Face masks: Can you make one using items you have at home?

On Tuesday 22 September, Boris Johnson implemented a raft of new rules around wearing face masks in England.

Speaking at the House of Commons, the prime minister announced that from Monday 28 September,  people will have to wear face masks when moving around hospitality businesses, such as walking to their table or visiting the toilet. Anyone not wearing a mask where it is mandatory to do so will face a penalty fine of £200 for a first-time offence.

People were already required to wear a face covering in shops and supermarkets, as well as on public transport.

Mr Johnson added that the rule will also be extended to taxis and  private hire vehicles and stated that the country had reached a “perilous turning point”. 

Despite the rules, surgical-grade masks should still be prioritised for health and care workers and members of the public urged to find alternatives like DIY masks or shop-bought.

A number of independent brands, including Rewritten, have started to manufacture their own versions, with many benefiting charities too, but there’s nothing to stop you from making your own, even if you cannot sew.

The government has even published its own guide to making masks following the publication of its roadmap and strategy for the next phase of the pandemic.

Whether you're handy with a sewing machine or simply want a quick fix, you can make do with what you have around your home, from old T-shirts and tea towels to single socks

When it comes to which fabrics to use, researchers at Cambridge University found that cotton T-shirts and cotton pillowcases are the best at-home materials for making DIY face masks, due to their ability to capture small particles while remaining breathable.

Here is everything you need to know about different types of face masks and step-by-step instructions on how to make them.

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You will need:

Step 1: Cut a straight line across the width of the T-shirt (front and back) approximately 20cm from the bottom of the T-shirt.

Step 2: From a point 2cm below the top right-hand corner of the fabric, make a 15cm horizontal cut through both sides of the fabric that is parallel to the top of the rectangle.

Step 3: Cut down towards the bottom of the fabric until you reach approximately 2cm above the bottom edge. From here, make another 15cm cut that runs parallel to the bottom of the fabric to make a rectangle that can be discarded.

Step 4: To make the ties, cut open the edge of the 2 long strips of fabric. Unfold the main piece of fabric and place over the mouth and the nose. The 4 strips act as ties to hold the cloth face covering in place and should be tied behind the head and around the neck.

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You will need:

Step 1: Cut out two 25cm x 25cm squares of cotton fabric. Stack the 2 squares on top of each other.

Step 2: Fold over one side by 0.75cm and hem, then repeat on the opposite side. Make 2 channels by folding the double layer of fabric over 1.5cm along each side and stitching this down.

Step 3: Run a 20cm length of elastic (or string or cloth strip) through the wider hem on each side of the face covering. These will be the ear loops. Use a large needle to thread it through. Tie the ends tightly.If you only have string, you can make the ties longer and tie the covering behind your head.

Step 4: Gently pull on the elastic so that the knots are tucked inside the hem. Gather the sides of the covering on the elastic and adjust so the covering fits your face. Then securely stitch the elastic in place to keep it from slipping. These elastic loops fit over the ears.

You will need:

Step 1: Lay the piece of fabric out flat and fold in half so that the top and bottom meet in the middle. Fold the bandana in half again so that there are now four layers of fabric.

Step 2: Use two hair ties to create ear loops. Slip one hair tie over each of the ends and move a few inches toward the centre of the folded bandana.

Step 3: Fold the ends of the bandana in to meet in the middle. The ends should overlap slightly so you can tuck one end into the other to help keep them secure.

Step 4: Gently pull on the elastic and adjust so the covering fits your face. Then place the elastic loops over the ears.

You will need:

Step 1: Fold the sock in half and cut off the toe and ankle sections.

Step 2: Open up the sock and cut down the edge opposite to the heel.

Step 3: Fold the sock in half again and cut into the heel’s edge by about two thirds and about 2cm from the ends.

Step 4: Open out the sock completely and trim off the corners into curves.

Step 5: Loop the cut outs around your ears and cover your nose and mouth with the rest of the sock. The heel should fit securely over your nose.

The  government has made it mandatory for people to wear face masks when they are in shops, such as supermarkets and banks, when using public transport and when moving around hospitality businesses.

The guidelines state that face coverings can help reduce the risk of transmission in some circumstance. “Face coverings are not intended to help the wearer, but to protect against inadvertent transmission of the disease to others if you have it asymptomatically,” the advice reads.

If you are going to wear a face mask, it is important that you know how to wear it properly, otherwise the mask is redundant.

The government states that a cloth face covering should cover your mouth and nose while allowing you to breathe comfortably.

The World Health Organisation has provided the following steps for anyone wearing a face covering:

You should wash a cloth face covering regularly. It can go in with other laundry, using your normal detergent.

“These should ideally be washed after every use in a washing machine, if possible,” Dr Shoshana Ungerleider, an internal medicine physician with Sutter Health, told CBS News.

More delicate masks that are handsewn may need to be washed by hand. If so, masks should be lathered with soap and scrubbed for at least 20 seconds with warm to hot water.