Co-MASK
Co-create DIY fabric masks to preserve our humanity through hope, humor, and hygiene!
For info and participation, please visit:
Contact via Facebook at fb.me/co.mask.community
#CoMASK
We invite you to join a global project to create fabric masks that promote hope, humanity, and hygiene practices in time of crisis. Collaborating across borders, we want to raise awareness about the risks of COVID-19 infection and the need for physical distancing, advocating solidarity.
Kiss and smile at a safe distance!
The project offers instructions in many languages for how to make masks in individual sizes. All you need are materials you will likely find at home: a cotton T-shirt, a kitchen cloth, and non-woven fabric. You do not need a sewing machine; scissors, thread, and needle will be enough. The masks are washable, have a nose clip, and allow you to insert a replaceable filter, such as a surgical mask. While the Co-MASK cannot prevent an infection with the Coronavirus, it offers some protection from larger droplets and prevents you from touching your face. We are currently translating the mask instructions into many languages–you are welcome to help. We hope to inspire you to create these masks for your family, friends, and your community. Please wash your hands and the masks before disseminating and be careful to distribute them without direct physical contact.
Create your own mask with a kiss and a smile, post it on social media with the hashtag #CoMASK
Co-MASK
Hope
Hygiene
Humanity
To hope is to envision a better future. To hope is to shape the future. To hope is to be human. The goal of Co-MASK is to inspire hope in a hard time and to unite us all through empathy, caring, sharing, and solidarity. These masks are a symbol of hope.
Tending to hygiene is an act of love, love for self and love for others. To protect yourself and shield others: keep a physical distance; disinfect your doorknobs, mail, food; make and gift masks. Wear your Co-MASK proudly.
Catastrophe is a time of opportunity to reach out in the spirit of humanity, to embrace all of humanity. Kindness, generosity, mercy, and empathy are measures of our humanity. Co-MASK aspires to unite humanity across the world, to build a global community, now and forever.
Materials
Before you start: Wash and dry all fabrics as hot as possible for designfection!
cotton pillowcase
or cotton kitchen towel
old cotton T-Shirt
or cotton-blend pijama
OUTSIDE LAYER
INSIDE LAYER
Nose clip option 1
Use food clips, for example, from coffee bags or cereal → cut long clips in ½ for 2 masks
Nose clip option 2
Aluminum foil
Take a sheet 3 x 3 hand width
Fold to a 1 pinky finger wide strip
Nose clip option 3
Pipe cleaners
Decorative wire protected
Office supply fasteners
Ties
Hair ties (long)
Elastic bands and cords
Decorative ribbons for presents
Cut out fabric
Home filters - Option 1
Non-woven fabric, such as cleansing wipes (wash+dry), fliese, or interfacing (the filling form the collar), or any disposable swiffer-type heavy-duty sweeper refills, unscented
HEPA fabric from Vacuum cleaners - Option 2
HEPA filter used for Vacuum cleaners. This filters particles size 1.0–0.3 μm, filtering capacity is similar to the N95 mask.
Use only new filters!
Air Conditioning MERV 13 filters - Option 3
MERV 13 filter used for air conditioners. This filters particles size 1.0–0.3 μm, filtering capacity is similar to the N95 mask.
Use only new filters!
Remove the cardboard and wiring, use just the soft part. You can cut the filters to the size of the mask to maximize the use (each filter can make ca. 4-8 masks)
Tools
Co-MASK SIMPLE
Hand-sewing, minimal tools & materials
CUT FABRIC
1.Cut a piece of cotton fabric into 34 x 20 cm
or 13 ½ in x 8in
If you don't have a measuring tape, use your fingers
Length: 7 x 3 fingers wide
Height: 3 x 4 fingers wide
34 cm = 13 ½ In
20 cm
= 8 In
7 x 3
3 x 4
FOLD + SEW
2. Fold the fabric in the middle.
3. Sew the seam using the using “back stitch” method. Sew only on 2 edges, 5cm = 2 in inwards.
1
3
3 fingers
= 5 cm
= 2 in
fold
folding axis
leave open
CUT TIES
4. Move the seam 3 fingers towards the middle.
5. Cut 2 ties of elastic band, each 5 x 3 fingers-wide, or 25 cm each = 9 ½ in
3
3
SEW TIES + SEAM
6. Insert the ties into the fabric loop. Stitch the tie ends onto the 4 corners.
7. Sew the seam on both sides of the fabric loop.
fold
CHIN DETAIL
8. Fold the mask along the middle.
9. Cut a triangle on the bottom corner, 3 fingers high, 1 finger wide
10. Unfold the mask and sew the hole together, shortening the bottom edge.
top
bottom
bottom
3
1
TOP AND BOTTOM FOLD
11. Turn the mask inside out.
12. Fold the top and bottom edge of the mask, 1 finger wide.
13. Sew the fold on 4 corners.
NOSE CLIP + LIPS
14. Insert the nose clip on the top of the mask. Stitch it to the inner side of the fabric (the side turned to y=the face)
15. Cut out the lips and back-stitch them to the center of the exterior fabric only. Make sure you don’t stitch through both fabrics: the inside needs to remain open, to be able to insert a filter.
