The mission...

The mission of Colorado Crafting for a Cause is to ensure that those who need items that cannot be manufactured by normal means get those items. We are a grass roots, volunteer group that does not charge for the items we make, if we can help it. These materials come from the well loved stashes of sewists, crocheters and knitters all over the state to help those in need, during their time of need. From BatWraps to critter pouches and masks for Health Care Personnel, when it comes to fiber crafts; we can do it all.

Other ways to help:

Purchasing Polypropylene and donating fabric to someone sewing near you!

https://forms.gle/jFpHrk6QdKLhsXrk9

Can't Sew and want to help? There are plenty of ways to help us out. We need drivers, fabric cutters and pick up drivers.

https://forms.gle/1QaRJX7wT5T7MXqBA

DISCLAIMER: This face mask is not meant to replace the surgical face mask or the N95, it is a contingency plan for those who have no available surgical mask in the field or as a second layer of protection for those being asked to re-use surgical and/or N95 masks with multiple patients. These are NOT medical grade and have not been individually tested. Use at your own risk.

Which patterns are approved?

https://www.craftpassion.com/face-mask-sewing-pattern/

https://www.deaconess.com/How-to-make-a-Face-Mask/Documents-Mask/Mask-Information

#1 Craft Passion All-in-One w/ Integrated Polypropylene Filter :

● Cut out template: http://www.craftpassion.com/?p=26304

● Instructions: https://www.craftpassion.com/face-mask-sewing-pattern/

WHY?

● Integrated Polypropylene Filter

● Approved by Multiple facilities in CO

● Lies flat for sterilization in an autoclave

● Fits Close to Face (simulating N95 mask design)

● Does not Need a metal clip for nose

● Fewer Materials → Fast Production

#2 Pocket Mask w/ Removable filter

● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHvghyn314U&list=WL&index=36&t=0s

● Super fast version:

https://www.facebook.com/stephen.folker/videos/10158315830263816/?hc_location=ufi

WHY?

● Filter Provided - Polypropylene

● Provider can remove and replace Polypropylene filter with N95 filter

where available

#3 Cloth Mask No Filter

● https://tinyurl.com/tgfungt

WHY?

● Suitable as a cover for N95 or Surgical Mask Cover when PPE is being re-used

● Contingency plan for those who have no available medical grade PPE.

What happens if I want to donate a mask but used a different pattern or material? Can you use them?

Yes. We will match donated masks according to the needs of different providers and donate

them accordingly. For example, 100% fabric masks are not ideal for medical environments if

alternatives are available, but we may be able to give them to a veterinary clinic in exchange

for higher grade masks or medical providers can wear them over N95 masks when they

are asked to re-wear masks throughout their shifts.

What kind of materials does COC4C recommend?

Craft Passion All-In-One with Polypropylene Filter:

● Outer layer: 100% cotton or cotton polyester blend in a different color than the inner layer

● Double layer filter sewn into mask: non-woven 100% polypropylene

● Inner layer: 100% cotton or cotton polyester blend in a contrasting color

Pocket Mask with Removable Filter: (Disposable Filter)

● Outer layer: 100% cotton or cotton polyester blend in a different color than the inner layer

● Removable filter: Vacuum cleaner bag (these filters are not washable so they are suitable for

pocket mask design only )

● Inner layer: 100% cotton or cotton polyester blend in a contrasting color

Pocket Mask with Removable Filter:: (Reusable Filter)

● Outer layer: 100% cotton or cotton polyester blend in a different color than the inner layer

● Filter: Polypropylene tacked in place, does not need to be removable because the filter can go through the

sterilization process with the mask.

● Inner layer: 100% cotton or cotton polyester blend in a light color

Cloth Mask No Filter:

● Outer layer: Cotton or Polyester blend in a different color than the inner layer

● Inner layer: Cotton or Polyester blend in a contrasting color

What kind of elastic should I use?

