Cloth face coverings should not be placed on children younger than two years of age because they might struggle to signal if they were having trouble breathing and would be unable to remove the mask by themselves. If an older child has physical or mental delays that would make it difficult to signal difficulty breathing or remove the mask themselves, consult their healthcare provider before putting a mask on them.
Most children over 2 years of age should be fine wearing a cloth mask, though it may take some getting used to. Practice for short periods of time in a setting where social distancing is easy to maintain. Remind them to try not to touch their face or fiddle with the mask.
We try to make all our masks for younger children with ear loops to avoid strangulation hazards. If a child has a mask with ties, remind them that it is not a toy and do not leave them unattended with their mask.
We suggest high quality quilter’s cotton with a high thread count. Ideally, it should be tightly woven 100% cotton, but fabric with at least 60% cotton can be used. If you are unsure of the weave, you can use the light test. Hold the fabric up to the light, if you can see light coming through gaps, the weave is not tight enough.
Bias tape is a strip of fabric cut along the bias and folded in on itself to hide the raw edges. It can be used for finishing edges and creating ties. Traditionally bias tape is cut along the bias to give it stretch, but for our purposes in mask making this stretch is not important so strips cut from selvage to selvage can be used. Often bias tape is purchased in packages, but it can be made at home with just an iron or with the help of a bias tape maker. We have 3D printed bias tape makers that you can pick up with your supplies.
Absolutely! Some organizations or invididuals are not particular with regard to mask style or pattern, so we can find a grateful recipient for your creations. However, when you donate masks, we ask that you let us know which pattern you used and how many total masks you are donating. Additionally, it is helpful for us to know the fabric content, whether the mask has a filter pocket or nose wire, and whether any of the elastic contains latex.
Children’s masks must be made with ear loops of either elastic or something stretchy like t-shirt yarn.
For adult masks, either is fine, unless specifically specified in on the request. If you use elastic, please note whether or not it contains latex, as it is a common allergen. Rubber bands are not recommended.
Here are some suggestions for materials to use to make ties:
- Bias tape (we also have some generously donated 3D printed bias tape makers available for volunteers)
- T-shirt yarn https://youtu.be/vOG08W0A5Ow
- Paracord
- Grosgrain ribbon
- Shoe laces
- Hair ties
- Crocheted chains of yarn
- Twill tape
- Fleece strips
Make sure to secure the ends of your ties to avoid fraying.
You are not required to include wire unless specifically mentioned on the request. If you do not have wire, you may simply leave it out or include a space for the recipient to include a wire if they choose to add it.
All nose wires must be removable for safe washing. Washing can cause wire to rust or poke through the fabric making holes in the mask, so it is better to remove wire before laundering.
We have a lot of supplies to use for nose wires, including chenille stem, bell wire, twist ties, pieces cut from aluminum take-out trays, and others. Make sure that any sharp end won’t poke through. You may need to file ends or coat wire in tape to blunt the ends.
If you sew, we suggest that you consult he 'Make' page to explore our patterns and procedures. Information about fabric and supplies can be found on this page or in the individual tutorials. If you are interested in helping but do not sew, there are opportunities for drivers, outreach team members, translators, organizers, fabric preparation assistants, and accessory crafters as well. Click on 'Volunteer' to get involved!
When they are no longer needed for making masks, we donate our supplies to Montgomery County Public Schools for use in arts and crafts programs. We have already donated fabric and supplies the costume shops and art programs of several area high schools and as part of our Zero Waste Initiative, any resources in appropriate for school use are donated elsewhere. For example, heavily used fabric has been donated to a local pet rescue. If you are an educator looking for specific arts and crafts supplies, please let us know!
Wash before first use. If your masks contain a filter or metal nose pieces, please remove before washing the mask. We cannot confirm the type of quality of added filters. Check nose pieces regularly for signs of damage and rust. Do not microwave masks or metal pieces.
Washing and drying on hot should adequately sanitize your mask after use. For more information, please refer to the CDC website - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-to-wash-cloth-face-coverings.html.