Co-MASK BASIC
Hand-sewing, minimal tools & materials
Sewing Pattern
How to make the sewing pattern without a printer and a measuring tape
Trace your hand or the hand of the person who will be wearing the mask on the paper. Small hands will measure for small masks and big hands for big masks!
Mark these parts of your hand………..on the paper
Draw a straight line on the bottom of your hand
Mark a distance of 2x2 fingers away from your hand
Measure a distance away from the line 4 fingers wide
Mark that distance with a line
Start connecting the marked points
Continue creating the curve following your hand shape
Continue connecting the marked points on your index finger and middle finger
Close the curve
Cut paper along the black line
This line is the mask edge
This area is surplus in fabric to
be added, it will be folded inwards later
Sewing Process
How to make the Co-MASK Basic
EXTERNAL LAYER
1.Place the sewing pattern onto 2 layers of the cotton fabric (pillowcase or kitchen cloth)
2.Trace the sewing pattern with a pencil
EXTERNAL LAYER
3. Draw the surplus area (for folding over) → measure 2 fingers wide away from the mask edge
EXTERNAL LAYER
4. Draw the surplus area (for folding over) → measure 1 pinky finger wide seam allowance all around
EXTERNAL LAYER
5. Cut 2 layers fabric along the seam allowance line
INTERNAL LAYER
6. Repeat steps 1-5, but using 2 layers of old T-Shirt (cotton or cotton blend fabric)
2 LAYERS
If all went well, you should have 2 identical shapes of each fabric (so 4 pieces in total)
FRONT SEAM
7. Sew the front seam using “back stitch” method
8. Repeat the same step for the interior fabric
FRONT SEAM
9. Cut into the seam allowance (equal parts, 1,5 finger-wide) to prevent the fabric from pulling the seam, when you invert the fabric. Make sure you do not cut through the stitch!
10. Repeat set 9 for the interior layer
FRONT SEAM
11. Unfold the front layer, push the seam allowance to one side and sew over the seam (from the front, top seam) using simple “running stitch.” Ideally, use a thread of the same color like the fabric (I used red to make it more visible for instruction).
12. Repeat the step 11 for the interior layer
LIPS → KISS
13. Draw and cut a kiss or smile shape in paper
14. Trace the kiss on a colorful fabric
LIPS → KISS
15. Exterior layer. The lower lip should be ca. 2 fingers away from the bottom edge of the mask. Make sure the placement of the lips does not cover the nose area (would disturb inhalation).
16. Sew the lips on top of the exterior layer using “back stitch.”
LAYERING
17. Place the exterior and interior layer into each other, placing the seams to the outside (inside-out)
18. Pin the fabrics together along the seam line
SEWING THE LAYERS
19. Sew the exterior and interior layer together along the seam line.
Don’t forget to fold the surplus area inwards!
This area remains open, so you can insert changeable filters.
The exterior layer should protrude a bit more over the interior layer, to make the interior invisible once you invert the fabrics.
TOP STITCH LAYERS
20. Invert the layers inside out.
21. Insert the nose clip all the way to the top front layer and sew around it to hold it in place.
22. Sew along the top and bottom seam, to hold the fabrics in place and create a nicer seam.
ALMOST THERE!
If all went well, you should have a mask that looks like this.
ELASTIC HEAD ATTACHMENT
23.a) If you have a rubber strip, use it to create the fixture around your head. Place the mask on your head and measure how much rubber strip you need to keep it attached on your head, with slightly stretched rubber strip.
24.a) Create 2 rubber strip attachments, for the top and bottom of the mask.
FABRIC HEAD ATTACHMENT
23.b) If you have don’t have a rubber strip, use your exterior layer (non-elastic) to create the 4 ribbons for tying the mask around your head.
24.b) Cut 4 fabric strip attachments, and sew them on the 4 corners of the mask.
INSERT FILTER
25. Use a layer of non-woven fabric, such as:
Disseminate
How to disseminate your Co-MASKs in your community
Wash
Use
Gift
Share / Care
Caution!
To disinfect your mask, wash with hot water when completed. Then let dry. Wash the mask after every use.
Put your mask on in case you get sick, to protect others from getting infected. If you are healthy, use the mask when you go outside.
Gift your mask to those in need. Before you give someone a mask, make sure you are not infected with the virus. Print the Co-MASK wrapping paper to protect the mask and share the sewing pattern and instructions.
Take a picture of yourself wearing the mask and post it on social media using #Co-Mask. Add positive and hopeful messages to inspire your community! If you don’t know what to write, copy+paste our message of “Hope + Hygiene + Humanity” and invite others to co-create!
Avoid infection risks when taking off the mask 1) DO NOT touch the front of the mask that absorbed contagious particles. 2) DO NOT touch your face without your hands being disinfected first. Take the mask off from the back of the head and dispose it for washing immediately. Then, wash your hands with soap thoroughly (at least 20 sec.).