“Masked, I advance.”
René Descartes - 1596 - 1650 important scientific thinker and an original metaphysician
Staffers in the West Wing have finally been directed to wear face masks to work in the White House, except when at their own desks, according to government and news reports, this week.
In contrast, we're already a good couple of months into the mask making and wearing here in Sonoma County and most surely ahead of the curve when it comes to most of our local folk being on board with face covering as one of a series of key measures we need to be taking continually to protect ourselves, our families, our communities, our frontline workers to whom we owe our safety and sanity, as well as to maintain the relatively civilized ability to move around our restricted zones as freely as we do.
Stay vigilant. And be aware that wearing a face covering is only part of what we all need to be doing to prevent infection spreading.
I asked friends and neighbors via Facebook to post me photos of their masks and mask-making efforts in order to share a little of the local look and cottage-industry as we head into the summer months without losing track of how to behave.
Renée B is a 38-year Healthcare veteran in Diagnostic Imaging. "I recognized the need early on for our community to have and wear their own masks in public places well before the county health order was put in place," shares Renée. "I started out making them for my family, in-laws, NC relatives and friends. I also made them for a first grade teacher on Next Door who was searching for masks for herself and spouse and for the owners of Perry’s Deli in Fairfax who are friends and needed the masks to stay open. The fabric I use is recycled from clothes, old jeans and whatever I can find in my sewing remnants. I try to use bright, fun colors and patterns and have also used a few old sports tees for sports fans."
To date, Renée has made around 100 masks and refuses to accept any payment. "In making them I find a sense of calm and purpose that juxtapositions how stressful working with Covid patients can be at my hospital. It’s been a great creative outlet for me as mask making and wearing has quickly become a fashion statement and an avenue for self expression during this uncertain time."
Here's Renée:
And her masks:
Margo G shared: "I have been making masks for Hospice of Petaluma. Our guidelines were to make them to cover the disposable paper masks, and to be able to withstand daily washing. I chose batik fabric, from Quilted Angel's beautiful selection (curbside pick-up). I figured if I'm going to stare at fabric for hours while I sew, I might as well enjoy looking at something nice!"
Here's Margo:
The Maskateers of Petaluma, led by retired SRJC administrator, KC G, whose band of volunteer seamsters including my neighbor Jerrie P, have sewed well over 1,000 fabric masks over the past few weeks. These masks have been donated to staff and residents of the Committee on the Shelterless amongst numerous other local non-profits. Dozens more have donated beautiful fabrics to the cause.
Here's Lotte G in a mask made by one of her colleagues. Reversible. Organic cotton with a batting barrier. "It’s pretty and it’s comfortable as masks go anyway," says Lotte.
Kellee Y is a tastemaker whose fun approach to fashion always makes me smile. I love this sporty, coordinated look for keeping spirits up and in shape for masked neighborhood cycle rides!
Lesley M sports a mask made by Jane S, whose style and design sense has translated into unique, one-of-a-kind face coverings for friends, family & local non-profits.
Cat P wonders if this was the right choice for a visit to the bank?!
Clever Nadine C has come up with a design that you can wear without fogging up your glasses or sunglasses.
And this one she made for a friend in LA who raises butterflies in her home.
Tireless Toni B has been making masks since March and is up to 1,000 (or very close) "She's donated most, custom made quite a few and sold to whomever insisted on paying, but at the core: she's a giver!" says Elise D.
Francesca S Writes: "Kudos to Barb B and her mom Toni B! Since the very beginning of this, they are THE amazing dynamic mask-sewing duo!"
Artist Roberta A (above) has turned mask-making into a small business. Click here for Roberta's beautiful work, including a limited edition, hand painted silk range for the true fashionistas out there.
Former SoCo resident, illustrator and textile designer Nicky O has a long-established Bandanna line and I'm enjoying my recent delivery of her latest design of an off-white and South-Western red, cotton, made-in-America design. Click here for Nicky's line.
Stylist and author Jennifer R and her darling hubby rock the bandana look!
All across the country, Americans from fashion industry elite to elementary age kids and little old ladies sitting at antique sewing machines, their arthritic fingers as rusty as the needles being oiled back into rapid working order, are churning out meticulously crafted, homemade cloth masks in full-on war-time-mode in order to provide basic face coverings for friends, family, neighbors, nursing home patients and staff and the desperate medical workers who are woefully without adequate protective resources during this crippling first-round of the Coronavirus pandemic.
