How to make a medical mask with your own hands

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Detailed instructions will help even those who do not know how to sew.

What to consider

WHO recommends when and how to use masks to wear a mask in two cases:

1. If you cough or sneeze.
2. If you are healthy but have close contact with someone with these symptoms.

No mask can protect you completely. But it will reduce the risk of infection, provided you wear it correctly, and regularly wash your hands with soap and water or treat with an alcohol-based hand rub.

The material from which you plan to make the mask should be:

• Breathable. This is necessary so that you can breathe freely, and your face does not sweat under the mask.
• Not rude. First, the rough fabric will irritate the skin. And secondly, it will not be able to repeat the outlines of the face, that is, the mask will not adhere tightly to the skin.

The more layers a homemade mask has and the tighter it fits to the face, the better it protects. So, the first mask simply will not allow you to touch your nose and mouth with dirty hands. Everyone else will be able to protect others from you if you become infected. The soft fabric absorbs moisture from the mouth and prevents it from getting on other people.

The third, fourth and fifth masks have openings for replaceable filters and flexible inserts that ensure a snug fit to the face. For greater reliability, the outer layer can be made of water-repellent fabric so that it does not collect viruses and bacteria from the surrounding air.

Try not to touch the mask while it is on your face. If you have to do this, be sure to wash your hands before and after.

As soon as the mask becomes damp (usually within 2-3 hours), replace it with a new one. Ideally, you should change the mask immediately after you sneeze or cough inside it. To do this, it is worth making several masks and carrying them in a pack with you.

Never wear the same mask for more than a day.

Cloth masks should be washed thoroughly in hot water and detergent. It is not yet known at what temperature SARS ‑ CoV ‑ 2 is destroyed. Its closest relative SARS ‑ CoV, which causes SARS, died when heated to 56 ° C for 15 minutes. Therefore, the hotter the water is, the better.

After washing, when the mask is dry, iron it with a hot iron. A well-ironed accessory will be softer and shrink more firmly on the face, without wrinkles.

How to make a simple medical paper towel mask

What is needed

• Thick paper towel;
• scissors;
• ruler;
• glue stick;
• felt-tip pen or pen;
• elastic sewing tape or elastic cord;
• stapler.

How to make a medical mask

Cut a 20 x 16 cm rectangle from the towel. Fold it in half across. Lay with the fold up and grease the lower narrow edge with glue.

Fold this edge up 1 cm and glue.

Fold and glue the other narrow edge of the part in the same way.

On the two long sides with a felt-tip pen, make marks on the fold, as well as at a distance of 1, 5 cm and 5 cm above and below the fold.

Apply glue to both marks 1.5 cm above the fold. Fold over the top of the paper while gluing the sides together.

Apply glue to the top corners of the resulting shape. Raise the front of the paper 1cm and glue the sides. If you are at a loss, watch the video tutorial below.

Apply glue to the following marks on both sides (that is, those located 5 cm above the center fold). Fold over the top of the paper while gluing the sides together.

Apply glue again to the upper corners of the resulting shape. Fold the lowered edge up 1 cm, gluing the paper along the sides.

In the same way, glue the part along the marks on the other side.

Cut two strips 18 cm long from the tape. If using a cord, you will need 23 cm pieces. Flip the paper accordion over to the other side and use a stapler to attach one strip to the narrow edge. Make sure it doesn't fall out.

Make the strap on the other side in the same way.

The cord also needs to be attached with a stapler, first tying knots at the ends for reliability.

Flip the mask over to the opposite side where there are no straps. Apply glue to one narrow edge and fold it over, attaching the paper.

Repeat on the other narrow side. The mask is ready.

How to make a simple medical cloth mask

What is needed

• Elastic cord or 2 thin hair ties;
• ruler;
• scissors;
• a cotton scarf measuring approximately 50 x 50 cm (you can just use a piece of fabric).

How to make a medical mask

If using a cord, cut off two equal strips about 25 cm long. Tie the ends of each with a strong double knot.

Fold the scarf in half, placing the bottom over the top.

Then fold the fabric in half lengthwise again.

Fold the scarf again in the same way to form a narrow strip.

Slip the cord or hair tie on both sides of the fabric.

Fold the left side of the fabric towards the center of the strip, without reaching the other strap.

Overlay the right side of the strip on top. Both straps should be in the folds of the fabric.

Open one side of the fabric and fold in the other.

The mask is ready. It consists of two pieces of fabric. After putting it on, gently lower the back down onto your chin. All the details in this video:

How to sew a medical mask with folds, filter hole and flexible insert

What is needed

• Cotton fabric;
• ruler;
• scissors;
• sewing machine;
• threads;
• clamps;
• felt-tip pen;
• iron;
• wire;
• elastic band for sewing;
• pin;
• nonwoven filter material (e.g. filter paper, meltblown, dried wet wipes, or other option).

How to make a medical mask

Cut a 38 x 19 cm piece out of the fabric. Zigzag the narrow edges. Fold the fabric crosswise in half with the right side inward and secure at the sewn edges with clamps.

On the side of the seam with a felt-tip pen, mark the dots at a distance of 4 cm from the edges. Move the clamps closer to the middle if necessary. Sew along the zigzag to the marks, leaving a hole in the middle. Remove the clamps.

Place the workpiece with the seam on top and iron it, straightening the sewn fabric to the sides. Turn the part right out. Stitch along one edge.

Place the piece so that the seam is centered. Make a mark to the side of it at a distance of 1, 3 cm from the bottom and top from the other, unstitched edge. Holding the fabric on the lines, lay it so that they are on the fold, and a strip is formed between this fold and the seam (width, respectively, 1, 3 cm). Iron the fabric with an iron.

