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Best Fabrics for Summer Masks?
Summer is here, and my current mask stock is getting stuffy.? I found this YouTube video that reviews testing done on various fabrics while I searched for options for lighter weight masks.
This woman has concluded that 90% poly and 10% lycra stretch chiffon is a viable alternative.? I'm not sure what I think.? 67% effectiveness with one layer, 83% with two layers. Here's the video link:? Mary |
开云体育I don’t think you will get much other than an N95 that will give you more than 90% effectiveness, so 83% is pretty good! ? But I would have thought poly-lycra chiffon would be both hot and itchy even if it is lightweight. It’s been over 30 C here three days in a? row so yes, I’m thinking about coolness too. Although we only need to wear them in a smaller shop or in public transport, not outdoors or in a big supermarket with good social distancing. Oh, and in a plane – and I am heading for DH in Geneva on Thursday (hoping no quarantine to get back into UK by the time I return). ? Interestingly I see a better fit to the face on the home-made fabric masks than on the medical ones even with a nose-piece. ? How is everyone doing? I look at your infection figures and grieve (not that we did so well ourselves either). Fingers crossed for us all ? Jenny ? From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of mary_007usa via groups.io
Sent: 27 June 2020 11:32 To: [email protected] Subject: [yarnmongers] Best Fabrics for Summer Masks? ? Summer is here, and my current mask stock is getting stuffy.? I found this YouTube video that reviews testing done on various fabrics while I searched for options for lighter weight masks. |
开云体育All the studies I have seen suggest that cotton is the best option. That said, the ones I have that are made from Quilt fabric are quite warm. But I only have them on for short periods so I haven’t looked for anything lighter. ? Ann in PA ? From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of mary_007usa via groups.io
Sent: Saturday, June 27, 2020 6:32 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [yarnmongers] Best Fabrics for Summer Masks? ? Summer is here, and my current mask stock is getting stuffy.? I found this YouTube video that reviews testing done on various fabrics while I searched for options for lighter weight masks. |
开云体育We bought some black stretchy all cotton ones on Amazon. I have no doubt my handmade one have more protection, but the bought ones - which seem to be 2 layers of all cotton t shirt material - are far more comfortable.?Amy On Jun 27, 2020, at 10:36 AM, Ann McManus <mcmanusab@...> wrote:
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开云体育Replying to self: these:I wear them on exercise walks and am ok in them. But as I said, on the thin side.? Amy On Jun 27, 2020, at 10:58 AM, Amy Brotslaw Schweiger <brotslaw@...> wrote:
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I used a closely woven cotton for the outside and a used shirt for the inside lining. The inside lining absorbs sweat easily and therefore the mask is comfortable. But after 2 hours - which my shopping trips sometimes take - the mask is damp. if I was wearing one longer, I’d switch to a different mask at that time. I also have a layer of Filti in between the two layers and it is still is quite comfortable in our 90-ish degree 80+% humidity in the afternoon. I normally shop after lunch and go to about 3 stores on average. So not in the heat the whole time. On Sat, Jun 27, 2020 at 6:32 AM mary_007usa via <sewgood5=[email protected]> wrote: Summer is here, and my current mask stock is getting stuffy.? I found this YouTube video that reviews testing done on various fabrics while I searched for options for lighter weight masks. --
Jaya |
开云体育Some of mine are just the opposite. Dress shirt on the facing side, well-washed scrub fabric on the inside?Ann McManus in PA ?Sent from my iPhone On Jun 27, 2020, at 2:45 PM, Jaya Srikrishnan <ermabom@...> wrote:
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I think you said you used men’s shirts. They are more closely woven. I used women’s shirts. They were very soft and actually difficult to cut and sew. I ended up starching them which helped that part a lot.? On Sat, Jun 27, 2020 at 4:25 PM Ann McManus <mcmanusab@...> wrote:
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Jaya |
I only have 2 masks, both homemade. (Don't get out much!) The one I like best is the simplest of these:?
