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How To Make a Face Cover To Prevent Spread of Coronavirus
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging everyone to wear mask covers in public places to prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).
Every person should wear a cloth facial covering while in a public place, except when taking part in outdoor physical activities.
Face coverings should not be worn by children under the age of two or by people who have trouble breathing, are unconscious, incapacitated or unable to remove the mask without assistance.
Learn more about the CDC recommendation here.
Here’s further instructions on how to make face covers.
Sewn Cloth Face Covering
- Cut out two 10-by-6-inch rectangles of cotton fabric. Use tightly woven cotton, such as quilting fabric or cotton sheets. T-shirt fabric will work in a pinch. Stack the two rectangles; you will sew the mask as if it was a single piece of fabric.
- Fold over the long sides ¼ inch and hem. Then fold the double layer of fabric over ½ inch along the short sides and stitch down.
- Run a 6-inch length of 1/8-inch wide elastic through the wider hem on each side of the mask. These will be the ear loops. Use a large needle or a bobby pin to thread it through. Tie the ends tight.
Don’t have elastic? Use hair ties or elastic head bands. If you only have string, you can make the ties longer and tie the mask behind your head. - Gently pull on the elastic so that the knots are tucked inside the hem. Gather the sides of the mask on the elastic and adjust so the mask fits your face. Then securely stitch the elastic in place to keep it from slipping.
Bandana Face Covering (no sew method)
- Cut a coffee filter in half.
- Fold a bandana in half or a 20”x20” square cotton cloth.
- Place the top half of the coffee filter in the center of the folded bandana or cotton cloth.
- Fold top down. Fold bottom up.
- Place rubber bands or hair ties about 6 inches apart around the bandana/cotton cloth.
- Fold the sides to the middle and tuck tightly.
(Photo credit: USA Today)
