what goes through your filter material instead of air coming in around the sides. You can also lookup the filter qualities of the material you are using. Coffee filters are about 20 microns while HEPA filters from vacuum cleaner bags and the material in some air conditioner/furnace filters are .3 microns. If you are going to use paper towels, I've read that those blue shop towels filter better than regular paper towels, but still are not even close to .3 microns.

It really will come down to what is available.

What I like about her mask is that it goes to the ears and well under the chin. Which means that the only way in is when you inhale and suck in air. So contagions would have to get through two layers of material plus whatever filter you put into the pocket.

I’ll add it to Sewing Mask Threads Compilation in the Crafts forum.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10321712

We definitely need advice from the sewing crafters on this site.

What use do you want the masks for? Long term, short term? The greatest benefit of most masks would apparently be to lessen spread to others, and a major function to keep hands off the face.

I need some for shopping, but I'm thinking most should consider the possibility of having to care for someone who gets sick.

Btw, one CDC recommendation I saw somewhere is that they should ideally cover the neck and ears, not just the lower face. I have a summer-weight neck gaiter, haven't been wearing it but was considering how to secure filtering material inside the front half without safety pins. Ergo, my interest in your OP. I've tried stuffing a dish towel in, though not cut to size yet, which is supposed to make a good filter. It would probably help save money since I'd want to get through shopping fairly fast, but would work.

The CDC is expected to issue new recommendations for home masks soon. So far everything's been directed to emergency needs of healthcare pros working with patients.

Just learned yet another retired RN friend/acquaintance is heading to the front lines in New York.

CDC who is still seriously considering whether we should be wearing masks or not? While they are considering, how many people are going to end up dead?

Last edited Fri Apr 3, 2020, 09:55 AM - Edit history (1)

The CDC still has some of the planet's best experts even though Trump put one of the religious right's idiots in charge, the kind of person who opposed providing condoms to those at high risk for HIV/AIDS and wanted to abstinence instead.

Interestingly similar inevitable results of his preferred policies then and Trump/McConnell's now. Death for people they'd like to get rid of.

Today the White House says we should be wearing cloth masks. Emphasis on CLOTH masks. But no recommendations of any kind. Nothing about cloth and nothing about templates. What jerks.

I have children who live in large cities so I want to send them something they can depend on. Already ordered the hepa filters, which should take us to the next stage. Once we run out of the hepa filters, maybe the U.S. supply of facemasks will be available to the public. One can hope.

just in time for a big autumn wave of new cases. He's normally careful, but he followed me into a market yesterday to use the restroom (!), didn't even remember that I'm keeping the 2 paper medical masks a neighbor gave us in the car for him in case needed.

A pocket for replaceable filters in material that can take repeated washings sounds like a good idea.

There is also a video floating somewhere on this forum of a doctor's wife making them out of hepa bags.

We were using 300 thread count sheets for masks. They are light so it's comfortable to wear. They are also breathable (if that's a word). Good luck !

We were using 300 thread count sheets for masks. They are light so it's comfortable to wear. They are also breathable (if that's a word). They are also washable. Good luck !