Anyone been able to buy a mask?

[newyearnoeu]

Sorry -should probably be in the corona topic but posting here for traffic?

Lots of suggestions in the media that people will be required to wear masks as part of lockdown exit strategy. Has anyone actually been able to find any though? The only ones I've seen are in my local bargain type shop at two for seven quid which as they are supposed to be one use only seems extortionate!

EBay etc don't seem to have anything ready to ship in the near future.

Guess I can give making one a try but my sewing skills are pretty bad!

We've just ordered some from Lucy's weighted blankets - she's on Facebook. They cost £5 plus £1 delivery , and can be used with a filter that you buy from amazon

you can get one here that comes with a filter. there is a guide on how to correctly wash them here. all the best x

I ordered some from groupon a couple of weeks ago and I’ve also made a couple from an old t shirt.
There are lots of videos on YouTube showing how to make them without needing to sew anything.

I saw how to make a mask from socks on Goggle box last week.

Given that you'll need an awful lot of them because they're going to need washing in hot soapy water very frequently, I'm going to try the sock and T-shirt ones so I can have a plentiful supply of them and dh will have no Tshirts

forgot to add, she does do a more unisex design here x

Sorry, the see your own type from regular material? How do they work at containing/deflecting any virus ?

Lots of washable/reusable/homemade ones on ebay and Etsy. All mine are from ebay, but there are lots in interesting fabrics on Etsy.

Red you will need something like kitchen roll as well, folded over in a double layer of fabric. So you'd have A4 layer mask, dispose of the kitchen roll after each use.

Lots of suggestions in the media that people will be required to wear masks as part of lockdown exit strategy
No, countries have mandated face coverings, not masks. You can use a scarf, bandana, or sew your own mask using the guides on CDC etc

Etsy has some

I got some with the filter from a builders wholesalers.

I ordered some reusable and washable ones from Etsy. The shop is SDesignsGB. Picked them because they have kids and toddler sizes too. £4 each.. free delivery.
Not received mine yet but they were very well reviewed.

No, countries have mandated face coverings, not masks. You can use a scarf, bandana, or sew your own mask using the guides on CDC etc

That's the thing, it hasn't been made clear enough. I'm sure millions of other people have also been left wondering what exactly is meant by a mask.

Haven't tried.

Yes but only because I we were allowed to take a box from work before we shut our doors.
DS's mask I got from Etsy. It's handmade character one

I’ve been buying them from various people locally who are making them - trying different shapes and ties to see which work best.

As of today they’re required pretty much everywhere where I live so I wanted to be prepared.

When it was announced that we needed to cover our faces on public transport, in shops and other enclosed spaces (in addition to distancing) to further minimise the risk to us and others, I went to the local pharmacy and bought some N95 ones (got a lecture on how to clean them properly as well).
Lidl, Aldi etc are selling boxes of single-use masks from next week, football clubs roll out masks in their colours, there are market stands selling them in different colours and patterns.

(I need to find my mascara and different earrings.)

I've made twenty, 10 each for me and DH. I have a head the size of a peanut and his is huge, so they have different length elastic in different colours. By laving plenty, we can just chuck them in a bucket of soapy water in the utility and wash them with the towels on a hot wash
Just the standard rectangle ones with pleats that spread out. Pocket for an additional disposable layer in the middle. We are using paper coffee filters - I luckily bought a job lot of 200 when they were n offer in January

I knew odd socks would come in handy got loads of them.

I ordered some reusable ones from Amazon, but my order was cancelled yesterday by the seller. However I have some old thin tea towels I can use with hair ties, which can go in a hot wash.

Annoyingly I recently got rid of a load of old t shirts and scarves to charity when moving house.

Sorry, the see your own type from regular material? How do they work at containing/deflecting any virus?

I’ve had a quick look on the CV topic, but I can’t find the link that show you the study that was done, sorry. Essentially, it depends what you make them out of. The most effective was a hoover bag (although some of those have fibreglass in, I believe, so obviously not something you want to be inhaling) but it wasn’t particularly easy to breath through. 100% cotton came up as reasonably effective. Certainly better than nothing if you either can’t find or afford the disposable ones.

I’ve made some from a tutorial on YouTube that involves drawing around a plate then cutting & sewing the fabric as directed and attaching elastic for the ears. It’s very easily done, even if you’re a non sewer with no machine, and it feels very secure, with no gaps at the side. I sew, so I’ve got a large stash of cotton fabric but if I didn’t, I’d be using tightly woven cotton tea towels or glass cloths. Hold it up to the light. The harder it is to see through, the better it will be.

We have been using respirators from this company:
www.uk-respirators.co.uk

Really fast delivery and the masks are comfortable. I was emailed this discount code recently which is valid throughout May: TM10

Thanks all very helpful! I will look into some of the ideas. I understand technically its "face covering" rather than "mask" but in some circumstances e.g. going for a run masks obviously easier.

Dh bought 20 from amazon
He can’t remember how much
With a stretchy fabric you just need to cut out ear holes but sew the nose bit together
Il see if I can post a pic

Finished article and pattern