Why I Am Not Making Face Masks
[edit: since writing this post I now stock organic cotton facemasks produced in India by artisans who are paid a fair wage.]
I get asked several times a week if I’m making face masks to sell. 😷
It might seem like the obvious thing to add to my range - especially now in England the shops are opening up and masks are compulsory on public transport and I sew - so why not? But I don’t make them to sell and I’m not going to...and here’s why...
The simple answer is I just don’t want to. It’s not where I want my business to go, I don’t like making them (and I have made a few for immediate family) and quite frankly all the different patterns and how they fit, deciding if I should add a pocket or a nose wire or not was stressing me out. So I’m just saying no.
Secondly, fabric that makes good leggings makes rubbish face masks. My clothes are made from organic cotton jersey. Jersey is terrible for masks because it’s made in a way that when you stretch it tiny holes appear in the weave - which isn’t great for something that’s meant to keep germs in or out.
The simple answer is I just don’t want to. It’s not where I want my business to go, I don’t like making them (and I have made a few for immediate family) and quite frankly all the different patterns and how they fit, deciding if I should add a pocket or a nose wire or not was stressing me out. So I’m just saying no.
Secondly, fabric that makes good leggings makes rubbish face masks. My clothes are made from organic cotton jersey. Jersey is terrible for masks because it’s made in a way that when you stretch it tiny holes appear in the weave - which isn’t great for something that’s meant to keep germs in or out.
To get a bit technical, jersey is a knitted fabric made from one continuous yarn that is looped repeatedly to create what looks like tiny rows of braids and masks need to be made from woven fabrics where multiple yarns cross each other at right angles to form the grain, like a basket. Something like a quilters cotton is perfect.
I don’t use quilters cotton and I don’t want to buy in fabrics I wouldn’t usually use plus I don’t really like making them anyway so I’m going to leave making faces masks to other people.
However, if you do want a handmade face mask I do know lots of people making them so I can point you in their direction if you want - just ask!
I don’t use quilters cotton and I don’t want to buy in fabrics I wouldn’t usually use plus I don’t really like making them anyway so I’m going to leave making faces masks to other people.
However, if you do want a handmade face mask I do know lots of people making them so I can point you in their direction if you want - just ask!
SHOP our organic and fairtrade face masks below...