To secure the folds in the fabrics with clamps. Sew the resulting workpiece along all four edges, removing the clamps in the process.

Insert a piece of wire 16.5 cm long into the remaining hole to the fold.

Fasten with clamps and sew a seam lengthwise from the side of the wire so that it does not come out.

Turn the workpiece over with the hole down. Fold the fabric into an accordion, starting from the edge with wire. Secure the folds with clamps.

Iron the part on both sides and sew along the narrow edges.

Cut two wide strips from the fabric that are slightly longer than the width of the mask. Attach them to the narrow edges of the workpiece from the front. From above and below, the fabric should overlap the part slightly. Clip on all sides and sew on the sides only.

Peel back the sewn parts, bend their narrow edges, and fold the wide edge twice. Secure with clamps.

Sew these pieces along the wide open edges. From the elastic tape, cut two strips 25 cm long. Place a pin on one of them and thread through the stitched parts on the sides of the mask. Tie a strong knot and hide it. Attach the second strap in the same way.

Insert the filter into the hole on the back of the mask to match the size of the mask.

How to sew a non-crease medical mask with filter hole and flexible insert

What is needed

• Paper;
• felt-tip pen, pencil or pen;
• ruler;
• scissors;
• cotton fabric;
• crayon - optional;
• sewing machine;
• threads;
• iron;
• double sided tape;
• wire;
• clamps;
• elastic cord or elastic band for sewing;
• restraints for shoulder straps - optional;
• nonwoven filter material (e.g. filter paper, meltblown, dried wet wipes, or other option).

How to make a medical mask

Draw a 15 x 12 cm rectangle on paper. Divide it in half with a straight line. On the right side, make marks 4.5 cm from the top corner and 3.5 cm from the bottom. On the top and bottom side of the rectangle, place dots at a distance of 3.5 cm from the left side. Connect the marks with smooth lines, as in the photo.

Cut out the resulting detail. Using a template, cut out two mirror pieces from the fabric, leaving them for seams 1 cm from the oblique edges and 3 cm from the straight one. Walk along the lines of the template with a chalk, felt-tip pen or pen.

Cut the template in two along the center line. Cut out two mirror pieces using each template. Leave 1 cm of fabric for the seams along the slanting edges, 3 cm along the narrow straight ones, and 4 cm along the wide ones. If you find it difficult, watch the detailed video instructions below. The lines around the template should be visible.

In total, you will have six fabric parts. Fold the two largest ones together with the right side inward. Sew along a long, curved line. From the edge of this side to the seam, make many vertical cuts. Turn the part out.

Sew the other two identical parts in the same way. Also make cuts on them and turn them out.

Fold the bottom edges of the last two blanks twice upwards by 0.7 cm, ironing the fabric. Then sew the folded edges.

Glue a piece of double-sided tape to the middle of the upper edge of the first blank from the inside and attach a wire to it.

You have three blanks: the largest with wire (the front of the mask), the back bottom and the back top. Attach the top to the front with the front sides inward so that the raw edge touches the edge with the wire (it will be on the other side of this part). Secure with clamps. Attach the rear bottom part to the front in the same way.

Sew the workpiece along the long edges, removing the clamps in the process. Do not forget that you need to stitch along the lines marked with the template. Make many vertical cuts before the seams and turn the future mask outward.

Straighten the folds, secure with clamps, and sew. Zigzag along the sides.

Fold narrow edges from the inside to the center by 1 cm and sew. Insert equal strips of cord or tape into the resulting holes. Wear restraints if desired. Tie the straps with a strong knot and hide them inside.

Insert the filter into the hole on the inside of the mask.

How to sew a folding medical mask with filter hole and flexible insert

What is needed

• Paper;
• felt-tip pen, pencil or pen;
• ruler;
• scissors;
• cotton fabric;
• sewing machine;
• threads;
• iron;
• wire;
• elastic cord or elastic band for sewing;
• nonwoven filter material (e.g. filter paper, meltblown, dried wet wipes, or other option).

How to make a medical mask

Cut a rectangle out of paper 25 x 18.5 cm in size. From the wide sides above and below, draw lines at a distance of 6 cm. In the middle, you get a horizontal strip 6.5 cm wide. In the center of the entire sheet, draw a vertical strip 12 cm wide. Divide the corner shapes with lines diagonally so that you get an octagon. Cut out the resulting template.

Cut out a second rectangle, 14 x 12 cm. Divide it in half with a straight line. Draw vertical lines on the sides 1 cm from the edges. Draw oblique lines inside the corner stripes so that you get a hexagon, and cut it out.

Use these templates to cut two identical pieces out of the fabric. Place large pieces right side inward and sew along the slanting lines. Turn the workpiece out and iron with an iron.

Put two small pieces together. On the straight sides, make marks in the center, and from them above and below - marks at a distance of 3.5 cm. Sew the fabric on the sides from the edges to these four lines. That is, holes 7 cm wide should remain on both sides. Turn the workpiece out, straighten the stitched sides and iron them.

Bend the large template along horizontal lines and attach it to the large fabric blank. Place one side of it over the folded portion of the template and iron. Repeat on the other side.

Remove the template and iron the part again on both sides. Sew along the long edges at some distance from the folds. Then open and iron again on both sides.

On the side of the resulting strip, attach a small piece to the center and sew along the edges at the top and bottom. Then turn out the future mask and iron it at the seams.

Turn the workpiece over and sew on one side two parts at once together. On the other side, insert a wire into the fold and sew the fabric in the same way. Fold the narrow edges of the workpiece twice and sew.

From the cord or ribbon, cut two strips 25 cm long. Insert them into the holes for the straps on the sides and tie them with strong knots. Insert the filter to fit inside the small piece.

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