Joann Fabrics will ship you 100% cotton fabric in a somewhat timely fashion. It might not be the print you ordered, and it may come in lengths that add up to your yardage but are not in one piece. But, within a few days, you’ll have fabric. I have heard Joann Fabrics has some free fabric kits for this that they give out to people making masks to donate, but they run in limited supply so I would suggest calling your local Joann Fabrics to see what is available. I used a nice, sturdy 100% woven cotton for the outside, and a 100% cotton flannel for the inner pouch of the mask. For the non-woven layer to place inside the mask pouch, I understand Pellon 40 interfacing is a good option.
I have heard people sometimes run into trouble sourcing the elastic. I was able to find 1/4 inch flat elastic through an independent Seller on Etsy—that’s a great place to check for supplies. I used this vendor for my order and it all went really smoothly.
Here is the how-to video I used for my first batch of masks:
Local to Kitsap County, the Harrison Foundation has a page on what types of help and donations are the most helpful right now including instructions for mask making on the type they need.
Below is a picture of my mask project as it neared completion. I’m excited to try a new pattern for another organization to donate to next.
Written by Betsy Schairer. For more information about Betsy or to contact her, visit her profile on our team page here.
Photos by Betsy Schairer