go across the nape and the top of the head where ties would go – or, a neat alternative if its cold enough to wear a beanie is buttons sewn on the beanie and elastics hooked over these to save one’s ears. But you have done a wonderful job, I may be inspired!!!
Love your masks, Celia. Beautiful and creative as always 💕
Love your masks, Celia. So beautiful – and creative 💕
Interestingly we had this very discussion about sneezing into your mask and also, what if you want to blow your nose or cough? We decided the mask had to be used like a handkerchief and then swiftly removed and replaced. Or, even better, just don’t go out.
I’m in awe of your skills Celia!
Thank you, this will be so helpful. I have been low on masks lately. they just keep disappearing
I live local to you & would love some of your masks pretty please to purchase. I find the elastic on most others is too long & I need to tie knots & twist & well touch the mask too often. Please could you get in touch with me? I would love to have you maybe run a workshop (socially distanced) at our community shed as well. https://www.facebook.com/RedShed4Good