? - no nose wire. Outer layer is quilting cotton, inner layer just cotton muslin, with a long tie cut from jersey instead of ear loops. I can wear it comfortably in hot weather for an hourlong walk. More importantly - not sure stressing about percentage effectiveness is that useful, since our masks protect *other people* more than they protect us. Pretty much think that any mask at all is good enough. Now if only everybody else would wear them! --Therese ? Thérèse Shere Freelance indexing & digital information design On Sat, Jun 27, 2020 at 10:36 AM Ann McManus <mcmanusab@...> wrote:
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开云体育How do you use a single long cut from jersey for the not ear loops?? I tried that pattern (on the recommendation of the group) about a month ago and liked it, but Ezra wasn’t sure about the two ties (made from an old T shirt) because he thought that would be annoying to deal with on breaks at work. ? I’ve been using quilting cotton for both layers and have put a layer of nonwoven interfacing in the middle, but that may be too much to breathe through easily while running.? My dog training club began its reopening a couple of weeks ago and among the well-thought out plan (no classes yet, unfortunately for us, though absolutely understandable) is the requirement that everyone wear a mask at all times in the building, which means that I’m running at a full sprint wearing one. ? I admit that I haven’t touched the machine since except to repair a seam that came undone on another mask.? Lise has supplied me with nearly all the masks? here (for which I am very thankful!); being too exhausted in the evenings to attempt to conquer mask making had me really stressed out and she came to the rescue.? ? I haven’t heard complaints from the boys about how hot the masks get at work, but I did find I was getting hot earlier this week on my food (farmer’s market, dairy, grocery store, curbside pickup at the library) run.? I’ve been carrying but not wearing one (since it hasn’t been needed) when I walk the dogs because of where I live and we walk (I try to avoid encountering other people even without a pandemic because it’s a lot easier with a reactive dog). ? Melisande ? From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Therese Shere
Sent: Saturday, June 27, 2020 6:14 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [yarnmongers] Best Fabrics for Summer Masks? ? I only have 2 masks, both homemade. (Don't get out much!) The one I like best is the simplest of these:? ? - no nose wire. Outer layer is quilting cotton, inner layer just cotton muslin, with a long tie cut from jersey instead of ear loops. I can wear it comfortably in hot weather for an hourlong walk. ? More importantly - not sure stressing about percentage effectiveness is that useful, since our masks protect *other people* more than they protect us. Pretty much think that any mask at all is good enough. Now if only everybody else would wear them! ? --Therese ? Thérèse Shere ? ? On Sat, Jun 27, 2020 at 10:36 AM Ann McManus <mcmanusab@...> wrote:
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Like this - up through right casing from the bottom, down through left casing. Top loop goes high on back of head, ends tie at nape.? Therese On Sat, Jun 27, 2020, 15:34 Melisande R. Wolf via <melisanderwolf=[email protected]> wrote:
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开云体育These were a PITA to sew because of the dense weave (yes, men’s shirts, but I have had similar fabric for my own). I could not use two layers of the shirt fabric for that reason. Fresh needle, skinnier needle, heavy duty (denim) needle, all were a bust. (And I have used this machine to patchwork with denim!) ? Kept jamming my machine until I switched to one layer of shirt and one layer of either pillowcase or scrubs. ? Ann in PA ? From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Jaya Srikrishnan
