The latest health advice from the state government is now recommending that people in Sydney wear a face covering while out in public, particularly in crowded areas and on public transport. While face masks can be bought from chemists, hardware stores and some additional retailers, it's also pretty easy to make your own version at home.
Don't worry if picking up a needle and thread gives you conniptions; thanks to our colleagues over at Time Out Tokyo, we've rounded up four ways to make a mask that require absolutely no sewing at all. Better yet, these masks can all be made from objects you've probably already got lying around at home.
1. Paper towel mask
This quick and easy mask requires only a paper towel, a long strip of paper, two elastic bands and a stapler – things you most likely already have at home. The folding technique creates a structured shield to fit the lower half of your face, similar to a surgical face mask. There are a few updates and variations to this DIY mask, including incorporating a filter; check them out on the doctor's Instagram account. The best part is, you can just throw the paper-towel mask away after using and just make another one whenever you need it.
2. Upcycled T-shirt mask
If you've been organising and decluttering your closet while in quarantine, you might have a few T-shirts to spare for this exercise. All you need is an old T-shirt, a ruler and a pair of scissors. The T-shirt fabric will lend to a comfortable mask that covers your face nicely.
According to this video, there are two ways: one uses the body of the T-shirt while another uses the sleeve. You can easily adjust the measurements to fit an adult or a child. While it's not shown, you can also slip in a paper towel in between the folds to act as an extra filter.
3. Sock mask
Your old socks can now be used to create a simple face mask in a matter of minutes. This tutorial video uses a long tube sock, but check out this other video if you only have short ankle-length ones.
All you need is a sock and a pair of scissors. A piece of paper towel or toilet paper can be used to pad up the mask from the inside. For an adult-sized mask, use a loose sock that has more room so that it can fully cover your nose and mouth.
4. Pillowcase mask
If you'd rather not cut up your clothes, you can also make a simple mask from a pillowcase and then line it with a coffee filter. The folded pillowcase creates a nice pocket to slip in a sheet of filter. The video also suggests leaving the straps long, so you can choose to tie the mask either around your head or ears, whichever is more comfortable for you.
Prefer to leave the mask-making to the pros? Here's where you can buy a face mask in Sydney right now.
