04/05/2020
First mask complete! I think I have the hang of it now. I need to stop worrying about making it look perfect and start making these *faster.*
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I wouldn't feel right selling these. I'm not wild about how the straps fit so far, and I also have a number of people that I intend to sew for, first-- family and people on the front lines who I personally know get one first, followed by close friends, then hospitals. Maybe I'll change my mind and sell them at some point.
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I also have a full-time job and a side hustle with deadlines, so I'm going to be cranking these out slowly. I wouldn't be able to keep up if I tried to sell them and I'm already a little too stressed to add the responsibility of actual orders to my list of things to do. It's the same reason why I never take cosplay commissions.
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The one issue I have is with the wire. It is way too difficult to bend this stuff to make a tight seal. I've got some different stuff on the way that will hopefully work better.
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Mask and lining: 100% woven cotton. I sourced it from a bunch of fat quarters I collected to make into fancy cuffs and collars for Jeremy's button-down shirts.
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Filter: Halyard 600--blue and white, together. It's almost difficult to breathe out of it, which makes me think that it's going to do a good job.
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Ties: bias tape I was going to use for some project or another. I have a tendency to buy way too much and never return it. Well, I'm finally making use of it. Unfortunately, it's not as cheap as I'd prefer, so I'm going to have to start making my own eventually.
Thread: I worried that polyester thread wouldn't survive an autoclave, but I found out it doesn't melt until 460° F, so I'm sure it's fine. I also learned that cotton burns at 400° F, so we're good there.
