Here is the best design we figured out this weekend for a very simple, bad sewer’s bandana mask. #Masks4All You will need a bandana, needle and thread (or use electrical tape but it won’t be as washable for long periods), a wire, and ideally a filter. 1/
Take your bandana. You don’t have to iron it (mom would be horrified, I know, it doesn’t matter). /2 
Fold it in half. The edges don’t have to meet up. That’s okay too. Bandanas are rarely perfectly square. 3/
Now add the wire. This is 2.5 inch 14 gauge copper wire pounded flat and sanded smooth(ends up around 3 inches). You can also use another heavy but bendable wire (like from chinese take out), but make sure the ends are bent over and the whole thing is covered in electrical tape 4
Wire goes at the top of the fold. Make a tiny pocket for it and sew it in (didn’t bother to wrap the sanded copper wire, doesn’t need it). 5/
Sew the pocket like so 6/
Now fold up the inner bandana once, then once more. This is to make extra layers over the face and to make a pocket for a filter. 7/
Now sew one end and then the top of the pocket (don’t sew the other end!) 8/
Now add the filter. We got a 3M heating filter and deconstructed it carefully, marking the intake side with a sharpie. One filter has a ton of material. 9/
Now cut the filter to fit the pocket. I mark facing out and the color, because each bandana ends up being a little different. Stuff the filter in the pocket. Bigger hands might have more trouble so might want to make a bigger pocket when you first fold it. 10/
Finally, bend the nose piece before you put it on, and then carefully bend it to fit 11/
bandana mask with 4 layers of 100% cotton, filter, a fitted nose piece for tighter fit and reduce adjustments, and a long front piece to tuck in the collar so you will be less tempted to reach under the mask. Wash and replace filter with every use. And stay in as much as you can.
Lots of other simple no sewing ideas around too! It will not make you invulnerable but it will be effective in protecting others from you if you don’t touch your face and wash your hands too. 😄😷 /fin
