This is the thread to discuss making masks. It is NOT for discussing their effectiveness or if they should be used.
If you have any crew neck T-shirts, you can use them as masks with no cutting or sewing. Pull one over your head, with the neck line on your nose just below your eyes. Tie the sleeves together behind your head to make it stay put.
There are also two different ninja / niqab styles that also cover the top of your head that are harder to describe in words, but there are videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtDxjGFeBvA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6M7kfy7zM7Q (3:20 if you want to skip the intro)
I’ll add this here – to make it easier to find:
There is a very useful YouTube tutorial for creating a “jig” to help with the pleating: https://youtu.be/nIUM0z4oSSI
A friend showed us how easy it is to make a disposable mask from a dinner napkin and two rubber bands. Kind of like this:
https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/no-sew-face-mask-to-be-used-to-protect-others/
Not a medical grade mask. It only protects others from you. Not you from the others.
@fretfulmother Here’s the thread.
I just got my shipment of new 100% cotton fabric From Hawaii. First I have to prewash and dry all the fabric but this time I’m going to switch from pleated masks to the Olson pattern. These are just for my friends so I think I’ll just stick to the hair tie ouchless ear loops. Maybe I’ll go fancy with some ties
I’m still trying to decide which pattern I want to try: with pleats or fitted; with pockets for filters and wires or without; with elastic or with ties. Have any of you tried various styles and then decided on a favorite? (I don’t sew a lot, but I have a freshly tuned machine, and I used to sew casual clothes for myself years ago, so I’m not too intimidated.)
I think it might also depend who you are making the masks for. I prefer the stretchy elastic over ties - ties slip on hair and don’t fee secure to me. Also more tricky to get “just right”. Others might feel differently.
Some people complain of ear irritation if the elastic is wore for hours on end. I saw a “trick” the other day here in Ohio. Remember the game Barrel of Monkeys? Take a monkey and put one each ear elastic over an arm of the monkey - the monkey ends up on the back of your head and therefore takes the irritation off the ears. 
I’ve made both the pleated style and the Cotton tshirt Fu style masks. My D likes the pleated ones I made from a white bedsheet. H likes either. I made straps from the sheet so no elastic so they all launder fine with hot water and hot dryer.
I left an opening so a filter (like shop or Viva paper towel) could be inserted for more protection, but so far no one has added another layer.
I did add a channel & wire for the nosepiece so it fits more closely around the nose.
I only make the pleated masks – both with ties and with elastic (I happened to have a good stash of elastic in my sewing drawer). I haven’t tried the fitted kind but only because the pleated ones are so fast and easy. The fitted pattern isn’t complicated, exactly, but it would require a little extra time and effort compared to just cutting rectangles. I find the 1/8 inch elastic to be pretty comfortable, especially if you don’t try to make it super tight around the ears. Of course, you don’t want it loose, but not so tight that it digs in. The ties do take a little longer to make than using elastic. I don’t sew a filter pocket. I use 3-4 layers of quilter’s cotton. They wash up well and just need a couple passes with the iron after they come out of the dryer for the pleats.
Here is an easy no sew mask: ennifermaker.com/no-sew-face-mask-tshirt/
I’ve made the pleated kind with filter pocket and fabric ties. I’ve also make that type with elastic.
I just started making the Olson pattern with filter pocket.
Both types were made with nose wire.
I personally much prefer the Olson - both to make and to wear. I have a small face and the pleated one rides up into my eye area - even pushing my glasses out of place. I tried making it smaller but it still bothers me. I’d given my DD several of the pleated ones and she asked if she could have the Olson instead.
I do a batch production. Cut several, sew the same step for all (ie attach front two ‘face parts’). I find the Olson mask takes about half the time as the pleated. Fabric ties are a PITA, I’m starting to really like the t-shirt tie.
I made a modification by sticking two 1 inch areas (instead of a whole channel( under the top edge to help keep the wire in place. I also make a dart/pinch pleat at my chin to keep the bottom portion more tucked and fitted.
I’ve experimented with t-shirt ties and really like those. Either the fabric or t-shirt ties stay in place better by using a hair clip to anchor the top tie.
@ECmotherx2 I think the correct link is Make a No-Sew Face Mask From a T-Shirt! - Jennifer Maker
My daughter and I tried an Olson mask. When we talked, it pulled down our nose, even with a wire. Does anyone have a pattern that I can compare the ones I made to? A website name is fine; I can find it if the link can’t be posted.
I have been making the Joanne Fabrics mask: https://www.joann.com/how-to-make-a-face-mask/042188731P321.html. I have not been able to get elastic, so I have just sewn ties (I tried a couple patterns that used pony tail holders but didn’t like them). I use two layers of cotton fabric with a layer of non woven interfacing in the middle.
The pleats aren’t hard if you mark the fabric & use a steam iron.
I put a dart a bit less than a half inch on the bottom, right in the middle. That makes it fit snuggly.
I made a bunch & I plan to bring the extras with me (in plastic baggies) to give to people who are sans masks when I am getting groceries. For example, the butcher shop requires a mask to enter.
My H likes both the Fu and pleated masks. The pleated mask won’t fit snugly without a wire. The Fu masks seems to fit more sizes easily and doesn’t need a nose wire.
I personally have difficulty with all cloth and disposable masks I have tried, including prior experiences with surgical and N95 masks. I can wear a cotton scarf over my nose and mouth. I just avoid situations where I can’t socially distance.
I’ve only made the pleated masks. I tried the two elastics around the head but need to fiddle around to get the right length/tension on the elastic I have. I won’t make the ear elastics, since D and I have cartilage piercings that the elastic can tug on. So far my favorite is still the tie version. I found those easy to tie comfortably and they stayed in place fine. I had some packets of bias tape so used those for ties.
My friend made us masks using the Suay Sew Shop’s directions and they are great! I held the fabric down around my nose and when I did, they really formed a nice seal around my face. I just have to figure out how to attach something like a bread tie or paperclip or wire to hold the material down around my nose. I am not sure how to do this and still be able to put the mask in the wash. I wonder how well such things hold up in the wash. Does anyone know?
Here is the link to the pattern for anyone interested.
https://suayla.com/pages/suay-community-mask-coalition
I love that the Suay Sew Shop is making several hundred thousand masks to donate to medical professionals. 
Thank you!
The one I’ve been using is this one:
https://members.sewitonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/How-To-Sew-A-Facemask-Instructions.pdf
…which was publicized by a group in Cleveland, Ohio about a month ago.
I’ve made some with ties while waiting for more elastic, but it was very time-consuming and most of the people I’ve talked to are preferring the elastic around the ears.
For the outer layer, I have some children’s flannel patterns (used up my froggies and now onto penguins). For the inner layer, I used up my white flannel, then my white sheet-type material, and am now on old Tshirts and similar.
There is a pocket but we haven’t put filters in there yet. I do have some blue "shop towels’ that we could try, though they’re the less-good brand according to that one article that went around.
I also learned to batch the process to make it less frustrating and a bit faster.
For me, the most annoying part is sewing the wires in with the zig-zag stitch. I have broken two sewing machine needles, and now just hand-crank my machine along the wires which is time-consuming and frustrating.
Today I finished my second spool of thread and am on my 2nd-to-last one so tried to order more. As is the usual situation now, who knows if/when it will arrive!