I thought with the unprecedented times ahead of all of us and for what seems to be an extended period of time and with the shortage of face masks, I thought I'd post a DIY Face Mask.
Now to make it clear, no face mask gives the wearer 100% protection. These face masks are based (replicas) on/of Surgical Masks. As my Doctor said (apart from me getting uglier, out of shape, give up the smokes and the JD) he did say that any extra line of defence is a good thing, even if it gives you ?? % better odds than not wearing one at all.
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So , , , , to start (oh no, the commas are back)
You shall require:
* A piece of breathable fine material (the finer the better and water proof/resistant is even better). Even resourcing Vacuum Cleaner Bags and using the material from that works. Play around with the measurements of the material and elastic as you prefer and personal preference.
Google material as you see fit to find the best possible material that you are happy to use.
* A length of elastic. 2 X 25cm
* Bendable wire, garden twist wire works well.
* Wire cutters/pliers
* Scissors
* Glue Gun. If you have access to a sewing machine AND someone that can use it, even better.
Place the material longest length upwards. Place a piece of the bendable wire (with ends turned over so to avoid sharp points) at the top, about 1cm down from the top.
Hem (fold over) the top and glue (or sew) down. This conceals the bendable wire and adds strength to the cut edge. Do this (hem) with the bottom edge as well but without the wire.
The bendable wire allows you to mould the top part of the mask around the nose, to seal off any gaps.
Working your way down the material, fold horizontal pleats and glue in place by only gluing on the edge of the pleat NOT the horizontal length of the pleat. A note: Glue both sides of the pleat by turning the mask over and gluing the underside of the pleat. If sewing, the sewing does this automatically.
To make the mask look more professional, I iron the finished pleats. Place a paper towel under the material and another paper towel on top of the material. This with stop the hot glue sticking to the iron.
Glue (or cross stitch) the ends of the elastic as shown, approx 1 cm in from the end. Repeat this for the other side of the mask.
Hem (fold) and glue down the ends, as shown.
And the Face Mask is now complete. I didn't "model" the mask as my ugly nogg'n is the last thing you people need to see (as my Doctor mentioned about me getting uglier)
You can make them if you wish, or not at all. I have made a fair few and given them to family and close friends.
A note:
They say that these hard times are similar to that of what the population went through during WW I, WW II and The Spanish Flu (1918-19).
Our Fore-fathers and Fore-mothers did us proud
, , , , let's do them justice and make them proud of us 
I wish you all the best and wish you all to stay safe through these trying and testing times.
Cheers, Bugatti
