Many companies are turning their hand to making them and they're even becoming a fashion item. But really, it's so easy to make your own, even if you can't sew. There are a number of options that work well but first you need to bear in mind the following:
What a cloth face covering should do...
- It needs to fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face-- Secure it in place with ties or ear loops
- Ensure there are multiple layers of fabric
- Allow for breathing without restriction
- You must be able to launder it and machine dry without damaging or changing its shape
Choose tightly woven cottons or twill, natural silk or quilted cotton material. Washing up cloths work well, headscarves, old pillowcases.
It's important to remember to wash your hands or use hand sanitiser before putting on and after taking off your face covering. And keep clean face masks in individual plastic bags.
There are numerous resources online that show you how to make your own.
Face mask that requires sewing
We're pulling out needle and thread and making our own, using the resources found on the BBC, which has more layers than CDCP's diagram below. You'll soon get the hang of it. Go into mass production and make as many as you can, as they need to be washed after every use. Gift to friends and family too and they make the perfect leaving presents for house guests who are lingering.
Image courtesy of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Face mask made out of an old t-shirt
The following are instructions on how to make a no-sew government approved cloth face mask.Face mask made out of a cotton headscarf or bandana
You might have seen videos on Instagram of celebs fashioning Hermes scarves into a face mask but spare a thought, cotton has better filtration than other fabrics. Large cotton handkerchiefs work similarly well to cotton headscarves.READ MORE
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Updated September 2020
