The Plague Diaries: Masks and Dinosaurs, With a Basket
A couple weeks ago, I wanted masks for going out in public. The CDC, for whatever reason, wasn't encouraging people to wear them yet, and I couldn't imagine why. They would certainly catch saliva and mucus from people coughing, and thereby slow or even stop the spread of the virus. Even if it turned out they didn't help at all, they wouldn't HURT. It seemed stupid not to wear them.
But of course, you can't buy masks anywhere.
I set out to make some. I'm a rotten tailor and hate sewing, but there are ways around that. First, I tried ordering some big handkerchiefs online to make into masks. When they arrived, I washed them, and they shrank and were too small. Hmm. Next, I sacrificed two old t-shirts by cutting them off just under the arms and then cutting the seams apart so I had four large pieces of cloth. I also cut the elastic top off some older socks. I folded the cloths the long way twice and threaded the sock tops through them and, with a little folding, created a perfectly serviceable mask with comfy stretchy cloth that fit over my ears. The only problem with these masks is that they're heavy and they tend to slip.
Today on an online community bulletin board, I saw a notice from a local seamstress. She was willing to make masks for $5 each. I texted her and ordered six. A couple hours later, she texted back to say they were ready. So that we wouldn't have to see each other face-to-face, she gave instructions about the hand-off.
I drove to the address. Her house was easy to find because on the front porch was a six-foot-tall Jurassic Park velociraptor. It was wearing a huge surgical mask, and over one of its arms was slung a basket. Inside the basket was a plastic bag containing the masks and an envelope. I put a check into the envelope, took the bag of masks, and left, feeling like I had just run a drug deal via ALICE IN WONDERLAND.
These masks are nicely-made and neatly pleated, with strong ties. They're currently in the washer, just in case, and then they'll be ready to go!
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But of course, you can't buy masks anywhere.
I set out to make some. I'm a rotten tailor and hate sewing, but there are ways around that. First, I tried ordering some big handkerchiefs online to make into masks. When they arrived, I washed them, and they shrank and were too small. Hmm. Next, I sacrificed two old t-shirts by cutting them off just under the arms and then cutting the seams apart so I had four large pieces of cloth. I also cut the elastic top off some older socks. I folded the cloths the long way twice and threaded the sock tops through them and, with a little folding, created a perfectly serviceable mask with comfy stretchy cloth that fit over my ears. The only problem with these masks is that they're heavy and they tend to slip.
Today on an online community bulletin board, I saw a notice from a local seamstress. She was willing to make masks for $5 each. I texted her and ordered six. A couple hours later, she texted back to say they were ready. So that we wouldn't have to see each other face-to-face, she gave instructions about the hand-off.
I drove to the address. Her house was easy to find because on the front porch was a six-foot-tall Jurassic Park velociraptor. It was wearing a huge surgical mask, and over one of its arms was slung a basket. Inside the basket was a plastic bag containing the masks and an envelope. I put a check into the envelope, took the bag of masks, and left, feeling like I had just run a drug deal via ALICE IN WONDERLAND.
These masks are nicely-made and neatly pleated, with strong ties. They're currently in the washer, just in case, and then they'll be ready to go!
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