CDC guidance say it's OK for healthcare workers to use homemade masks and even bandanas as “a last resort.” Though it doesn't take an infectious disease specialist to figure out these homemade masks should be going to “people more peripherally involved,” and not to those directly treating COVID-19 patients, who are the rightful recipients of any N95 masks that people have stashed away or become available. Healthcare workers however, are wearing homemade masks over the N95 and surgical masks to make the medical grade masks last longer.
But it's important to be aware that no matter how smart we may feel we're being, when out and about with our bandanas and masks in place, the wearing of which, is no excuse not to adhere to all of the safety rules required of the times. Don't be lulled into a false sense of security just because we've got the hang of the face covering thing.
The World Health Organization, however, strongly warns that the wearing of a mask alone is not recommended as a form of protection and/or prevention of spreading the virus: "Individuals without respiratory symptoms should: - avoid agglomerations and frequency of closed crowded spaces; - maintain distance of at least 1 meter from any individual with 2019-nCoV respiratory symptoms (e.g., coughing, sneezing); - perform hand hygiene frequently, using alcohol-based hand rub if hands are not visibly soiled or soap and water when hands are visibly soiled; - if coughing or sneezing cover nose and mouth with flexed elbow or paper tissue, dispose of tissue immediately after use and perform hand hygiene; - refrain from touching mouth and nose; - a medical mask is not required, as no evidence is available on its usefulness to protect non-sick persons.
Best practices should be followed on how to wear, remove, and dispose of masks and face coverings and on hand hygiene action after removal (see below advice from CDC regarding appropriate mask management).
Individuals with respiratory symptoms should: - wear a medical mask and seek medical care if experiencing fever, cough and difficulty breathing, as soon as possible or in accordance with to local protocols; - follow the below advice regarding appropriate mask management.
How to Wear a Cloth Face Covering (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention Guidelines)
Cloth face coverings should—
- fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face
- be secured with ties or ear loops
- include multiple layers of fabric
- allow for breathing without restriction
- be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape
CDC on Homemade Cloth Face Coverings
CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.
CDC also advises the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others. Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure.
Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
The cloth face coverings recommended are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators. Those are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidance.
Should cloth face coverings be washed or otherwise cleaned regularly? How regularly?
Yes. They should be routinely washed depending on the frequency of use.
How does one safely sterilize/clean a cloth face covering?
A washing machine should suffice in properly washing a face covering.
How does one safely remove a used cloth face covering?
Individuals should be careful not to touch their eyes, nose, and mouth when removing their face covering and wash hands immediately after removing.
Sewn Cloth Face Covering
Materials
- Two 10”x6” rectangles of cotton fabric
- Two 6” pieces of elastic (or rubber bands, string, cloth strips, or hair ties)
- Needle and thread (or bobby pin)
- Scissors
- Sewing machine
-
Tutorial
1. Cut out two 10-by-6-inch rectangles of cotton fabric. Use tightly woven cotton, such as quilting fabric or cotton sheets. T-shirt fabric will work in a pinch. Stack the two rectangles; you will sew the mask as if it was a single piece of fabric.
2. Fold over the long sides ¼ inch and hem. Then fold the double layer of fabric over ½ inch along the short sides and stitch down.
3. Run a 6-inch length of 1/8-inch wide elastic through the wider hem on each side of the mask. These will be the ear loops. Use a large needle or a bobby pin to thread it through. Tie the ends tight.
Don’t have elastic? Use hair ties or elastic head bands. If you only have string, you can make the ties longer and tie the mask behind your head.
4. Gently pull on the elastic so that the knots are tucked inside the hem. Gather the sides of the mask on the elastic and adjust so the mask fits your face. Then securely stitch the elastic in place to keep it from slipping.
Quick Cut T-shirt Face Covering (no sew method)
Materials
- T-shirt
- Scissors
Tutorial
Bandana Face Covering (no sew method)
Materials
- Bandana (or square cotton cloth approximately 20”x20”)
- Rubber bands (or hair ties)
- Scissors (if you are cutting your own cloth)
Tutorial
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