Sewing Circle Face Masks
CUC Sewing Circle - Face Masks
The original purpose of the Sewing Circle project was to create cotton face masks to protect vulnerable people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since we started sewing, we have supplied more than 3,000 masks to people who need them, and at least as many to family and friends. All our creations have been donated to needy organizations and individuals without charge.
Recipients for these masks include:
- Wesley Urban Ministries in Hamilton
- local migrant workers
- Carlisle Medical Centre and Carlisle Pharmacy
- Wellington Hospice, Guelph
- Charlton Health, Hamilton
- Flamborough Food Bank, Carlisle
- Parkview Church Food Bank, Hamilton
- Queen Victoria School community, Hamilton
These do not proport to be "medical grade" masks, for health care professionals. But we have gathered "best practices" from many sources, and are continuing to evolve and improve the masks as we go. This page offers links to some of the information we are using and have found helpful.
Carlisle Pharmacy has been a great community partner, distributing many masks in exchange for donations to the Flamborough Food Bank.
We are very grateful to the many generous people who have donated sewing supplies (quilting cotton, interfacing, elastic, etc.) or cash donations to Carlisle United Church, to enable and support our project. Thank you all!
Masks
- two layers of 100% cotton, preferably tightly woven quilting cotton
- one layer of interfacing (recommended = non-woven bonded fibre which repels moisture droplets, e.g. Pellon featherweight or midweight)
- elastic (6mm flat elastic or some alternative)
- plastic-coated wire (optional = for nose pieces, could be heavy twist ties, floral wire, electrical wire)
Construction of Masks
Considering double masking? We've got some tips
[Toronto Star, 29 January 2021, https://www.thestar.com/life/health_wellness/2021/01/29/ considering-double-masking-weve-got-some-tips.html?rf] * Sewing Circle masks all contain at least one layer of polypropolene]
Canada's top public health doctor now recommends three-layer non-medical masks
[CBC News, 3 November 2020, https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/three-layer-mask-tam-1.5787946]
Instruction video for contruction of 3D Mask with no wire
[Japanese Sewing Books, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nh8M8oukXWw]
This video shows the basic method of construction of a flat mask, with flannel lining = How to Sew a Medical Face Mask
by Erica Arndt [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FB--BOyTiU]
This video shows the use of interfacing
as a protective barrier = To Make the Best DYI Face Mask by Cindi Rang, The Fabric Patch [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8HNYKvlaN8]
This video shows how to test to see if your material is 100% cotton = How to Do a Fabric Burn Test to Identify Fibres by Janet Wickell [https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/fabric-burn-test-to-identify-fibers-2821302]
