Supply List

Deschutes Maskers

Supplies Needed to Make Face Masks

Summary of What You Need:

Deschutes Maskers master pattern download

Fabric, prewashed and dried

Thread

Narrow elastic for earloops (about 22-28” per mask, depending on adjustment option selected)

Bendable, thin wire for nose-wire (about 4” per mask)

Clear nail polish, or alternative

Important Details About What You Need:

Pattern:   

The mask master pattern is simple, consisting of only 1 piece that you can download here and print.

To print the master pattern accurately, make sure your printer is set for “actual size” or “100% size” printing. 

Fabric Amount:

For 1 mask, you need to cut 4 fabric pattern pieces (ppcs), each of which uses the mask master pattern as the template. 

Two of these ppcs will make up the mask exterior, with the other two used to make the interior layer.

It may help your planning to know that 1 ppc can be cut from an 8” x 8” square.

Fabric Type:

Many of you probably have fabric in your stash that will work beautifully for these masks.  For both exterior and interior mask layers, use good quality/tightly woven cotton or cotton/poly fabric.  Use regular, good quality sewing thread able to withstand daily, hot machine washing and drying. The goal is to create a strong, double layer mask, which also is breathable.

You can use the same fabric for the mask exterior and interior, or vary them for interest or quicker recognition of which side is which.  It’s up to you and the fabric you have available.  

The original site emphasizes not to use stretchy, sequined or velvet materials.  Stick to the tight-woven cottons (or cotton-polys).   If you hold a layer of your fabric up in front of a light and look through it, you can see and evaluate the tightness of the weave.

Fabric Prewashing/Drying:

Be sure to hot-wash and dry your fabric before making masks with it.  This is so any shrinkage occurs before you measure the material and make the mask.  

Earloop Elastic:

An elastic loop on each side of the mask hooks over the wearer’s ears, holding the mask on. 

You can use any kind of flat or cord elastic that is narrow enough to be worn comfortably behind the ears.  Some good earloop elastics include 1 - 2 mm jewelry elastic round cord, or narrow, flat sewing elastic, 1/8” – 1/4” wide.   We have tested both and they work.

If you don’t have enough or even any of the elastic, don’t let that stop you from making as many masks as you can.  The earloop elastic is inserted as quick last step in the mask-making process, and is not sewn in. So if necessary, earloops could be added later.

Nose Wires:

In our prototyping, we used 24-gauge galvanized steel wire (on-hand in garage).

While you need not use exactly the same thing, you do need a wire that is thin, bendable, holds its shape, and won’t rust after laundering.  For example, you might consider a thin, coated strand taken from a copper electrical wire.  

Each mask nose-wire’s finished length should be 3-3/4”. 

To blunt the tips, apply 2 or 3 coats of nail polish, or a touch of hot glue. 

If the wire ends are still too sharp, consider adding 1/2" to the finished length, and then bending each end back 1/4" and crimping.

 

If you want to make masks but are missing some supplies:

Contact us through the comment section below, and Barb and Kate will attempt to match you with someone who can help

If you have supplies to share:

Again, use the comments section we will attempt to match you up.