New normal after lockdown

3D Face Masks with Filter Pocket

Many small businesses suffered during a strict lockdown. If you read the news, many migrant workers have to walk for days to reach their village due to the unavailability of the transport system. I went out a few weeks ago and saw many people are walking on the highway, some with their friends, some with their family and young children. It breaks my heart to read and see the news about them that sometimes I just stopped reading the news. 

Mask for Kids

As the government relaxed lockdown a few weeks ago businesses  started to open and slowly people are back to work, to new normal.

New normal means:

• Wear a mask when you go out. (Also read: what fabric to use for homemade mask)
• Maintain a social distance of 6 feet (is that even possible here??).
• Wear a face shield if you cannot maintain 6 feet distance. (Also read: how to make DIY Face Shield)
• Cover your mouth with your elbow while coughing or sneezing.
• Frequently wash your hands with soap.
• Wash your groceries after you bring them in (at least I do this) - some said to leave the vegetables, etc in an open space for a couple of hours before putting them into the fridge.
• Change your clothes after you come back home and wash your mask every day. 

According to the news, the school most probably will re-open after July. Now, thanks to the internet, online classes are going on. Some parents suggested to only open the senior section so that the school can maintain 1/3 ratio per class. 

Many senior students also tweeted asking for reopening, especially those in the science stream. There are so many things to be considered before reopening and I know it's going to be tough for the teachers to keep vigilant of the students. 

How to make a surgical pleated mask

I guess we all need to learn to be more disciplined and considerate of others. Think twice before you act. Think about what will be the impact of your action for others. 

I hope this virus will be gone soon, meanwhile please wear a mask when you go out or when you don't feel well at home. 

Until then,

Take care & stay safe!

-Elvira- 

Alternative Filter Pocket for 3D Fitted Face Mask

Face Mask with Filter Pocket

Everyone has their own preference and that's including masks. Some people prefer a surgical pleated mask, some prefer box pleated masks, some people prefer 3 D mask without filter pocket (including yours truly). As I wrote in my previous post, in a homemade mask the most important is as long as it dense enough. 

As I progress making more 3D masks, I improvised the pocket construction for the 3D Fitted Mask. Instead of cutting 2 lining fabrics like in the pattern, I cut one piece of lining and reduce the sides to create a pocket. The advantage of this pocket is you need less time to sew them together. 

So here's how to do it:

1. Cut the short sides of the lining fabric by 0.75". I usually fold it in half, mark it using an erasable pen and cut it on the line. 

2. Fold the raw edge by scant 1/4" and fold it again by 1/4" and topstitch the short edges. The mask lining will look like in the picture below. 

3. Sew the lining and exterior panels together as per the pattern and turn the mask right side out.  Now, with the lining facing up, press the seam of the exterior panel nicely and topstitch all along the top and bottom seams only. 

4. Fold the short edge of the exterior panel towards the wrong side by scant 1/4 inch.

5. Fold it again by 1/2" and pin/clip in place.

6. Now the tricky part (don't worry, you can do it!). As you feed the fabric under the needle, pull the lining fabric gently so that it's away from the fold that you're going to stitch. Put the needle down, backstitch a couple of stitches and sew to the end. As you reach the end, gently pull the lining fabric again, away from the end of the fold. Finish sewing with a couple of backstitches. 

7. Tada! now your mask with filter pocket is ready. Insert elastic or fabric ties as you prefer.

Here I used a kitchen paper towel and folded it a couple of times. Insert the paper and you're ready to head out. 

3D Fitted Face Mask in ETSY

What do you think? which type of mask and filter pocket do you prefer? Let me know in the comment below. 

Thank you so much for stopping by.

Take care & stay safe!

- Elvira

Free Pattern : Pleated Face Mask with Filter Pocket

Thank you so much for your overwhelmed response to my mask tutorial/pattern. That was a pretty simple one. Many asked me to make a pleated mask with a pocket for a filter which is very necessary especially during this COVID19 Pandemic. 

In the past few days I've been making masks (with and without filter) for family, friends, and people around me. Masks are not available now and hence people resort in fabric masks. I'm very touched reading so many stories of our sewing community come together and donating masks to the hospital. I am donating a few to a nursing home near my house, they have been a great help for us for years. It's time to show our support to those who are on the front line. 

How to Wear Mask with Ties:

Here my son demonstrates how to wear a mask with ties

UPDATE

I got a few questions regarding the pocket esp from beginners, so here's the easier way to do it. I just use a screenshot here, which I hope clear enough. I already updated the file in the shops, so if you download it on 27th March at 10PM IST you should get the new one. If not, feel free to download again or simply save the photos here:

Feel free to email me if you have any doubts :)

I hope this pattern will be beneficial for you all. I will try to add video as soon as I get time to edit it. meanwhile,you can simply click the button below and download the pattern. 

Download Free Pattern

Thank you for stopping by & take care!

Elvira

Other Masks Patterns:

Breathe Easy Face Mask

KN95 Style Singer Face Mask

Dust Mask with Nose Wire