I make them but I don’t like them and dream of the day when they are no longer necessary. I wear a mask everywhere and would not dream of taking it off in public. But I hate it. I agree that they are necessary and that everyone should wear them. But I don’t like it.
I have every kind of fabric you can think of, but no Halloween fabric. Now I’ll have to get some just to make masks.
Back on April 4, I was doing internet shopping late at night. I ordered masks for my kids, DIL’s family, myself and my 2 besties. All from Zazzle. They finally arrived, and are nicer than expected. For one GF, I bought an animal print. The other is getting one with martinis on it, as that is her fav drink and her dog is named Martini. The men got a black mask with computer chips.
My new masks never arrived yesterday. Now the tracking said there could be a post office delay. I’m ridiculously disappointed.
Traveling from Maine to Minneapolis by plane, everyone wore masks and distanced. Plane only 1/4 full. Then we drove north into Wisconsin and stopped at a big hardware store in a small town and we were the ONLY people wearing them. We got a few looks but no comments. The large county has had only three cases but they do get visitors. Now we will be in a remote cabin for a week so we don’t have to bother with masks. We are well supplied.
My husband put up hooks by the back stairs to the garage to hold all of our masks. The latest ones I received this week were 5 masks from Johnny Was for $25 in pretty floral patterns. I probably have 15 or more masks and 3 neck gators I can use. Some of the masks fit better than others and I always wear the ones with a filter when I go grocery shopping.
Also my friend (the PHD biochemist researcher working on a Coronavirus vaccine) has said to leave your mask on the dashboard of your car in the sun for a few hours to clean it after going out.
@showmom858 --Neck gators, oh my! (the picture that comes to mind!)
I got the college kids’ masks in the mail yesterday. Still working on a batch for my sister and brother-in-law. I have a lot of quilting fabric but I did have to go out and get some cat/dog themed fabric requested by my son starting vet school. I got some Halloween fabric too but I held off making the masks with it just in case things get better. (Yes, I know I’ll be making them but had to have some wishful thinking).
I have several I made and I bought some for myself. One broke the day after I got it. The Vera Bradley one’s are nice but seem too loose on my face and fog my glasses. I got one I really liked that was a snoozies brand but a little small.
I have a small uv sterilizer lamp too.
@garland - these are neck gaiters not neck gators (haha!). My bad!
These are the ones that I have:
https://www.naturallife.com/accessories/shop-all-boho-bandeaus.html
I will have to let my wife know. We have a new Johnny Was down the block from us. Probably the only thing she can afford there… Lol
@momocarly I, too, need a break from masks. I really miss sewing my blankets and baby blankets. I had a whole bucket of masks that people were picking from and I think I’m down to about 10 --clearly the unpopular ones as they weren’t chosen. I started with all my fat quarts of animal prints and those went fast.
My brother has been going to a medical center for some treatments and they won’t let him wear a buff or bandana, and they give him a paper mask. I don’t know if they allow homemade masks but I don’t think they should. I think everyone going into a medical facility should wash their hands and put on a clean mask.
Please do not spray any chemicals on N95 masks, it breaks down the fibers. DH and I are mask wearers. DH wears the medical masks and I bought copper infused filter masks that are lightweight and hand wash easily. I dry them in the sun. (They dry in a couple of minutes here in Florida).
FYI. This site is a legitimate consortium of scientists and doctors from all over the world that share their findings on N95 decontamination:
(I know some folks who contributed; but proceed at your own risk).
I don’t know, but no, no special environment. Maybe it’s me. I can’t stand wearing a mask once it gets damp, which for me is 30-45 minutes. I literally change my mask in between every store and machine wash it between each use. It’s working for me - I haven’t had covid! In a more crowded environment, such as a school, I would rather DD play it safe and switch out periodically, and use hand sanitizer after switching. Whether she does as frequently as I do is up to her. For sure we’ll have some trial and error while she works out what is a good number of masks to carry. One doesn’t seem nearly enough. I envision her touching it and adjusting it all day long. At certain intervals it would be safer to assume it is contaminated, put it in the “used” pocket, and get a fresh one.
between work and home Ive personally probably blown through 4-500 masks since March. Sometimes ill go through 10-15 due to sweat, exposure, use. It has become second nature, like putting on socks or underwear.
Check out the flag at the top of the Space Needle in Seattle. 
On a road trip last week, I stopped for a photo op in Metropolis, IL. Yes, the giant Superman statue there was wearing a mask! Got some cute photos with my daughters.
Our state (KS) is requiring masks now, in indoor public places. I have not had to wear a mask very often. Now they are required everywhere. (My s-i-l sewed 500 cloth masks–she gave me a few). For some strange reason I tend to hold my breath when wearing a mask. I had a dizzy spell while shopping last week. Not loving it.
As I was leaving the grocery store, I “drew” a smile with my finger on my mask for the cashier and told her “I’m smiling”. I could tell by her eyes she liked it.
A friend posted a photo on FB of a big group at his home. Lots of kids and parents. Indoors, not a mask in sight. “Friends are special; friends whose kids are friends with your kids, so nice. Friends who want to raise their kids to love God and other people well, priceless.” ACK! I was very surprised at a couple of folks I recognized in the photo. So discouraging.
What always gets me is the accompanying comment by the Facebook poster who puts up photos of big maskless gatherings. “We only get together with the Smiths and the Jones because we know they are being very careful”
As if Covid is like food poisoning and if your friends wash their hands or counters down, the virus will magically not be in anyone’s exhalations