I made a batch of masks with kittens on them because my niece and nephew likes those best of all the masks I made them. They are good about “masking up,” and do so cheerfully because that means they can go outside.
I originally only gave them one kitten mask and they both wanted to wear it so I promised to make them more. That made them and my sis (their grandma) very happy. They had mostly been wearing adult-sized disposable masks that were way too big for them (they’re 3, 4 and 7).
DIL was having problems with 3 yr old GS and masks. They tried all kinds but he finally agreed to at least a decent amount of time with a gator version.
I’ve made mostly the pleated masks and start with a 9x7" rectangle and 7" pieces of elastic for the ears. For kids, I’ve found that a 7x 6 (or even 5)" rectangle works, with 6" elastics. Some men want theirs a little bigger so I try to have a few with longer elastic or maybe 10x7.
I was with my niece tonight and I had just sent her 4 masks. She said her friends don’t have any, so took my supply over for her to pick. She scooped up a few for herself and then took 3-4 for her friends. I’ve sent a bunch of ‘4th of July’ themed masks from coast to coast this week. Finding those I made in the spring (with 3 layers or with flannel) to be too hot so now I’m making thinner masks (2 layers, thin fabric). I have no idea how those people who are putting shop towels as a filter are breathing through the masks.
I think masks are here to stay, so am planning on a Halloween line, a Christmas line, Valentine’s, etc.
Nordstrom had kids’ masks that look like animal faces.
Also, check Disney masks. 
Million Mask Challenge uses 6" height * 7.5" width (unfinished size) for kid masks (ages 4-9ish). This is size Small.
XS is 57
M is 6.58
L 7*8.5 (teens or adults with small faces)
6" elastic for all kid sizes.
We use nose and chin pleats/darts to fit faces better. No nose hardware, as those don’t always launder well.
Wash fabric before making the mask – cotton washed and dried with high temps will shrink!
Best masks ever are sold at Sol Stone Winery here in WA. The proceeds benefit a local food bank. I bought another one last weekend. It has cats all over it. ?
I make a lot of masks and I wear them. I have found that after about 20 minutes in a mask my hands shake and, embarrassingly, my voice shakes. I can’t tell if it’s lack of oxygen or anxiety. As a consequence I will not do anything that takes longer than 20 minutes in a mask.
I make a lot of masks and can only wear them for an hour max at a time. I seem to do best in masks that hook to my glasses and only have a top strap, no bottom strap. I can breathe better. All the masks I see are made with 100% cotton, 2+ layers.
Tissue paper is very good as a filter (Kleenex), especially when you fold it 2-3 times.
Interesting read.
https://www.warhistoryonline.com/world-war-i/the-horrors-of-gad-warfare.html
D is working retail and hates wearing the mask her whole shift. She’s breaking out from sweating so much! Luckily, they let them take lots of breaks. She likes the disposable kind the best so far, but won’t wear her glasses to work because they fog up. I just pre-ordered the new Under Armour mask for her and my husband (teacher) figuring they are both going to need them in the fall.
My masks from the wedding linen supplier arrived yesterday. They are really nicely made.
I have another tie died one with filters coming and H ordered a bunch specifically made for runners/exercising. I think they are gaiter style.
I’m amassing a nice selection.
I also have a few boxes of 10 disposal masks just in case.
Still working on finding the most ‘breathable’ mask. If anyone has found a mask they find to be easier to breathe through, I’d love to hear.
I went to the dentist yesterday (very positive experience) and the receptionist said hers was very breathable and not cotton but she had no idea the brand or what it was made of. I have only cotton ones and one polyester buff. The polyester really bothers me which has made me think I need cotton but those start to make me feel claustrophobic pretty quickly too. I just looked at the Under Armour one @NJWrestlingmom mom linked and it’s made of polyester. Now I’m wondering if all polyester is the same or if I should start experimenting. This is hard to figure out 
@collage1 , I find that “formed” masks vs pleated masks are easier for me to breathe (and talk) in. They give more space around the mouth and nose. Formed might not be the right word, it is not molded, or shaped like a bra for example, it is still flat cotton, but it is a different shape, not pleated, not rectangular, like the homemade Olson pattern. The ones I am talking about and that I like are from a company called Vida. It takes about 2-3 weeks to receive them.
@collage1 We have sewn our own. We used two layers of quilter’s batik fabric (not from a major retailer - they often get different, less densely-woven fabric).
You can get quilter’s batik fabric - it is very pretty, densely woven - from an online quilt store. Quilter’s batik is more threads per inch than most general quilter’s cottons. (Buying online directly from a local store keeps money in the U.S. economy and fabric for these stores is often of a higher thread count). Do a search of local stores around you and they probably would be glad to have your business.
Our home-made batik masks are only two layers thick. You can put in a channel at the top of the mask, running alongside the top curve. Then be free to insert wire twist ties (from the grocery store) to wear. They can be slipped out for washing and easily inserted again afterwards. We made the fabric-tie ones versus elastic. Everyone has their preference, not going to judge. We thought that the fabric-tie ones (which take longer to make) were more long-lasting and eco-friendly. Again, everyone must work with what they feel is best during these times.
Cotton feels more breathable than polyester to us. We have made multiples to change out masks (due to moisture). Dry them in sunlight.
Also, consider using a lighter cotton face mask in tandem with a large plastic shield. Some people have posted elsewhere that the face shield is their preference.
Hope this helps someone. If not, as Tim Gunn says, “carry on!”
Chiming in to say - I really hate the idea of high end designers, ie Vuitton, cashing in on masks. Can’t afford a Vuitton purse? Buy a mask!
@BunsenBurner Brand name? My D would love one.
I’ve just finished making and mailing a lot of 4th of July masks. I’ve been using Kona cotton for the back and it is soft but a little thinker than I’d like. My friend has been using a cotton interlock for her backing but I’m not willing to pay $10/yd and shipping costs.
I’m thinking of making a single layer mask. I guess it depends on whether you think the masks are really preventing 70% of droplets or if the value of a mask is that it keeps you touching your mouth and then a surface, or reminds you to SD. I’m in that second group that I think masks help but not to the extent they should be thick and filtered and make it hard to breathe.
I think the polyester ones (and yes, all polyester is different) are single layer.
Family members here have been happy with my two-ply quilter’s batik masks - the two layers feel sturdy enough to make some purported difference, and we opt not to use any filters due to how hard it is to breathe with them on. We haven’t done themed masks yet (ie. novelty fabrics).
The style I used can fit over an N95 mask, to help make the N95 last longer. That pattern fits a larger face. By reducing the dimensions of the mask on all four sides (top, bottom, both sides), a smaller model was made for female and under-18s. Since no one could source N95s here, we have been just using this mask on it’s own, not covering a PPE formed mask.
Have not made contoured ones yet. (We have been making masks for charity and there’s only so many hours in a day.) They look like an excellent option due to the reasons @TS0104 stated above.
No brand, they are made by local seamstresses and are only available at the winery.
T shirt cotton jersey makes the best mask fabric, apparently. A local TV station showed footage of some simulated sneezing tests, and cotton tees performed best (trapped the most particulate). No wonder why… this fabric has been extensively tested by its performance as tighty whities.