Making face masks.

I read that you can make them out of bras but you have to be careful and only use the left cup otherwise you'll end up being a right tit

Apologies to anyone who finds the language offensive.

??

‘Nuff said!

Oven paper: 30 cm. Pleat. Fold short ends round two rubber bands. Staple.

It's what we're doing here in Italy while STILL waiting for the proper ones to reach us common mortals.

I used one of my scarf ‘tubes’ when I had to go shopping. It’s quite chunky and double thickness - and I doubled it. DD’s told me it was still no good as it was woven fabric. That the best thing to use was baby nappy liners (unused obviously!)

(Sorry - the grin was for Katek’s photo.)

Thanks Giulia. I stand more chance of finding oven paper!

Apparently a really good material to use to make a face mask is a hepa filter hoover bag (unused of course)! They are made up of several layers, you must remove the plastic layer.

They filter out very fine airborne pollutants such as pollen so are probably a good idea. They have to be well fitted to be completely effective but will be good enough when 'socially isolating'.
I've made a few of them and they are comfortable to wear.

What is oven paper?

Some good ideas on here as I was thinking of trying to make one. Not sure about the bra - should I use plunge, wired, total support or backless?

Love the bra picture. I’d have the same problem!!

Yes I a few for us to use a few weeks back. You need to have one layer acting as a filter which is made from a non woven material.

Teacheranne I think it's what you call greaseproof paper:
used for lining cake tins and such.

I assumed Giulia meant something like oven liner paper although it seems a bit stiff.

Would double thickness J-clothes work? That’s woven.

I know some people here have been using panty liners but then I heard these contain substances that should not be near the face.

I have a friend who makes them by the dozen and a local Care Home is delighted to have the. It seems anything is better than nothing, but I shall pass on the message re the cake tin liners.
Its something the sewers amongst us could do to lend a hand.

I loved the bra joke.

The Guardian has no-sew ideas for face masks. They suggest kitchen towel or coffee filters as disposable inners.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/apr/06/how-to-make-no-sew-face-mask-coronavirus?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Vampirequeen - I thought your joke was very funny.

I read 30% effective at preventing you spreading virus to others... so long as you don't touch or reuse them (obviously without a hot wash if the fabric sort).

Regarding types of fabric - if you can see light trough it it's not much use. You can use tightly woven fabric but non wovens tend to block the light better.

Thank you Tangerine

So my thick Buff neck tubes are ok. The one I was wearing to go shopping has a fleece like lining under close woven fabric. And I doubled it.

I don’t need to worry so much now as we’re completely isolating and having everything delivered. The Tesco man just retreated to the road while I unpacked the delivery box.

(I appreciated your joke too VQ)

I found some in our summerhouse the other day while clearing out years' worth of husband's work records - we're not sure what he bought them for. I took one with me when I went shopping but then didn't wear it as no one else seemed to be using one - not sure it did much good stuck in my coat pocket

I made one using two layers of cotton and a layer of sew in vilene with some jewellery wire wound like a paper clip inside to seal the top of the nose. Its a good fit but quite hard to breath through. The pattern I copied from pinterest said to wash after each use and to iron with a very hot iron. I hadn't thought of ironing to kill the germs.