1st choice: ¼ inch flat elastic or cord elastic

2nd choice: thicker braided elastic cut into ¼ inch strips (note that woven elastic will fray more than braided and should be cauterized by quickly running it over a candle flame or using fray check on the exposed edge)

3rd choice: hair ties, ¼ inch sport head bands, any other elastic that is comfortable behind the ears or behind the head and can be washed and dried on high heat.

DO NOT USE if donating: rubber bands, super thin elastic that will cut into the skin, neoprene or swimsuit material. Latex allergies can cross react with peanut allergies and we cannot be sure who these are going to during this time.

What if I can’t find elastic?

Use or make cotton strips called bias tape. Bias tape is a strip cut out of woven fabric (like quilting cotton) diagonally so that it has a little bit of stretch. These are NOT used as elastic, rather in long strips to tie in a bow. Search for YouTube tutorials for “Double fold bias tape”. A bias tape maker can be purchased for less than $10. You can also use shoelaces, ribbon, or other materials that tie comfortably behind the head and can be washed and dried at high heat. Be sure to secure the end so that the ties do not fray after being washed. Ties are 18 inches long to accommodate for all head sizes.

Why is cotton and cotton/polyester blend the preferred fabric?

This comes from a 2013 study from the University of Oxford called “Testing the Efficacy of Homemade Masks: Would They Protect in an Influenza Pandemic?” It found that cotton blend fabric masks (woven) blocked about 70% of bacteriophage MS2 virus particles, which is similar in size to COVID-19 particles.

Source: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/258525804_Testing_the_Efficacy_of_Homemade_Masks_Would_They_Protect_in_an_Influenza_Pandemic Davies, Anna & Thompson, Katy-Anne & Giri, Karthika & Kafatos, George & Walker, James & Bennett, Allan. (2013). Testing the Efficacy of Homemade Masks: Would They Protect in an Influenza Pandemic?. Disaster medicine and public health preparedness. 7. 413-418.10.1017/dmp.2013.43.

Why does the color of the fabric matter?

It doesn't generally. patterns can be fun for patients and wearers. Using a lighter colored fabric on the inside of the mask allows folks to see more easily if the mask needs to be washed. Contrasting outer and inner fabric helps indicate which side has touched your face so that it can be used the same way every time.

When making masks for assisted living and Memory Care facilities please be aware that dark or black fabrics may look like a void in the face to the patient and can scare them or further confuse them causing problems and physical reaction to the person wearing the mask.

What does it mean for fabric to have a “tight weave”?

Woven fabric is a grid of threads that run horizontally and vertically. The weave refers to how tight these threads are, or how much space is between them. If you hold woven fabrics up to the light, you will see a grid of pinprick dots. The smaller these dots are, the tighter the weave. The tighter the weave, the more large droplet particles (like from sneezing) will be prevented from passing through. Thread count in sheets refers to the number of threads that run in one direction per square inch. The higher the thread count, the tighter the weave.

What does non-woven mean?

Non-woven fabric, unlike woven and knit fabrics, is not created using threads on a loom. It is created by spraying fibers (natural or synthetic) at a surface so that they are evenly distributed, and then fusing them together with heat and or chemicals. When you hold non-woven fabric up to the light, you will not see continuous vertical and horizontal threads, and you should not see pinprick holes that go all the way through the fabric. There are still “holes” in the fabric that allow air and/or light to pass through, but they are too small for the eye to distinguish. Non-woven materials create a better filter than woven materials for this reason, because the size of the particles that are able to pass through is smaller. Non-woven fabric may be printed with a pattern or not, in which case you should see lot of little fibers if you hold it up to the light.

What is Polypropylene?

POLYPROPYLENE (PP) is a "meltblasted" fabric. It is made by spraying melted polypropylene strands onto a belt. Then it is layered, glued and heated until bonded and vaccum formed. This prevents the fabric from having a set weave and makes it waterproof, blood/body fluid proof durable but breathable. This prevents the sputum and mucus containing virulent particles from escaping as rapidly before they are absorbed into the cotton and "caught" until sterilization.

