Requesting Masks

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Our goal is to provide the most vulnerable in our population with an no-cost option when certified masks are not available. We prefer to give to groups not individuals such as:

  • nursing home and hospice residents and staff
  • unhoused folks via social services groups
  • grocery workers
  • delivery staff

This project currently facilitates two kinds of mask making, Crafty Made and Community Made.

Shortcuts

Don’t Know What You Want? Get Help

Show me mask options

I know the mask I want from the community

Help from Crafty

I am available to help you figure it out. Here’s what Rachel AKA Crafty, can offer:

  • Design and prototype masks in collaboration with you for community production.
  • Small production runs (approx 50 masks per run) of the design you approve. We make masks regularly sanitized facilities and equipment at Ace Monster Toys Makerspace.
  • We can help promote your needs to the greater Bay Area Maker community, including the 150+ Ace Monster Toys Makerspace membership. This ensures that more than just one sewist or maker is working to meet your needs. (See below for how to request Community Made masks.)

To request my help email me at [email protected]

Community Made Masks

The Bay Area makers are eager to help meet this need. We will publish your requests to people in the greater Bay Area via Facebook groups, this website, and other national COVID-19 response message boards.

This ensures people have good information about what you need. We don’t want you to get items that are not helpful or have to field random calls from well-meaning people.

How to request Community Made Masks

We have three types of masks we currently recommend (see disclaimer). If you would like to request a mask of a different pattern, please include a link in the request.

The three mask types:

For more information on Community Made Masks, see the guidance provided to mask makers.


For more information on community-made masks see the guidance provided to makers.

Add yourself to additional national lists

Note: Consider adding your organization to local and national databases for your PPE needs, such as:

Using national lists may minimize the random calls you may get from well-meaning people.

Current Mask Options

All masks will include information about washing, materials, and use. Note: While these masks are washable if they end up as one-time use THAT IS OK!!!

Long Wear Pleated Masks

Photos and Video of the Prototype

  • Materials: Non-woven polypropylene (NWPP) when possible. When NWPP is not available, non-stretch cotton or linen will be used. Two layers of material will be used.
  • Pocket for a removable filter and Slot for a nose wire (not included, but help for sourcing may be available)
  • Head straps instead of ear straps, to wear the mask over an N95 mask. (When supplies of elastic run out, straps may be swapped out for ties.)
  • Possible to be made in a variety of sizes; feedback always welcome!

Short-wear pleated mask

  • Materials: Non-woven polypropylene (NWPP) when possible. When NWPP is not available, non-stretch cotton or linen will be used. Two layers of material will be used.
  • Nose wire sew-in
  • Ear straps (When supplies of elastic run out, ties may be used instead.)
  • Possible to be made in a variety of sizes; feedback always welcome!

[Links to photos and video coming soon]

N95 Droplet Cover Coming Soon
Email me for more details in the meantime.

Need a different pattern?
Send in the link!

Disclaimer: This is a harm reduction effort. Even when made completely to spec, DIY cloth masks cannot replace N95 masks or official medical PPE and do not guarantee protection from any disease. Use these instructions at your own risk.

Even with the awareness that we have about the superiority of N95 masks, there is significant information to show that barriers can help. When made and worn correctly, barriers can trap a significant amount of the particulate.

Given the worldwide shortage of masks, our goal is to provide the most vulnerable in our population (nursing home and hospice residents and staff, unhoused folks, grocery workers, delivery staff) with an option.

This will free up proper PPE for healthcare workers… because without them nothing else will matter. More from the CDC