Sent: Saturday, June 27, 2020 6:14 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [yarnmongers] Best Fabrics for Summer Masks? ? I think you said you used men’s shirts. They are more closely woven. I used women’s shirts. They were very soft and actually difficult to cut and sew. I ended up starching them which helped that part a lot.? ? On Sat, Jun 27, 2020 at 4:25 PM Ann McManus <mcmanusab@...> wrote:
-- Jaya |
Mary,? Someone from India posted on IG that she found the Univ. of Florida mask prototype 2 to be the most comfortable in the heat. It is cup shaped and she said it stands away from her face.? Ann, I had no issues with sewing the shirt fabric I used. The only issues I had with sewing was going over multiple layers when I had more than 4. On Sat, Jun 27, 2020 at 6:32 AM mary_007usa via <sewgood5=[email protected]> wrote: Summer is here, and my current mask stock is getting stuffy.? I found this YouTube video that reviews testing done on various fabrics while I searched for options for lighter weight masks. --
Jaya |
开云体育I? do agree re the percentage effectiveness. I remember (seems like years ago) the person who wanted to make the middle layer of leather so it would block particles from going through. True perhaps but not useful in the circumstances. ? In the long run I don’t really think the masks will make a huge difference, but it is about cutting out every small percentage of additional spread where possible. Like standing well back from others, and not doing too much happy socialising, and controlling the amount of mingling you do………all we can do is try to keep the overall numbers down and ourselves on the safe side of them. ? I read one of our professors yesterday saying that, whereas a few weeks ago here six ?% of hospitalised patients died, now only one % does – and as yet they don’t know why. They are hoping either better treatment through better understanding or a change in the disease (it might, of course, be several other less useful things). Anyway that is a huge improvement, and if it lasts will make the overall outcome for infected people much more favourable. So that’s today’s upbeat news. ? I see a lot of interest in Advent projects on Ravelry, to be sure it is only 24 weeks to Christmas, I can understand the temptation to plan ahead and try to be upbeat. Or maybe,? like me, people have a lot of scraps which they want to use as “minis” ?? Anyone got any interesting projects in mind? ? And is anyone else liking the many recent new projects from Kate Davies? I would love to have the time to knit them all and the climate to wear them. ? Jenny ? PS Recent antibody test (in connection with blood donation programme) shows I have had coronavirus. That would explain the strange? cough and other weird selection of symptoms which I had back in February when “they” were still insisting there was no community transmission here. I am glad I decided? to stay home for a couple of weeks just to be on the safe side. ? From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Therese Shere
Sent: 27 June 2020 23:14 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [yarnmongers] Best Fabrics for Summer Masks? ? I only have 2 masks, both homemade. (Don't get out much!) The one I like best is the simplest of these:? ? - no nose wire. Outer layer is quilting cotton, inner layer just cotton muslin, with a long tie cut from jersey instead of ear loops. I can wear it comfortably in hot weather for an hourlong walk. ? More importantly - not sure stressing about percentage effectiveness is that useful, since our masks protect *other people* more than they protect us. Pretty much think that any mask at all is good enough. Now if only everybody else would wear them! ? --Therese ? Thérèse Shere ? ? On Sat, Jun 27, 2020 at 10:36 AM Ann McManus <mcmanusab@...> wrote:
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Wow, Jenny,? I'm so glad that you had a relatively light case of COVID19.? I know my daughter in law wonders whether she's had it in late February after a business trip to LA.? At some point, she'll get an antibody test.
