WITH the government now advising wearing a face mask in enclosed spaces, a university technician has produced an online video tutorial for people to make their own protective face coverings.
Solent University technical co-ordinator at the School of Art, Design and Fashion, Kelly Barker, made the tutorial after the chief medical officer for England, Chris Whitty, urged the public not to buy surgical or medical masks which are needed for front-line care workers. The public have been encouraged to ‘make their own’.
Kelly, who had already been making and donating masks to NHS workers and neighbours, said: ‘I realised that we would all probably need a mask to return to work and there’s already a shortage. I made a quick tutorial and loaded up on to my YouTube channel called icutandsew, which I set up last year to record tutorials for my students.
Some of the face masks made by Kelly Barker, Solent University technical coordinator in the School of Art, Design and Fashion.
‘I experimented with a couple of designs, but the one I have uploaded is the easiest to make and can also been hand sewn in less than an hour if you don’t have a sewing machine.’
The face covering is made from a piece of fabric around 38cm by 20cm with the tutorial providing step by step instructions.
Kelly said: ‘The mask is very simple to make. An old soft cotton shirt would be fine if you don’t have any material to hand. You will need a needle, thread and thin elastic.’
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