Are you part of the army sewing masks? Makers everywhere are digging into their fabric and thread stashes to generously sew and donate masks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has now officially recommended wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies). Now the need is even greater, as wearing a face covering in public will be the new normal in all our lives in the months to come. The CDC advises the use of simple cloth face coverings slows the spread of the virus and helps keep people who may have the virus and not know it from transmitting it to others. These masks help insure that critical supplies of surgical and N-95 masks are reserve for medical personnel, healthcare workers and first responders. Here are some things to remember: We recommend sewing masks with high quality polyester threads like Coats & Clark All Purpose and Dual Duty XP All Purpose sewing threads. These threads are strong, colorfast and bleach-safe for masks that will be laundered and disinfected frequently. If you do not have matching thread on hand, use a contrasting color with confidence because our polyester threads will not bleed. Masks can be machine (or hand) washed, dried, and re-used. It is recommended that you wash masks before and after each use. Fabrics with a high thread count such as quality quilting cottons and batiks are best to use. A non-woven lining (light-weight interfacing) provides additional protection. Adding a wire for shaping over the nose offers more protection. Masks should fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face. There are many options for holding the mask onto your face. Our pattern uses elastic for wearing around the ears, but bias tape, fabric ties, pony tail elastics, strips of jersey knit are also options. DO NOT put a mask on children younger than 2, or other persons, who are unable to remove it themselves. Important note: Please follow the latest mask recommendations put out by your country and the World Health Organization. You can visit the CDC and their guidelines around cloth masks in the U.S. or visit PHAC in Canada for their mask guidelines. How to sew an adult or child face mask The Coats & Clark Reusable Cloth Face masks pattern is given in adult and child sizes, it includes for instructions for sewing a mask using Coats & Clark All Purpose polyester thread. We also recommend Dual Duty XP All Purpose, which is a consistently strong, smooth thread for trouble free sewing. Cotton fabrics reinforced with a light weight interfacing for added protection are used for the mask itself. Elastic is used to attach the mask to the face when worn and how to add nose piece for a closer fit is also given. If you are making multiple masks, try Chain Piecing to speed up the process! Recommended Patterns Now Is the Time: Let’s Stitch Together! While we’re all doing our parts to slowing down this pandemic, we invite you to join us on social media for our #LetsStitchTogether campaign, which features activities to help find some relief with the uncertainty and loneliness that can come with these difficult times. This includes the #LetsStitchTogether SAL featuring knit and crochet mitered square blankets, plus an entire catalog of Spotify playlists to listen to while you craft! Recommended Songs to Stitch To Discover our community-curated playlist of the top 150 songs to cue up while you craft.