After doing some more checking,? I decided not to go to the trouble of buying the stretch chiffon that I mentioned in the earlier post.? I've concluded that it may be a real PITA to sew.? I decided to sew a new Olson mask today with only one layer of batik and an inner layer of? Filti fabric.? It's a nano fiber, very breathable, lightweight and has an excellent of filtration rating of close to 95%.? The combination of the Filti and batik may be my holy grail of materials.? We'll see how it launders.? Before I decided to try this combination, I found an interesting technique that eliminates the need for the nose wire.? You take thin strips of t-shirt fabric and stretch it slightly as it's applied to the top and bottom edges of the mask as a binding.? That hug causes some gathering and when worn it hugs the face nicely.? I may explore that option next week. There are still plenty of Walmarts, grocery stores, etc. in NC where people just flaunt not wearing a mask.? It freaks me out.? I just feel more secure when I have some measure of filtration available to me.? So I'm still relying on the Olson mask with the nose wire.? I'm not sure how well this version will wash, but it's super lightweight and more breathable than any of my other versions with two layers of batik and various kinds of filter layers.? I'm heading back to Raleigh tomorrow for a week.?? It's one of the state's hot spots and I hate to go, but we haven't seen our house since March and it's time to check on it. Governor Cooper has mandated mask wearing in public, and I hope that will help turn the tide on mask use.? Currently, just as the news reports, the younger workers and students are seen everywhere in groups and they don't wear masks.? It's disturbing because NC is one of those states with a spike in cases.. Thanks for everyone's thoughts and input on it.? Mary. |
Mary - THANKS for answering my as of yet unwritten question about what was the current FILTER best choice. Not that anyone else in The Great State of Arizona is worried about filtering ... anything :-) erica in the land of glorious RED sunsets and sunrises! On Sun, Jun 28, 2020 at 7:11 PM mary_007usa via <sewgood5=[email protected]> wrote: Wow, Jenny,? I'm so glad that you had a relatively light case of COVID19.? I know my daughter in law wonders whether she's had it in late February after a business trip to LA.? At some point, she'll get an antibody test. |
开云体育Me too, Mary. Although I’m still? not 100% yet I’ve been managing, so I know I was lucky. ? Filti still only seem to ship to USA or Canada, and no-one seems to be acting as middle-man here, so we manage as best we can with other things. It sounds like a great option though. I am looking forward to reading how well you like your latest tweak. ? I had my DD1 here briefly at the weekend, and we had a funny experience with the masks. I’ve made a few dozen in various sizes and styles for a range of family members from stout tall men with large skulls to frail old women with shrunken faces. ?So far everyone has been accommodated. ? DD1 has a small face and a very pointy nose, and moves her chin a lot when she talks. I suggested she try a range of masks and maybe took some away with her (she hasn’t been out yet in 15 weeks, her DH is shielded for health reasons. Drove here in closed car with no stops). Anyway, the medium masks swamped her and the small masks, even the shaped, fitted ones, covered most of her face so she could hardly see out. And as soon as she began to talk, everything popped off down over her chin. I’m not sure how to fix that yet……. ? Hope your N Carolina house is in good shape when you get there, Mary. ? Jenny ? From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of mary_007usa via groups.io
Sent: 29 June 2020 03:12 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [yarnmongers] Best Fabrics for Summer Masks? ? Wow, Jenny,? I'm so glad that you had a relatively light case of COVID19.? I know my daughter in law wonders whether she's had it in late February after a business trip to LA.? At some point, she'll get an antibody test. |
Stay safe in Arizona, Erica.? You're also a hot zone!
Talking about filtering.? The great dust cloud was supposed to have arrived here.? I was expecting blazing pink sunrises and sunsets, but nada, nothing, nope. We'll have rain the next four days or so.? The great dust cloud was a nothing burger here. Mary. |
Mary, I also feel more comfortable with a level of personal filtration. Masks are mandated here but a lot of people wear them under their noses - either in protest or because they don't like breathing through them. They have to wear a mask to get into any building. I wanted to warn you that on the video Connie posted about the 5-min Filti mask, the lady - who said she got her info from Filti as part of answering FAQs about her previous video on making Filti masks - said that the Filti degrades with washing reducing its filtration capabilities slowly.? I have since been washing my mask without the Filti?and then putting the insert back in. I will probably wash both this week. Of course I have a lot of Filti so I can just cut more inserts but the worry is that you don't know how fast it is degrading. It looks the same after washing as it did before because I was washing mine after every use initially. On Mon, Jun 29, 2020 at 7:01 AM mary_007usa via <sewgood5=[email protected]> wrote: Stay safe in Arizona, Erica.? You're also a hot zone! --
Jaya |
Good information, Jaya, thank you.? The good news is that since Filti is non woven,? I can slit it and insert a removable filter insert.? I've been using Filti for the "filling" between the two layers of batik on my earlier masks and they seem to have tolerated washing pretty well.? I certainly haven't noticed any difference, although the changes may be subtle.?
There's no silver bullet with this, but I do enjoy continuing the learning process. Mary |