Since we’ve started shelter in place, my brain has been all kinds of horked, so I ignored the wealth of mask-related resources and made the standard NYT cloth mask pattern. It provides good coverage (I have a monster head so other masks have run small) and I can clamp my glasses over the nose bridge to keep it in place and prevent fogging.
Pattern: Fabric Face Mask published by the New York Times, sewn in an assortment of quilting cotton from Fancy Tiger Crafts. I made variants with bias tape ties and elastic that goes around the back of my head. I don’t find elastics around my ears to be comfortable so I haven’t tried ear loops.
New skills: n/a
Lessons: Wonder clips are useful for keeping the pleats in place while sewing them.
Hot irons melt elastic, so be very careful to keep the elastic out of the way while pressing. Pinning can be a good way of keeping the elastics secured while pressing.
Fabrics with metallic prints don’t hold up well to washing or condensation from breathing, and are a poor choice for mask interiors.
Elastics need to be cut on the tight side, particularly the lower one, otherwise it will be loose around the back of the neck. I also found they put a lot of pressure on the tip of my nose, resulting in discomfort, however this has reduced over time (either from getting more used to mask wearing or the elastic stretching with repeated wears, or both).
What I'd do differently: I’d like to experiment with a mask shape like the Aplat SF design.
Care: Machine wash in hot water. Tumble dry.