Masks and sunlight

[dreamshark]

I had some lovely silk left over after making a mask for a friend. It looked nice with this swatch of old printed cotton, so I made a reversible one for myself (following the latest mixed materials guidelines).

But it smelled a little funny. That cloth had been in a trunk in the attic for too long. So I put the new mask out in the sun for the afternoon. Now it smells great! Maybe tomorrow I'll take all my masks for a walk.

Comments

[jbru]

Those look great. Exposing them to sunshine is a great idea, I should do that with our reusable ones.

When this whole thing got started, it made me think of Ericka and how she'd be busily making masks to the best of her ability and sending them far and wide.

[lydy]

I am so impressed by your sewing skills. Sewing is this great mystery to me. I think it's too three dimensional.

They do say that sunshine is the best disinfectant. Also, hang-dried clothes always smell amazing.

[dreamshark]

Honestly, my sewing skills are very primitive. My most important sewing tool (besides my sturdy little vintage Singer) is a seam ripper. I don't think I have ever sewn ANYTHING without ripping stitches back out.

I keep reading about people who are making masks for group efforts sewing 10 or 20 masks a day. It takes me all day to make a mask, if not longer.

The fun part is choosing the fabric combinations. It's basically collage art. You cut pieces of cloth into various sized rectangles, lay them on top of each other, and sew straight seams. Periodically you turn something inside out, discover that you've sewn something crooked or just made a stupid mistake, rip it all out and sew it again. Surprisingly entertaining.

[davidwilford]

You may be happy to know that you're making the most effective kind of mask. Here's a review that ranks them:

https://www.minnpost.com/second-opinion/2020/07/some-cloth-face-masks-are-more-effective-than-others-at-containing-the-spread-of-covid-19-study-suggests/

[dreamshark]

I am, but you wouldn't know it from this particular article. This study just compares an actual sewn cloth mask to a bunch of half-assed alternatives and concludes that *duh* the actual mask works better than a folded handkerchief. I've done my research and have moved way beyond the "two layers of quilters' cotton" that they tested here.

The latest research recommends mixed fabrics, including at least one layer of a negatively charged fabric (silk or chiffon), plus a filter layer of non-woven material (polypropylene or felt). The shape and size of the mask matters too. If you follow all these guidelines you end up with a mask that is actually quite effective at protecting the wearer as well as other people. So I've upgraded my old masks and am now well into Generation 2 of my design.

[davidwilford]

Wow, thanks for all the additional information! I like the idea of including a layer of silk, and will tell our friend who is sewing masks about it, if she doesn't know it already.

[dreamshark]

I can send her links to the actual studies on that. You can give her my email address if you like. If she contacts me I can send her those links and a link to my mask gallery.

[bibliofile]

Did you do a DW post on this already? Because that could be good too.

Lovely masks.

[dreamshark]

A post on what exactly? I post about my mask making now and then. I'm happy to give more detail, but don't want to bore people.

[bibliofile]

>The latest research recommends mixed fabrics, including at least one layer of a negatively charged fabric (silk or chiffon), plus a filter layer of non-woven material (polypropylene or felt).

>I can send her links to the actual studies on that.

I did research thru early May and would like to know more.

[dreamshark]

Sure, I'll do another mask post with more info. Are you making masks too?

[maruad]

Hmmmm... maybe I should get out in the sun tomorrow.

[dreamshark]

Yeah, it works for people too. ;-)

[maruad]

Excellent though I hope the neighbours don't get too freaked out.

[spiderplanet]

Very impressive, as always!