The lighter side of homemade PPE (plus some pointers to making your own face mask)

[Subtle_badger]

I decided to use left over fabric to make some homemade face masks. I showed my prototype to my brother (over Zoom!) and he pointed how much I look like Rorschach from Watchmen.

So now I have my cosplay ready for Comicon in the era of social distancing!

Plus, I think people will stay way more than 2m away from me!

--

Update:

There are two YouTube clips below showing a no-sew version and the sew version that inspired mine. Mine as you can see is much more basic.

Care: don't wear it for more than an hour as moisture makes them ineffective. Remember not to touch it or your face. Remove it from the ear loops, and try not to touch the mouth area. Clean them between uses in a machine wash, boil for 5 minutes or soak in diluted bleach then rinse thoroughly.

[lea57-49r Maintainer 3st 7lbs]

Absolutely! Strong likeness. I have not gone the length of face masks but I live in a rural area. It looks as though we could all be encouraged in that direction. I might have a go at making one and will look for an online template. Well done!

[Subtle_badger in reply to lea57-49r]

I copied this one, but mine is much simpler as my fabric is much thicker and I don't have a sewing machine, so I just cut 9"x6" rectangle, pinned two pleats and stitched them in place and used 6" of elastic at each end.

Hers is a work of art and mine is an ugly workhorse.

youtube.com/watch?v=4kwFaRF...(Not working as expected?)

If you are really serious, google Olson mask: apparently they are acceptable in some hospitals. But they are quite fiddly.

[lea57-49r Maintainer 3st 7lbs in reply to Subtle_badger]

Thank you. I will have s lot at this.

[Lindylou31]

Do you think you could make them using Wonder web, I'm hopeless at sewing. I was thinking I could buy a thong and loop the sides over my ears🤣🤣

[Subtle_badger in reply to Lindylou31]

You don't need to sew at all, just an old t-shirt and two rubber bands or hair ties.

I couldn't get rubber bands so bought elastic, then got a little bit crafty.

This is the US Surgeon General, and endorsed by the CDC:

youtube.com/watch?v=tPx1yqv...(Not working as expected?)

[Lindylou31 in reply to Subtle_badger]

Thanks, I'll give it a go

[sunny369 Restart Dec 2023 in reply to Subtle_badger]

he makes it look easy

I bet my effort won't turn out so tidy or will snap me sharply round the ear!

[Subtle_badger in reply to sunny369]

Well, here's a really simple alternative

youtu.be/Z7nkUu2e6wI(Not working as expected?)

😂 😂 😂 😂 😂

[OilpainterUS in reply to Subtle_badger]

😂😂😂😂😂. I love how she tidied her shirt to look glam! She's great. (I hope those were new boxers!) I can't wait to send this out to my guy friends! 😂😂😂.

[sunny369 Restart Dec 2023 in reply to Subtle_badger]

that is hysterical!

certainly couldn't use any of the boxers lurking in this house

[OilpainterUS in reply to Lindylou31]

😂😂😂 Funny!.

In one of my grocery orders (they shop for you and deliver) my panty liners were for thongs. What's the point of this, really? 😂 But, perhaps in your c ontext? 😂. It was a young male shopper. Would a female selected the same? 😂. I don't know why he didn't call for clarification during shopping? 😅

[OilpainterUS]

You look great! I don't know Watchmen, but it's a fabulous look!

I should try my hand at this. Thanks for posting it.

Just an FYI, Vacuum cleaner bags, cut to size accordingly, are used inside masks and are purported to be highly effective.

[Subtle_badger in reply to OilpainterUS]

I am not routinely wearing the hat, but thanks for the compliment.

(I've heard about vacuum cleaner bags, but that would be a whole different project. This is just to reinforce social distancing in supermarkets.)