I've been making a whole lot of masks....a whole lot of masks. In fact, for the past several weeks, I've spent just about every day from morning till night making masks for friends, relatives and neighbors.
I'd gotten material from a friend and from my daughter, but since they were not labeled, I couldn't tell if they were cotton. They do recommend cotton for masks. They all felt like cotton, but when I ironed several of them on the highest heat, I noticed that it did tend to stick.
I had one black fabric in particular that really felt like cotton so I made 11 masks with it and gave them out.
Then my friend's son mentioned that a burn test might help to tell if a certain material was cotton.
A burn test? Hmmm.... I thought about my hot iron.
I also found a very old sheet in mom's linen closet that really felt like cotton, but didn't list the material content.
It did say Pequot so I looked it up. I discovered that Pequot Cotton Mills was from Salem, Massachusetts and closed 1953.
I then looked up how to tell cotton from synthetic and yes, it was a burn test.
And you know engineer Art is always into experiments and projects. So we got several fabrics that I was considering for mask making.
The Pequot sheet fabric is definitely cotton so I'll be using it for mask lining. It's thick and stiff which will keep it away from the nose better.
It burned steadily and the ash was powdery which indicated it was organic cotton.
The two red checkerboard fabrics caught fire quickly, curled and left hard residue.
I can be a bit more confident now about the fabrics I'm using.
It was a fun test to do and I think I'll be making another mask for my friend's son.
I'd gotten material from a friend and from my daughter, but since they were not labeled, I couldn't tell if they were cotton. They do recommend cotton for masks. They all felt like cotton, but when I ironed several of them on the highest heat, I noticed that it did tend to stick.
Then my friend's son mentioned that a burn test might help to tell if a certain material was cotton.
A burn test? Hmmm.... I thought about my hot iron.
I also found a very old sheet in mom's linen closet that really felt like cotton, but didn't list the material content.
It did say Pequot so I looked it up. I discovered that Pequot Cotton Mills was from Salem, Massachusetts and closed 1953.
I then looked up how to tell cotton from synthetic and yes, it was a burn test.
And you know engineer Art is always into experiments and projects. So we got several fabrics that I was considering for mask making.
The Pequot sheet fabric is definitely cotton so I'll be using it for mask lining. It's thick and stiff which will keep it away from the nose better.
It burned steadily and the ash was powdery which indicated it was organic cotton.
The two red checkerboard fabrics caught fire quickly, curled and left hard residue.
I can be a bit more confident now about the fabrics I'm using.
It was a fun test to do and I think I'll be making another mask for my friend's son.
WHat you guys research and get into. Way to go!
ReplyDeleteI am just amazed that you had a sheet that is that old. It's a testament to good organic cotton! And as far as I am concerned those "microfiber" sheets that seem everywhere now are no substitute.
ReplyDeleteHere's an article daughter sent from NPR about adding nylon stockings as another protective layer: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/04/22/840146830/adding-a-nylon-stocking-layer-could-boost-protection-from-cloth-masks-study-find
ReplyDeleteI wish you lived close to me. I ordered some masks from Amazon but they cancelled the order since I was not someone in health care.
ReplyDeleteI am fortunate to have a neighbor who makes face masks, and I like hers very much. It has a pocket in order to insert a coffee filter for extra protection. :-)
ReplyDeleteThat looked like fun. I never thought to test the fabrics but then all the masks I made were from old sheet fabric that I was going to throw out and it did say cotton on the label. DJan is right too. I took to using coffee filters when I ran out of facing,
ReplyDeleteI am so proud of you making all those face masks. I just read that three materials are good to put inside a mask and they are...denim, shop towel and wait for it...paper towels! Of course, the paper towels have to be thrown away. Thinking on that, those 3 might not be right. I can't swear to it. Gee, my mind isn't good these days. I have researched a LOT about face masks. I crocheted five in one weekend, and sent them away. One thing, I hurt my shoulder with all my crocheting. So, YOU make sure YOU take care of Kay. OKay, Kay? (You know we have heard that expression before, right?)
ReplyDeleteGreat experiment Kay!
ReplyDeleteI can just see your and Art's faces lighting up when you learned there was a test. That had to appealed to your minds that always are seeking a better way. Congrats on making so many masks for your friends. That is a very giving thing to do.
ReplyDeleteScience is fun! I have thought about doing the burn test, but I just figured my quilting fabric scraps were cotton. Maybe they aren't. I might have to do some science!
ReplyDeleteIhave some good fabric but absolutely nothing for ties. I still have a box of Home Depot N95 masks and hope they hold up with our re-used until materials for masks can be found.
ReplyDeleteHave you tried the t-shirt strips that I wrote about earlier? They actually work in a pinch and are quite comfortable on the ears.
DeleteI took a college course in fabric fibers and did a paper on nylon. Fascinating fiber. I am not too concerned about the fiber content so long as it is comfortable and washable. The masks that I am now making - which I call origami masks - lie flatter on the face and fit without wires. I have tried it with cotton - both dense and loose, and even kimono silks, which turn out beautifully. I have a feeling that masks will become a fashion accessory as well as protection so I am having fun with it. Times Super Market (!) had some neat stretchy fabric masks for $6.99 in medium and large that I saw cashiers wearing. They reminded me of speedos, lol.
ReplyDeleteA great finish for a fine Pequot sheet. In a generation no one will care what it is or isn't, but for not, part of a facemask is a grand finish.
ReplyDeleteIf you're going to do that much work to make masks it would be better to have the best fabric.
ReplyDeleteWhat a hoot! Ever the teacher and scientist; let's do an experiment with FIRE! Maybe the firefighters should get the least flammable masks, eh? Thanks for taking care of so many people. Kind hearts like your's make nurses feel SO much better. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDelete