Searching for face masks
Throughout the pandemic, I haven’t worn a mask. Initially, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended that medical masks be reserved for health workers and carers. There was little evidence that non-medical masks, like fabric masks, were effective although WHO now recommends the wearing of non-medical masks in areas of widespread transmission.[1, 2]
Until last week, wearing non-medical masks was optional in Australia. However, with the surge in new cases in Victoria, the Victorian Government made wearing masks mandatory in hotspots and the NSW Government is now recommending masks in hotspots or areas where it is impossible to socially distance.
Masks became a priority for us when a large cluster developed in South West Sydney, an area that Hubby and I travel to frequently to help his mother. We have some disposable masks but I’d reserved them for emergencies because I didn’t like the idea of one-use masks ending up in our landfill. And once I started searching online and saw the variety of face masks (and the difference in prices), I decided I wanted to buy masks from organisations that used the profits to help others.
What to look for in a face mask
From my research I was looking for masks that :
Had at least three layers of fabric (or two layers with a pocket to add a filter)
Had a nose wire to help with the fit (especially as I wear glasses)
Were reusable until the fabric wore out (some fabric masks could only be used a number of times before they were thrown out)
Organisations selling face masks
Although I wasn’t able to find masks that fitted all my criteria, here are the organisations I considered:
- The Social Studio
The Social Studio is a Melbourne-based fashion school, production studio and shop. It was set up to help migrant and refugee youth through education and employment. All income generated helps students, staff and their communities.
With the pandemic, all efforts have been directed towards manufacturing medical scrubs and reusable face masks. The face masks are made to the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) guidelines and comprise three layers of fabric.
- Sisterworks
Sisterworks is another Melbourne-based organisation that supports and empowers women who are refugees, asylum seekers or migrants by creating a supportive community, teaching women new skills, and helping them establish businesses in Australia.
Sisterworks offers two types of masks: one that is DHHS-compliant, the other comprising three layers and a pocket for filters.
- Second Stitch
Second Stitch is another Melbourne-based not-for-profit that employs and trains refugees, asylum seekers and migrants.
Their reusable face masks comprise two layers of tightly-woven cotton with a pocket for filters.
- The Social Outfit
The Social Outfit is based in Sydney and provides employment and education for refugees and new migrants in the fashion industry, including clothing production, retail, design and marketing.
The face masks are double-layer masks with a nose wire. For every mask bought, The Social Outfit donates a mask to a person in need.
- Bundarra
Bundarra is a sportswear company based in Brisbane that supports indigineous art and culture. A percentage of every sale goes to The Maraway, an organisation that provides a hub and services for the local community in Cairns.
Bundarra masks comprise three layers with a filter pocket and come with two activated carbon filters.
- Alperstein Designs and Raintree Art
These two companies are selling face masks featuring artworks that are reproduced under licence from Warlukurlangu Artists. Proceeds from the licensing agreements go to the artists.
These fabric masks comprise two layers with a filter pocket and a nose wire.
Making my own face masks
Unfortunately, due to high demand, many of these companies are experiencing production and shipping delays. I started looking for masks the week that the Victorian Government mandated the wearing of masks and didn’t want to wait for reusable masks.
My choices then? Buy and use disposable masks, buy fabric masks from some of the commercial stores, or try and make my own. I had some old clothes and sheets in a bag that I planned to give to a clothing recycler so why not use those?
I'm no seamstress. I hem and mend by hand. Anything that requires a machine I take to Mum or Sister or someone else with sewing skills. However, the DHHS guidelines on making masks [3] seemed straight forward and something that I could manage. And I was able to make a mask per the guidelines but it didn't fit Hubby or me—we couldn't get it to stay in place!
I'd recently had a COVID test and found the disposable pleated mask they provided fitted well. So I searched the web for hand sewn pleated masks and discovered a video for a ‘quick and easy hand sewn mask’.[4] Adapting these instructions, I made a three-layer pleated fabric mask that fitted both of us.
By the time I finished my fourth mask, I had a pattern for a three-layer mask with optional filter pocket.[5] Hubby wore it last week on public transport for the 60-minute trip to his Mum’s. I’ve yet to test how effective it is for someone who wears glasses but, if necessary, I'll add a nose wire [6] and try some suggested methods for stopping glasses fogging. [7]
The final face mask comprised three layers of fabric with a pocket for filters and elastic ear loops.
A friend asked me for the details, so I wrote up the ‘pattern’ and included links to the relevant DHHS guidelines and video.
I might still buy some masks (it took me two days and very late nights/early mornings to make the four I have) but I feel happy that I managed to reduce what we sent to landfill (albeit very little) and by the fourth mask, I was finding the task meditative and calming. 😊
Updates
13 August 2020
I wore my homemade mask for three hours for the first time last Friday. I used a folded tissue along the top of my mask and it helped stop my glasses fogging up. It was really hot but given the three fabrics I used (reusable shopping bag, lycra and cotton) I think that's to be expected. My voice was quite muffled. I felt like I was speaking quite loudly to be heard.
I found some florist wire among my craft equipment so I’m going to try and add nose wires to the existing masks. My Aunt met someone who is making three-layer fabric masks with nose wire and bought one for me so I’m not in a hurry to get the wire into all the masks although I’m thinking of reviewing some of the fabrics for Summer. I’m also planning to use ties next time. The ear loops might fit Hubby but they were too loose for my face so I’d prefer to have a way to tie the masks tighter.
6 September 2020
I don’t know why I automatically thought my glasses would fog up and that I’d need the tissue. I wore my handmade mask last Friday, as is, no tissue, and it was fine! No tissue required. No nose wire needed. I just need to make a couple more to place into my COVID safe kit when we return to the community centres.
References
- Q&A: Masks and COVID-19, World Health Organization, accessed 31 July 2020
- COVID-19: How much protection do face masks offer?, Mayo Clinic, accessed 31 July 2020
- How to Make A Cloth Mask, Department of Health and Human Services, State Government of Victoria
- Video: Quick and Easy Hand Sewn Pleated Mask with Filter Pocket, Red Blossom Designs
- My pattern for a pleated face mask with optional pocket
- How to Add Nose Wire to Fabric Face Masks, SarahMaker
- Video: How to prevent glasses fogging when wearing a mask, The Age, accessed 1 August 2020