My daughter who is a hospice and oncology nurse told me they are running out of masks for the nurses. That is probably happening everywhere. Here is a link to directions for making them. These can be bleached! They can use non-woven stabilizer in the center. Here is the link https://youtu.be/S9RWII2-5_4

Another reason ties are better. I got this from another forum I belong to.

Re - Masks.
Yes every hospital/region has different needs.
Our local hospital has requested them but without elastic as the elastic will not survive the sterilization process.
I am going to assume that they will be used for general wear in order to save the N95's for serious cases.

If you use this link , make two changes. Do the pleating after everything else. Also, my daughter says the elastic hurts the ears and over the head and neck are better. The neck elastic would be 10 inches. and the head elastic would be 14 inches.

2 comments

by hightechgrammy 23 Mar 2020

I ran out of elastic too! I ordered some from Amazon but it won't get here until the 28th at the earliest. I ordered some other off of Etsy, and hopefully that will come on Wednesday. So I am getting them all to the point where I add the elastic.

by mollymay 09 Apr 2020

If you have a bungee cord they are full of elastic.

Here is another kind of mask, from a nurse, in link below. These are a little more trouble but may be worth it.

I have made 2 different styles of mask (none of these), with elastic for ears and I must have a small face. They don't hug me well. So on one, I added straps. It fits better for me, with tie straps.
Hubby and I have hunkered down, because of auto-immune and in the 'elderly' age group, but if and when we get sick and have to go, we need to wear these, so we don't cough on the medical staff trying to evaluate. We have to protect our selfless, overworked medical personnel. They are our angels. May God hear the prayers of us all and have mercy. Love-Toogie

Non-woven just means it isn't woven like fabric... JoAnn's tutorial calls for iron-on interfacing (which is non-woven to begin with). You can use Cut Away stabilizer (which can be repeatedly laundered). The tear away stabilizers don't come through repeated washings very well.

2 comments

by dragonflyer 21 Mar 2020

Just remember if you chose an inserted liner, you need to be able to breathe easily through all layers. Not sure that cut-away stabilizer would allow for you to breathe easily...

by hightechgrammy 22 Mar 2020

A lot of nurses are using coffee filters!

Thanks so much, and GB. Can anyone explain non woven? And what about coffee filters?

1 comment

by toogie 22 Mar 2020

You would have to make a pocket inside to insert and remove them for washing.

thanks

Thank our so much for this. We cannot buy them at the moment.

Many thanks, my sister sent me a different mask instructions but this one is much easier! Stay Safe all and God Bless, hugs, Dolly

1 comment

by hightechgrammy 23 Mar 2020

Make sure to read the two changes up above!

Have to wait for the elastic to arrive from Amazon. What is a non woven stabilizer? I am with you.

1 comment

by dragonflyer 21 Mar 2020

I suppose you could always make spaghetti strap type ties instead of using elastic...