if you happen to have an old pair of panty hose lying around you can cut rings out of them. I did this and it works great. nice and stretchy and totally washable.

Lars39

(26,224 posts)

5. Good idea!

Reply to IcyPeas (Reply #2)

Sun Mar 22, 2020, 06:01 PM

Mar 2020

I've got some really stretchy knee high socks that would work, too.

IcyPeas

(22,567 posts)

3. actual HVAC air filters (cheap at hardware stores:)

Reply to Lars39 (Original post)

Sun Mar 22, 2020, 05:03 PM

Mar 2020

Journeyman

(15,140 posts)

6. Thanks for compiling these links. A good resource . . .

Reply to Lars39 (Original post)

Mon Mar 23, 2020, 12:27 AM

Mar 2020

KewlKat

(5,648 posts)

7. Thanks for the list

Reply to Lars39 (Original post)

Wed Apr 1, 2020, 07:55 PM

Apr 2020

CrispyQ

(38,140 posts)

8. This pattern offers optional filter pocket and wire nose guard.

Reply to Lars39 (Original post)

Thu Apr 2, 2020, 11:34 AM

Apr 2020

https://jennifermaker.com/face-mask-patterns-cricut/

Lars39

(26,224 posts)

9. Thanks, CrispyQ!

Reply to CrispyQ (Reply #8)

Thu Apr 2, 2020, 12:13 PM

Apr 2020

Baitball Blogger

(47,784 posts)

10. Here's another one.

Reply to Lars39 (Original post)

Fri Apr 3, 2020, 11:11 AM

Apr 2020

Baitball Blogger

(47,784 posts)

11. This video recommended 100% Cotton batik

Reply to Lars39 (Original post)

Fri Apr 3, 2020, 11:20 AM

Apr 2020

applegrove

(122,937 posts)

12. What do you think?

Reply to Lars39 (Original post)

Sun Apr 5, 2020, 12:58 AM

Apr 2020

Face mask - first try. Face mask - first try. https://imgur.com/gallery/9pS8KWg

Lars39

(26,224 posts)

13. That looks really good, applegrove!

Reply to applegrove (Reply #12)

Sun Apr 5, 2020, 08:12 AM

Apr 2020

eleny

(46,166 posts)

14. One continuous loop of elastic?

Reply to applegrove (Reply #12)

Sun Apr 5, 2020, 11:34 PM

Apr 2020

It looks great!

How did you secure the ends of the elastic? I could not wrestle the 1/4" elastic to ground so I could sew the ends together on the machine. But sewing a few stitches by hand worked well and only took a minute.

Today I found my eyelet pliers and sacks of small eyelets. I thought I could secure the ends together by overlapping and using an eyelet to hold them. But you have to make a hole in the fabric first. I'd punch a small hole in the elastic and then it would disappear! It's almost as if elastic is self healing. So I'll keep putting in a few stitches by hand.

applegrove

(122,937 posts)

15. Nope. Two 7 inch pieces of elastic. I sew them onto the corners of

Reply to eleny (Reply #14)

Sun Apr 5, 2020, 11:44 PM

Apr 2020

the right side of one of the pieces of material, along the 7 inch side of the material. So each end has a loop. I sew the elastic ends onto the corners of the material by going forward and back and forward and back for 1/4 inch. Then i face the right sides together of the material, with both elastic loops on the inside, and sew all four sides, leaving two inches open on one of the 9.5 inch sides so i can turn the thing outsude in. I pull on the elastics to get the corners out. Then i pleat it 3 times till the shorter side is 3 inches wide. . I sew all the way around twice. Done.

eleny

(46,166 posts)

16. Nice!

Reply to applegrove (Reply #15)

Sun Apr 5, 2020, 11:50 PM

Apr 2020

If I understand you, you sewed the elastic to one side of fabric in the corners instead of sandwiching in and hoping you caught it with your stitches.

applegrove

(122,937 posts)

17. Yes. I don't use pins for sew the elastic on. They just get in the way. One elastic has ends that

Reply to eleny (Reply #16)

Mon Apr 6, 2020, 12:05 AM

Apr 2020

Last edited Mon Apr 6, 2020, 04:15 PM - Edit history (1)

get attached to each corner of the face of the 7 inch side, of one of the two pieces of material. The elastic arcs in the direction of the center of the face side of the material. Than it is doubly strong because i backstiched it twice over 1/4 of an inch. Then i just put the face to face and sew again. Turn inside out and sew twice. So it is really strong.

eleny

(46,166 posts)

18. Stronger and it's much easier while sewing them into place

Reply to applegrove (Reply #17)

Mon Apr 6, 2020, 10:21 AM

Apr 2020

You can keep them in place without wondering if they've slipped even a little. That always seems to be my problem when sewing anything hidden. Thanks for the tip!

My one work around was not to trap the nose wire in the pocket. I treated that area just like the pocket for a removable filter. Just sew from the edge towards the center about 2" on either side and leave an opening. Just a little tweak for a reusable mask.

applegrove

(122,937 posts)

19. I did not think of just doing a reuseable pocket for the nose wire.

Reply to eleny (Reply #18)

Mon Apr 6, 2020, 04:16 PM

Apr 2020

eleny

(46,166 posts)

20. The video I used encloses it by stitching all the way across

Reply to applegrove (Reply #19)

Mon Apr 6, 2020, 04:33 PM

Apr 2020

She also top stitched the edge of the filter pocket. But I also ts'd right above that, the edge of the wire pocket since it'll get wear and tear taking the wire out or adjusting it if it slips. I guess it makes the sewing a little fiddly. But top stitching is one of my favorite things to sew. I'll be sewing these assembly line style so each step goes faster than completing one mask at a time.

We just got a call from a local realtor friend. She's such a sweety and no spring chicken. But offered to shop for us since she knows my husband is compromised. So now I have another person to sew masks for. It always feels good to make things like this. To do something that means something instead of sitting, watching the news and worrying about an invisible danger.New motivation is always the coolest feeling!

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