(Note: just because you are using polypropylene as a filter does not mean your mask is as effective as an N-95 respirator. Not even close. The effectiveness of an N-95 is due to a number of factors: the tight seal it creates around the nose and mouth, hydrophilic plastic coating on the outside of the mask, stringent fit testing, and a high-tech polypropylene filter that is treated with copper and zinc ions.

Source:https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf12/K122702.pdf

Polyester in the threads and cotton make this able to withstand repeated UV autoclave sterilization. Polyester can withstand 12 months of high intensity UV before beginning to degrade. At 67% integrity polycotton and polyester fibers were still viable as mask options for an additional 3 months.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5906272/

It is also the preferred material for many kinds of reusable shopping bags and promotional swag bags because it is really cheap, so you may already have some at your house. It is currently being tested to determine/confirm that it can filter particles down to .5 microns in size (not yet confirmed as of 4/1/2020).

Can I use reusable grocery bags, landscaping fabric, or other kinds of polypropylene?

Maybe. Go through these steps to check whether a fabric you have on hand can be used as a filter:

1) Do your best to confirm that it is 100% polypropylene. Check the label, or Google the manufacturer. Look for the words 100% polypropylene, spun-bond polypropylene, or melt-blown polypropylene.

2) Only use non-woven fabric. There are some kinds of polypropylene that are spun into threads and woven. Hold a piece of the fabric up to the light. If you see a pinprick pattern of light dots and a grid of horizontal and vertical strands, it is woven. If you can see dots of light, these are holes through which larger particles will be able to pass.

3) Do not use polypropylene that is shiny on one side and fabric-like on the other. Only use the kind that is more like fabric on both sides. Many reusable shopping bags have a shiny coating on one side.

4) If you want to be extra sure, test the fabric at high heat, such as boiling it or putting it in the dryer on high heat. If you have access to an autoclave, try putting it in with a cotton cover to protect it from UV degradation. Make sure that it does not burn, melt, smell like burning plastic, or distort in shape.

How many layers of polypropylene should I use?

If using standard Polypropylene , we recommend two layers. For other kinds of polypropylene, layer the fabric until minimal light comes through when you hold it up to a light. Confirm that you can still breathe easily through all of the layers, plus two layers of cotton or cotton/polyester blend before continuing.

Can I use interfacing or quilt backing as a filter?

Yes. Most interfacing is nonwoven fabric, giving it better filtration than just using woven cotton.

However, most interfacing is made of polyester, which does not have the same moisture-wicking properties as polypropylene. Some kinds of interfacing are made of other synthetic fabrics like viscose, which can melt, burn, or catch fire at high heat. Do not use interfacing if you cannot confirm that it is 100% polyester or 100% polypropylene. Iron-on interfacing should be ironed to the mask fabric first to prevent distortion at high heat. Double check that you can still breathe through the ironed-on filter. Thinner kinds of interfacing may also be used for making single use surgical caps, one layer without cotton.

These materials have been tested and won't combust or deform during an autoclave high-heat sterilization process/industrial isolation wash.

● Pellon Shirt Tailor 950F

● Cambric Interfacing.

Can I just make a mask entirely of vacuum cleaner bag?

No.

There are several reasons to hesitate when making vacuum cleaner bag/filter masks. Paper fibers cannot get wet and will not stand up to high heat during washing or sterilization. This means vacuum cleaner bags can only be used once unless you have access to a UV sterilization machine that does not require water, soap, or heat. This also means you typically can’t wash or sterilize them before giving them to another person. Therefore this type of mask is not suitable for donation because we cannot ensure that it was made under sterile conditions and it cannot be sterilized. The stiff nature of a vacuum cleaner bag may also make the mask wearer more likely to touch their face while readjusting the mask, potentially aiding the spread of the virus.

Vacuum bags and HEPA rated filters are not approved for use because of their materials. HEPA rated filters are manufactured using spun borosilicate glass. Microscopic glass shards can and will penetrate the respiratory tract, lungs and alveoli of the wearer causing damage and irritation.

