Mask Making Adventures (part I)

Here in Bavaria, it's now obligatory to keep mouth and nose covered in public transport and in shops.* This means either a disposable mask, a shawl or scarf or something similar, or a fabric mask - and I definitely prefer the latter, due to a) sustainability, b) best possible fit, and c) the possibility to make it nice, and fun, by using appropriate fabrics.

There's been a little bit of a false start to my masking adventures, though. General guidelines tell you that you're supposed to use a "densely woven fabric"... well. Apparently my definition of "densely woven" is a bit different from the intended one, because the first cloth combination I chose will stand in very well as equivalent to high-altitude training. Breathing muscle training, anyone?

So if you're in a similar situation - needing a cloth mask and being willing to make one yourself - here's my first bit of advice for you: Take the fabric combination you are planning to use and place it closely over your nose. Breathe in and out. It should feel normal, or almost normal, with no significantly increased resistance to the airflow. If you do feel significant resistance... it's probably not a good idea to use that combination.

For the mask-making itself, there's two different types, the rectangular one with folds (modeled after the simple disposable medicinal masks) and the form-fitted one. For both types, including a malleable metal thingummy in the nose section is a very good idea, as the mask won't fit properly otherwise.

We opted for the shaped masks for ours, and I found a download link to a pattern (on the website of the soccer club Hertha BSC, of all places!) that came in different sizes, as opposed to the many patterns in just one size. Important for me, because I have a rather small face; so small, in fact, that I wear children's glasses. So accordingly, I opted for size S.

Which does fit me. However... if you know me in person, you'll know that I like to talk. A lot. Almost all the time. Talking with the mask is, however, not so much fun... so I decided it would be a good idea to combine the fit of the shaped mask with the extra room for movement provided by the folds of the rectangular mask... and hence, some mask-making shenanigans ensued.

Which you will hear more about tomorrow!

 
*There is considerable discussion about whether this is a good or a bad idea, just like there is considerable discussion as to the function of these masks. They will definitely help at holding in your own outbreath aerosols, and stop or at least reduce your virus output if you are infected. This is especially the case if you sneeze or cough, though you are supposed to use your elbow in addition even if you're wearing a mask.
Though current state of research is that home-made cloth masks are usually not as effective as medicinal masks in keeping in your potentially dangerous output, they can reduce it significantly, depending on the kinds of material used. According to my status of information, jury's still out on whether they will also protect their wearer by reducing the chance of other people's virus-laden aerosols from getting directly into your mouth and nose. Common fabric is definitely not closely meshed enough to keep out viruses (especially not if you choose fabrics you can still breathe through, see above); you need special filtering material for this, and the mask then has to fit very well to be protective. Common advice still is to treat the thing as if it would be protective, which means both treating it as if it might be contaminated on the outside after use, and getting rid of the viruses caught on the mask by a hot wash or ironing.