Background:
There are many resources that are looking into the efficacy of home sewn masks during the shortage of medical grade masks usually provided to protect Health Care Providers (HCPs), you can find some resources here, here, here, here, here, or here!
SBAMQG has received two specific requests for masks and we are asking for your help to fulfill these requests.
Current Updates (updated 3/27/2020)
We are checking comments on this blog, which is one of the best ways to communicate your questions with us at this time.
| # of masks delivered | # in progress | # of masks still needed | |
| Request #1 | 48 | 34 | finish any in progress, but we have met our current need |
| Request #2 | 8 | no status avail | many more |
| Elastic | Fabric | Nose Wires | Notes | |
| Hart’s Fabric | yes | Yes | – | Hart’s Fabric reached out through Tina and would like to contribute to the mask making cause. We will be making arrangements for a pick up later this week. |
| Lori Green | 1/4″ black – 288 yards | – | – | Lori will leave elastic at Pat’s pick up spot. Take what you need for this purpose. |
| Sarah Eblen | yes, lots avail. | – | – | Sarah has offered elastic when the stash at Pat’s runs out |
| Kathy Howard | 1/8″ – 40 yards | – | – | If you need thinner elastic, contact Kathy. |
| Darlene Talukder | – | – | my daughter has many paper clips | I’ll leave a box at Pat’s the next time I pick up there. contact me at dartal6@gmail if you need a delivery |
Styles: The masks are two different styles based on what has been requested. Request #1 is for a shaped style which can be worn with or without an insert and Request #2 is for a pleated style which does allow for an insert but also provides a minimum of two layers in the body of the mask.
For request #1, we would like to make an initial delivery of these on Monday March 23, 2020. Once collected, we will be delivering them to Dr. Moore.
For request #2, we will deliver the masks to the requester who will take them to the hospital.
For now we are asking you to provide materials from your stash to make these.
Elastic: The elastic requirements are very specific and may dictate which style of mask you can make. Elastic is in short supply at many online resources. We will have more information about elastic soon. Use what you have at home for now. If any of you have large stashes you are willing to share, let us know. The patterns have an option for ties; ties are not preferred by HCPs, but work if you don’t have elastic.
Fabric: Use 100% cotton fabric – the HCP prefer it’s breathable nature. Quilting cotton is acceptable. Pre-washing is required. Tighter woven cotton is even better (think 100% cotton high thread count sheets).
Wire: This is for both requests. The wire is desired but optional and you may come up with your own solution based on what you have. There is jewelry wire and snips at the drop off location (below) which you may use in 3″ segments, they can not be added after the fact. You may have wire at home which will work as well or the wire may be omitted as it is optional.
Collection Location: We will collect and deliver to the HCPs daily as the quantities dictate. We will let you know when the orders have been filled. Pat Goulet will provide 2 collection boxes for these masks on her porch out of the rain, please see email or contact us at sbamqg@gmail.com for Pat’s address. There is no interface needed, simply drop the masks in the appropriate box according to the style.
Specific Needs
Request # 1 Shaped Masks
For Dr Margaret Moore, who works for Sutter Health.
Dr. Moore plans to distribute masks between Sutter and Dominican depending on how many she gets. She has 40 colleagues who she would like to provide personal masks. She has requested 40 masks which are shaped to the bridge of the nose and under the chin. We think we should provide at least 80 masks to them so they can alternate while washing. Dr. Moore said “This is all new for us. Has not ever happened in our health system in my life time ….My goal is to have each of my colleagues to have one of their own washable masks, if we run out of surgical masks…” We have the following video and pdf pattern which go together and meet her requirements. Kathy Howard has made these masks for her own HCP daughter.
Link with video & pattern or How to Sew A Face mask Instructions-1 Video Only
The PDF pattern for Request #1 Shaped Mask can also be used
Request #2 Rectangular Masks
For an anesthetist at Kaiser Santa Clara Medical Center. Following is her mother’s email request for masks.
“As you may know, my daughter, works as a nurse anesthetist at the Kaiser Santa Clara Medical Center (KSCMC). The center is being set up as Kaiser’s NorCal primary coronavirus testing and treatment center. She said the numbers of patients are increasing rapidly. And supplies are already in very short supply. To be honest, since she is pregnant, I’ve begged her to take medical leave, especially since the safety gear is in such short supply. She insists on being there to help – like others on the front line.She sent out a very urgent plea for face masks for the medical workers Each health care provider was each issued only one N95 mask. They are desperately seeking face masks that can be used over their N95 masks.I tried many different ways to make face masks and this is the easiest that I found:YouTube video: https://youtu.be/S9RWII2-5_4 [see alterations below]There are many other YouTube face mask vids that you may prefer. I chose this one above for the ease of making it for mass production, relatively speaking.If you follow the directions in the video, it is SUPER easy. However, at least near me, it impossible to buy elastic as the fabric stores are all closed. And Amazon cannot deliver the elastic bands for weeks. So these are my modifications…also to meet my daughter’s request via the anesthesiologists’ needs. They need these masks to function as covers over their ONE issued N95 masks.”
Alterations to meet Request #2’s needs:
Based on the above video this pdf Directions for Rectangular Facemask (Request #2) were made and the following directions were provided from the mother and modified by SBAMQG contributors
1. Cut the rectangular pieces slightly larger as it needs to adequately cover men’s faces WITH the N95s in place. Cut the outer form to approximately 11”x 8”. Cut the two inner shapes to 7 1/2 ” x 5 3/4”.
2. Add a 7” strip of plastic covered wire strips (a member was able to locate some at an open hardware store) under the TOP seam of the face mask (some were found at an Ace Hardware store, alternatively 3″ strips can be picked up at Pat’s house or jewelry wire can be used). This wire is inserted so the user can shape the top of the mask to the shape of the bridge of their nose. Stitching underneath and parallel under the inserted metal strip helps to hold it in place.
3. The opening in the back (see video) is for hospital staff to add whatever extra barrier they deem appropriate.
4. Fabric ties were made extra long to secure the mask over the N95s. Cut 1.5” WOF (width of fabric) strips; fold in half and press; open fold; press each side to center crease; press in half again to get 1/4” closed strip. Top stitch; Place end of string into created tunnel on all 4 sides about 1/4” in. Zigzag or straight stitch a few times back and forth to secure. The ties will go around the head and need to be 8-9 inches long.