Should I use wire or pipe cleaner along the nose?

10 gauge aluminum wire is preferred. The point of adding wire to a mask is to increase the tightness of the fit to the face, decreasing air space for particles to enter. If using a pattern that has a rounded cut like our top choice pattern, this will add minimal extra contouring as the pattern is already designed to fit more closely to the face than a rectangular pattern. You might consider adding wire to rectangular mask patterns to improve the fit of the mask. You can do this by inserting the wire after you have turned the seam right side out, and then sewing an additional line of thread beneath the wire and to the sides to secure it in place. Another way to achieve a tighter fit to the face is to add double darts at the nose and chin of the mask.

**Note that you will need to increase the length of elastic in a rectangular pattern so that it doesn’t sit too tightly on the ears. If you want to add darts to masks that have already been made, double check that it doesn’t make the elastic too tight.

Washing/Sterilizing Instructions

Autoclave Sterilization: The melting point for the polypropylene filter is 160°C/320°F. Standard operating temperature for Heat Autoclaves is 250°F. Recommend masks be double bagged, freestanding on stainless tray with minimal water added 700-750ml. If your mask includes elastic straps, they may not withstand UV autoclave sterilization. The WHO recommends heating to greater than 212°F for 2-5 min.

Home Washing: Masks can be washed in standard washing cycle, for extended use, it is recommended to wash gentle cycle and dry low or air dry.

Facilities with Isolation cycles: masks can withstand regular washing via this cycle but it is not recommended for long term (6 month+) usage

If you do not have access to a washer and dryer, hand washing with soap in hot water and air drying is acceptable.

The preferred method to sterilize them is to dampen them and put them inside a freezer-weight Ziploc style bag then drop them on to a steamer basket in a pot of boiling water for 15+ minutes. Mask needs to be slightly damp in order to create steam inside the bag. You do not want a pool of water inside the bag to prevent bag from popping.

Instapot instructs to place items in silicone/metal steamer, on steam function with 700-750ml water. Newer models have dedicated sanitize button.

Store your masks individually in quart sized bags to reduce the possibility of them being damaged or contaminated, or further contaminating items if they've been worn.

How to properly put on and remove your mask

Putting your mask on:

1. Clean your hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer before touching the mask.

2. Remove a mask from the bag and make sure there are no obvious tears or holes in either side of the mask.

3. Determine which side of the mask is the top.

4. Determine which side of the mask is the front.

5. Follow the instructions below for the type of mask you are using.

   • Face Mask with Ear loops: Hold the mask by the ear loops. Place a loop around each ear.

   • Face Mask with Ties: Bring the mask to your nose level and place the ties over the crown of your head and secure with a bow.

   • Face Mask with Bands: Hold the mask in your hand with the nosepiece or top of the mask at fingertips, allowing the headbands to hang freely below hands. Bring the mask to your nose level and pull the top strap over your head so that it rests over the crown of your head. Pull the bottom strap over your head so that it rests at the nape of your neck.

6. Mold or pinch the stiff edge to the shape of your nose, if your mask has a nose wire.

7. If using a face mask with ties: Then take the bottom ties, one in each hand, and secure with a bow at the nape of your neck.

8. Pull the bottom of the mask over your mouth and chin.

Removing your mask:

1. Clean your hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer before touching the mask. Avoid touching the front of the mask. The front of the mask is contaminated. Only touch the ear loops/ties/band. Follow the instructions below for the type of mask you are using.

   • Face Mask with Ear loops: Hold both of the ear loops and gently lift and remove the mask.

   • Face Mask with Ties: Untie the bottom bow first then untie the top bow and pull the mask away from you as the ties are loosened.

   • Face Mask with Bands: Lift the bottom strap over your head first then pull the top strap over your head.

2. You can lightly spray the mask with a 70% alcohol solution if out and about. Let this completely dry before placing it back on your face.

3. Place your mask in a quart bag until it can be cleaned, if it is no longer needed.

4. Clean your hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer.