We have a couple sewing machines if adjustments are needed. Or an added sleeve for a nose wire for better fit to prevent glasses fogging.

Nervous about DH back at work in a couple weeks. (I'm not scheduled to be back until mid September.)

Required will be double masking. A face mask and a face shield.

Work has hired a medical team on staff. Testing and enforcing all protocols.

They sent us washable masks last week with extra filters but not a good fit.

Check Etsy.

we found that the wire I use to wire up my bonsai plants [adenium] works very well as a nose wire. pliable but sturdy ...

over 150 feet ... that's a LOT of masks

I agree Bragu. A look around the home and garage has many items that work as very good flexible nose guards.

Even the very thin flexible clothes hangers from a dry cleaner. (if you have a method to cut them) but bend back and forth a few times they will separate.

I found a spool of armature wire for sculpting and pipe cleaners but most need removal before washing as they will rust.

In work storage we have cases of n95's but have no access until back to work.. Most have the ex-hale valve that is not desired by most.

We have been using those for medical appointments with a bandana inside and draped over the outside covering the exhale valve. DH put off an eye appointment for a couple months but did go the other day. We are so down in numbers in NY state but still careful. Call from car, one patient at a time, all employees double masking...face shields plus N95's.

Is anyone making masks? Any favorite patterns? I am making some as part of a project that is sending them to reservations that are being particularly hard hit.

Then I want to figure out a better fitting pattern for myself, my mom (who is about to turn 80) and her partner and other local friends. But the number of patterns is overwhelming.

So far Maine has been relatively lightly touched by Covid but as our local CDC director keeps saying that can change.

Plenty on pintrist. My hubby has a FULL beard, so most masks don't work well. I've found that just a rectangle of doubled cotton cut to the size of his face (and beard), then fold over the sides to accommodate the elastic, make loops for the ears and bingo! They kinda self-form to the face. I made 1/2 dozen so he can throw them in the wash each day.

We are, however retired, and don't have to be out in crowds each day.

Seems like everyone I know was furiously sewing masks and giving them away a couple months ago. So we have masks all over the house, in cars, hanging from the fridge, masks with penguins, masks with flowers, masks with Superheroes, surgical masks, full face respirators with organic vapor filters, even a few N95s left from the box we started with in March.

I have a favorite mask, it fits my face, has a nose fit wire, is black, and when folded up lives neatly in my wallet. I’ve gotten rather attached to it.

It’s funny how normal it feels to wear a mask now. Pretty much everyone does here - in a store or takeout line, it is really unusual to see anyone without a mask, and in the hallways of my office building almost everyone is wearing them. Even walking down the sidewalk, over two thirds of the people you pass are masked - these are people walking by themselves, not near anyone.

Restaurants and bars have set up tables in the streets, it looks almost festive someplaces. Businesses that can are opening every window, fresh air is a hot commodity. Fortunately our weather is very nice right now. Businesses where people typically gather and linger, if they can’t “take it outside”, like bookstores and high end dining, are getting crushed.

I heard that you need 3 layers of cotton. I keep a plastic bag with me to put it in when i take it off...I see people touching the front of their masks 😱, and putting dirty ones in their pocket😱. How to transfer the covid onto your hands.....

And SWMBO got tear gassed tonight, along with many of 13,000 other Portlanders, peacefully assembled in a city park, carrying signs and engaging in free speech . . . masks are so last month, its respirators that are flying off the shelves here :-)

I don't like any mask that hooks over my ears, I find them uncomfortable. I was given some cloth masks with ties, but my favourite are my trusty t-shirt sleeve, no sewing involved. I cut the whole sleeve off at the shoulder so it's double-thickness. Then cut off a strip along the bottom of the t-shirt. Tie the ends and thread it through the t-shirt. Over my head and it fits great, no adjusting, ever, for me.

I was given some masks that were sewn but no matter how tight I pull the string, I'm still touching or adjusting. They seem to fog up more as well.

For those who have problems with their glasses fogging up while wearing a mask.

Get a roll of medical tape (Sometimes called gentle or paper tape). Do like the lady in this photo. Internet photo.

I recall the old skier trick was to rub some bar soap onto the goggle lenses to prevent fogging up.

A plague mask would be cool! What was the original idea of the long “beak”?

SWMBO is fine, she’ll be more careful to wear goggles all the time - she had a full face respirator with her, but they got gassed without warning and she didn’t have time to put it on.

Earlier in the week, DD was shot on her leg with a sublethal and got slightly burned by a CS gas canister. Because of her time in commercial kitchens, bruises and burns don’t seem to bother her. DS has avoided any injuries, I credit his dance training :-) and he and his friends seem pretty cautious too.

Videos of Portland are criminal.

I'm with you Jasdip. We don't like the ear loops but I have a four pack of t-shirt I've used for 5 years that are very comfortable. We have worn masks at work on and off for various reasons for 20 years so not unusual for us.

I made a dozen t-shirt variations a couple months ago. Just like you describe. Once fitted, I paper clipped, then did a couple quick stitches.

We don't shop even in phase 4 with only one death in very populated NYC the past few days. Our county is 7 days without incident.

DH had an eye appointment a few days ago and was uncomfortable for the few hours in the Dr office....lots of testing. Back at work he will need to wear mask and face shield for 10+ hours, so we need to try options. They sent us filters to try, being mandatory with any personal mask.

We still have a box of N95's but they have the exhale vent. We use a bandana inside and drape over the vent. (the variation DH did not like long term). No ear contact, just head rubber stretch, but he felt constricted.

Ear loops need adjusting for head size. They can be comfortable if they are adjustable.

Most of our co-workers and friends have posted so many favorites and failures.

agmss15

Is anyone making masks? Any favorite patterns? I am making some as part of a project that is sending them to reservations that are being particularly hard hit.

I can't find the link but so many now have good patterns. I have a pattern I printed but no clue who provided it.

I think key is fuller fabric, meaning a wider mask face, and adjustable ear or head loops. A side that has a sleeve so ear or head adjustments can be replaced.

Maybe someone will speak up with a pattern I saw a few weeks ago that is adjustable. (I'm sure I saw it here)

Please remember NY suffered first but mandated masks months ago. We are way down to zero....masks work.

So many US states are still at high numbers. Please wear masks.

Three weeks of mask wearing will cut numbers down SOOO much. Relieving our health care workers.

No mask shaming here much. At 98% masks, a few might see some 'karen' insane. Koo-koo 'karen's'. I don't judge and many don't. Let them be, distance, as so many wearing masks are protecting them from their insanity.

A single mother may have a difficult child. Maybe her husband is front line so she needs her children with her shopping. Not necessary to judge but do stay clear ...just in case they are wacko.

If most are protected, those not masking or wacky, ...we can somewhat protect them from us or others.

@John

My understanding is that the beak was full of scented herbs. I think life was stinkier in general back then - add a lot of dead bodies and...

Good on your family for standing ground. I hope everyone stays safe and healthy. The combination of pandemic, the end of the eviction moratorium and federal troops seems a scary confluence.

@Sleevendog

Maine has been pretty lucky so far. We have the loud disbelievers but many are being careful. We also are fairly distant to begin with... I really like our state CDC director. He provides clear updates calmly. I tend to feel fairly grim about the uncareful but a local Dr and my mom recently chatted. He told her what a good job Mainers are doing. We had our first local death in my county reported yesterday.

I did see a mask pattern that stood away from the face more. I will have to look for it again. I just received a big order of elastic.

That said right now I am working on wooden utensils. Epicurious included us in an article about butter spreaders a few days ago. Our summer laxness has given away to playing catch up with inventory.

@John Liu - sending out good thoughts for the safety of your family.

Criminal beating calm protesters with bully bats. Standing still, hands up. Who trained these thugs. Makes me sick to my stomach. A female lawyer, 100 pounds tiny, was falsely accused of assaulting an officer, then sexually groped, then sat in a cell...

For those handed the basic surgical masks, or purchasing being lightweight and comfortable, this video may make them better?.

NYC has been handing them out by the millions. Stores, subways, and I've been getting them in my deliveries for free...via the state gov.

(zip forward as it is long and boring)

I think in the future, the new normal, we will see soon some very lightweight, feather-light, clear form fitting non-disposable masks. Easy to clean with soap and water. Small replaceable filters. Not much waste/garbage.

Just like the race for a vaccine, mask design is in a race as well. This is needed in hospital settings as well as communities.

ooo I like that - see thru mask!

John, I wondered how you and your family were, somehow I just knew SWMBO would be part of the "Wall of Moms" or something there.

I noted on the news that the federal agents are now going blocks away from the Federal courthouse they are supposed to be protecting, and attacking peaceful protesters who are exercising their First Amendment right to peacefully assemble. It's a criminal violation of the Constitution and somehow I just don't have faith in the "investigation" that's supposed to be done by the DOJ.

You'll all be in my thoughts. Stay safe.

Annie

I haven't seen on the news what's happening in Portland, but stay safe. It sounds horrendous.