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!

Good quality stretchy t shirt is good, the bought ones are a light neoprene

@Sn0tnose do you have a link to the circular pattern? I have made 2 or 3 different versions with varying results.

My local corner shop and the local independent pharmacy are selling the disposable blue type ones £1 each.

I made my own from cotton fabric. Wash at 60 degrees after use. Plenty of good simple instructions on YouTube. You will not 'filter' the virus out but you will stop your droplets (sorry very technical) from spreading, which is the point of everyone wearing coverings (to avoid the word 'mask').

I also like this cartoon explanation on why to use masks.

I brought one off a lady who makes them but I can't stand the elastic around my ears, does anyone know any tricks or something I could use to take it off my ear.

@JustSew I can’t do links on this iPad, I’m obviously doing something wrong!

You just draw around a dinner plate. The plate I used is about ten and a half inches across. The tutorial is by Crafty Daily and the fabric has brightly coloured dog paws on it. It is just three straight lines of sewing. It’s the simplest one I’ve found and the mask feels really comfortable.

I made a no sew one today from the sleeve of some ols pajamas and it came out well

Heres the sock one

Got ours on etsy.

I got some with the filter from a builders wholesalers.

So did we, DH thought it would be a good idea in early February.
Given that the virus degrades after a few days he reckons the can be reused after being hung up somewhere warmish for a week or so.

I’m sorry but it is ridiculous- another to penalise those without money.

I bought them three days before lockdown. I just had a feeling. Double layer cotton ones with new designs on with a pouch to put a disposable filter in. Two days later they were completely sold out.

@Dickorydockwhatthe

If you’re ok with wearing a stretchy headband, sew buttons onto that, just above your ears and hook the elastic over the buttons. If not, cut yourself a piece of ribbon, (size will obviously depend on the size of your head). Sew a button onto each end, put it at the back of your head and hook the elastic over that (obviously a bit more awkward to fiddle about with).

Also I’m a victim of crime and the thought of wearing a mask makes me feel ill - I didn’t even have one with surgery.

@Dickorydockwhatthe I don't like elastic on my ears either. At work they have those crochet little strips wth a button on each end they go round the back of your head. I made my own from a sports sock. I cut the cuff off,, cut it once to make it one long strip, and sewed a button on each end. Works great.

Nice designs not new

Ordered a pack of five earlier, they've been posted already!!

My thinking is, if the gov make it compulsory to wear one in supermarkets, the prices on masks will rocket instantly

In Germany you get a fine if you don't wear a mask in certain places

I bought a pack of 50 from amazon and it took 2 weeks to come

I had a few boxes of builders masks in the garage.

I bought a couple of packs of the hospital type in January, when news of the Chinese infections started to appear. I didn't seriously believe it would be a significant problem in this country (and I can tell nobody else did, or sales of tinned food, weapons and gold coins would have soared). DP and I joked that if we caught it, it would finish us off.

I have a few and generally those with the longer elastic that tie around the head seem better. I bought mine and the first 2 have the ear loop and aren't adjustable , but imust be small of face as they are too big and floppy. So the next batch I ordered the ones that tie instead which the DC prefer. I shortened the elastic and made mine into the ear loop as I prefer them, I have a Bob hairstyle so the around the head elastic just looks very odd as my hair does weird and wonderful things if you want to loop over the ear, use the thinner elastic as the thicker one hurts the ears after a while.

We are abroad. I got some washable FFP-2 masks off Ebay. They arrived within 3 days. You can get some at the pharmacy as well, though.
We have to wear masks to use public transport or to go into shops. Don't have one for DS, though. He's 3 and they aren't recommended for children that young, neither are they mandatory under the age of 6.

@Prokupatuscrakedatus and out of interest - how are you meant to clean them properly?

@portocristo

"they actually kill the Coronavirus"

says who?

@portocristo I assume they have had this ability to "kill" the virus scientifically confirmed

@60sPony

They are to be handwashed with a mild detergent to get the ordinary dirt off and then put in a bowl and covered with water that has boiled and is still above 90° for about 5-10 minutes. Time between cleanings not longer than 40 h.