We still have two weeks to wear masks and gloves, such are the rules. And for the absence of such equipment in public places, fines are promised. If you don't have a fashionable and beautiful reusable mask yet, you don't have to buy one – it's time to make it yourself! You won't need a lot of fabric, we checked. Even those who don't know how to sew will succeed.

What fabric to choose

Since it's a protective face mask, the fabric should be breathable and soft. For the mask to be more effective, it should consist of several layers. But before choosing a fabric, make sure it meets GOST standards.

Mask fabric should have:

• Effective bacterial filtration (the fabric's ability to retain small virus particles)
• Air permeability (ability to breathe freely)
• Splash resistance (it does not allow liquids that may contain the virus to pass through)
• High density (the denser, the less often it needs to be changed)

Oddly enough, after surgical masks, the best material is that from which vacuum cleaner bags are made. It sounds wild, but they are closest in composition to real medical masks. If you have such bags, you can use them as a filter and sew fabric over them. As a filter, you can also use gauze folded in at least 5 layers, or cotton wool.

Waffle cotton fabric is considered the second most effective. Cotton fabrics are third. It is believed that fabrics with added cotton protect better against viruses than 100% cotton. For a mask, you can safely use satin, linen, akfil, denim, calico, or neoprene. The latter has become very popular, mainly because it holds its shape well and is very pleasant to the face.

You will need

• sewing machine (but you can do without)
• mask fabric
• cotton wool, gauze, or a vacuum cleaner bag as a filter
• scissors
• hair ties
• iron
• pen, paper, ruler
• a little perseverance and patience

Mask pattern with a seam in the middle

How to sew. Cut two identical parts according to the pattern and sew them with the seam facing outwards. You can find a detailed video with instructions online.

Stay healthy, use PPE, and everything will be fine!