Simple Cut Face Masks with Pocket for Filter

1 | P a g e Updated: 03.30.2020 Disclaimer: Use of these instructions or use of homemade masks do not guarantee any certain level of protection or claim any certain level of protection. By using this reference guide or masks created based on this reference guide, you agree not to hold author, any associated companies, referenced resources or persons creating masks liable.

Source: https://youtu.be/NA41A5dBi70P Penguin & Fish penguinandfish.com / youtube.com/penguinandfishmovies

Materials:

• Sewing Machine (basic straight sewing) • Iron • Ironing Board • Clips or Pins • Thread • Fabric Scissors • Fabric (Cotton)

o (1) 9” x 6” front o (1) 9” x 6” Inside Pocket Bottom (Flannel or Cotton) o (1) 9” x 9” Inside Pocket Top (Flannel or Cotton) o (2) 2” x 36” Strips for Bias Tape and Ties

HINT: Use light color fabric so users can visually see when the mask is dirty

Safety Note: Without proper filters, the fabric alone does NOT meet N95 Protection, nor does it guarantee a tight sealed fit that’s required for proper protection. These homemade masks should be a last resort. These are not meant to be used by caregivers taking care of suspected / confirmed COVID-19 positive patients. Also note, there are people allergic or sensitive to certain materials.

Nontraditional cloth masks, made of cotton, do not offer the same protection as medical grade, disposable procedure or surgical masks and are not to be used for direct patient care. One laboratory investigation involving different fabrics found cloth masks are between 40-90% as protective as N95 respirators. Others also found that cloth offers a level of protection that is about one half that of disposable, medical grade masks. Cloth masks do help contain coughs and sneezes.

Filters:

• The Surgical Wrap material used to wrap surgical instruments are rated at a higher protection level (4% more effective than N95 filter material) so placing that material inside the pocket would be a good extra layer of protection. Source: https://ufhealth.org/news/2020/uf-health-anesthesiology-team-devises-respirator-mask-made-existing-hospital-materials

• Others have used HVAC filter materials but need to make sure it’s not going to splinter to prevent potentially inhaling fiberglass or other type of material that may not be the best to inhale.

• Another common source is HEPA Filter vacuum bags (Make sure you remove the plastic insert that sometimes comes in the bag to provide stiffness, but is not needed for the mask).

• Safety Note: Even with a filter, there’s not enough data to determine effectiveness and should still be treated as a regular cloth mask.

Suggestion: Use this mask on top of a properly fitted N95 Mask to prolong the N95 mask. You can wash these homemade masks to re-use later.

Please wash masks prior to distributing.

Simple Cut Face Masks with Pocket for Filter

2 | P a g e Updated: 03.30.2020 Disclaimer: Use of these instructions or use of homemade masks do not guarantee any certain level of protection or claim any certain level of protection. By using this reference guide or masks created based on this reference guide, you agree not to hold author, any associated companies, referenced resources or persons creating masks liable.

Steps

Creating the Body of the Mask

1) Fold the 2 inside fabrics in half and iron them.

2) Place raw edges together with the outside fabric and sew the top

3) Repeat on the bottom, making sure the raw edges are on the cut side of the outside fabric.

4) Iron and make sure Big Flap is on the outside and on top.

5) Sew ~1/8” Border around the edges

Add Crimps / mask folds

6) Rotate mask so the bottom is on the top.

7) Pinch approx 1/3 down and fold towards the bottom and secure with clamp or needle on each side

8) Repeat 1 more time, (Total of 2 folds) Mask will be approximately 3” tall, you can adjust based on personal preference.

Create the Bias / Straps

Simple Cut Face Masks with Pocket for Filter

3 | P a g e Updated: 03.30.2020 Disclaimer: Use of these instructions or use of homemade masks do not guarantee any certain level of protection or claim any certain level of protection. By using this reference guide or masks created based on this reference guide, you agree not to hold author, any associated companies, referenced resources or persons creating masks liable.

1) Take the 2” x 36” fabric pieces and fold the edges together and iron to make the bias.

HINT: Place 2 pins on either side and slide fabric strip thru the pins

Adding the Bias / Ties to the mask

2) Find the middle of the bias strip by taking the bias

ends and put them together and fold in half and mark.

3) Line up the half mark of the bias with the middle of the mask.

4) Remove clips / needles and fold bias over. Line up the bias edges together.

Simple Cut Face Masks with Pocket for Filter

4 | P a g e Updated: 03.30.2020 Disclaimer: Use of these instructions or use of homemade masks do not guarantee any certain level of protection or claim any certain level of protection. By using this reference guide or masks created based on this reference guide, you agree not to hold author, any associated companies, referenced resources or persons creating masks liable.

5) Re-Clamp / needle to secure for sewing

6) Fold the bias edge to sew a clean edge

7) When Sewing, double the stitches at the corner edges where the stress points are.

Finished Product

Adaptations:

• Use the inside top fabric and create a small tunnel / pocket or sew a small rectangle pocket on the inside top to allow a piece of pliable metal to act as a custom nose piece. I’ve heard people using something as simple as a trash bag tie, 6” pipe cleaners kids use, picture or jewelry metal wire. HINT: Hot glue on the ends minimizes the sharp edges.

• Additional Materials o 6” Bendable Metal (Wire, Pipe Cleaner, etc) o Hot Glue Gun (Optional)

Please wash masks prior to distributing.