incidents and accidents, hints and allegations

I hand-sewed my first few masks, back in March, and acquired an entry-level sewing machine relatively early on. Since then I've been iterating machine-sewn masks as I learned what I liked. I was asked today elsewhere about the current iteration, and I've been meaning to write this up, so now's the time.

Iteration n-1 is a minor variant on the Clover mask, for which there are instructions at Google Docs. You can see it in the first three pictures of this Google Photos album. I tried this because (1) it involves just rectangles and straight lines and (2) it introduced me to the idea of a single fabric tie, that loops behind your neck, comes through each side of the mask, and then fastens behind your head. I find this more comfortable for long wear because it doesn't pull on my ears.

For the fabric ties, I don't tie the ends behind my head, because that way leads to pulled hair and annoyance as I get the tension wrong the first time and have to re-tie it. Instead, I thread each end through a double cord lock/cord stop, and then sew the ends together. Quick to go on, easily adjustable, can't come out of the mask.

I do like this conceptually, but because I have a quite flat nose, I was beginning to dislike the way the mask rested against my face. Then I saw Bizzy Bates' masks, which kind of pop out at the nose and chin, holding the fabric away from your face, and said, "Oooh, I bet I can do something like that." And I did. (I have ordered one of hers on principle, but it hasn't arrived yet.) My version is the second three pictures in the same Google Photos album, inelegant excess stitching and tailor's chalk marks and all (I took the pictures right after I finished it).

(And yes, I bought a full bolt of that fabric. It was before stores reopened and browsing Joann's website for what was available for curbside pickup was such a pain that I didn't want to come even close to running out.)

( Instructions, illustrated with origami paper: )

Anyway, this might not be enough for those who really need separation from their face, for which there are more structured alternatives. But it's very easy to make and requires no additional materials, so I thought it worth writing up.

Oh, and as you can see, for ear-loops (which I do like for short-term, quick-on-and-off uses), I use hair elastics cut open at the glue join, not elastic cord, because when I first started, there wasn't any to be had.

If anything about this wasn't clear, please ask!