Hopefully the last mask production run

I made 28 masks for use at the Del Valle jail facility.   Solid colros, no metal.  No filter pocket.
On these, I used ties rather than the single long tie.
Forgot to take pictures.

But here's the best mask of all. 

Really Easy Cushion Cover

I found a pattern for an easy cushion cover on The Creek Line House blog. 
 https://www.creeklinehouse.com/the-10-minute-diy-pillow-cover/
Courtney's instructions were very good, but here is my slightly altered version.

For a 16 inch insert:

• Cut one piece of fabric 17 x 36.
• Fold up each short edge about a half inch.   Top stitch if desired.
• With right sides together, fold up about 9 inches on one side.   Fold the other side up until the size of the folded fabric is 17 x 16.   There will be about four inches of overlap.
• Pin the cut edges carefully.
• Sew the sides with the cut edges, using a half inch seam.
• Turn the cushion cover right side out.   Use a bamboo skewer to poke the corners out.
• Press.
• Top stitch all four sides about 1/4 inch from the edge.
• Insert cushion form.
• Admire your work.

That's all there is to it.   I can whip two of these up in about a half hour.   I used a light upholstery weight fabric for my first ones and that worked very well. 

For a 20 inch insert, the fabric would be cut 21 x 44.    The folded square, before the cut edges are sewn, should measure 21 x 20.   Other than that, the instructions are the same.

Masks, masks, and more masks

After making about 100 masks, I moved toward a simpler design.   The mask is rectangular with no pleats.  It includes a pipe cleaner at the top to shape the mask to the nose.   It has a casing on either side.   I make a drawstring by cutting a one inch strip across a man's t-shirt (these have no side seams) and make a cord by pulling it tight.    I run the drawstring down one side and then up the other.   To put it on, one puts the loop over the head, tightens up the drawstring and then ties it at the back of the head.   It's very comfortable and easy to launder.  

 I've given dozens to neighbors.   At least 30 were given to nurses at local hospitals to cover the medical masks that needed to be used longer than they were designed for.   

About a dozen were given to a friend who is a realtor, who gives them to clients without on

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Masks

The first masks I made had elastic ear loops.  They were pleated and contained nose wires made from pipe cleaners.

Most of these went to close family and friends.






The next bazillion used straps made of straight-of-grain fabric, using a bias tape maker to help with the folding and ironing.

Still using pleats and pipe cleaners. 

The ties used a lot of fabric and time. 

But the fit was pretty good.

I gave some to neighbors.

My friend and neighbor Brady asked for a larger one, so I obliged.  He has lots of plants and bluebonnets in his yard.

My daughter discovered that her cousin in Indiana had tested positive for the virus and was asking for masks for his family.   No one had gone into business yet and masks were unavailable.   I quickly made five (in colors of his alma mater) and mailed them off. 










My grandson goes to college in North Dakota.
So I mailed a couple of masks to him. (I included a yarn tassle toy for his cat.)

Two more went to my grandson and his wife in Louisiana.

Not long after, my friend who is a therapist at the VA Hospital in San Antonio passed on a request for masks for workers (non-medical personnel).   A specific pattern was required and I made 20 and mailed them offf.   These had a pocket for a filter and were made with one large piece of fabric.

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   I made one for her, too, of course. 

Then the call went out to quilters from the local fire department for washable masks to wear while in the station house.   Our guild made several hundreds.   I made 46 for that effort.