PORTLAND, Ore. — Both the CDC and the White House are now recommending we all wear cloth protective masks when we go out in public, to slow the spread of COVID-19. But if you've tried to go online and buy masks for you and your family, you may have found they can be expensive and hard to get delivered quickly.
Luckily, with just a few items you probably already have in your house, you can make your own.
Here's what you will need:
- A bandana, old T-shirt, or other piece of fabric 22" x 22"
- Scissors
- Tape measurer
- 2 rubber bands
Step 1: Cut your fabric into the correct size (if you're using a bandana, skip this step).
Step 2: Fold two opposite sides of the fabric towards the middle, to meet in the center.
Step 3: Flip the fabric over, and fold both sides of the fabric to the center again.
Step 4: Put one rubber band around one side of the fabric, and one around the other side.
Step 5: Flip the mask over, and fold the ends of the fabric in towards the middle.
Step 6: Attach the rubber bands around your ears, and there you go - you have a mask on!
Optional step 7: Take a needle and thread, and hand stitch a line on the inside of each rubber band. Then cut off the extra fabric on the ends.
Optional step 8: Cut out two 1-inch strips of fabric, then, using a safety pin, thread the fabric into the casing on both ends of the mask. Use these straps to tie the mask onto your face.
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Cassidy Quinn is the host of Tonight With Cassidy on KGW. But right now, like many of you, she is working from home, trying to focus on the happier things going on in the world. Tonight With Cassidy is currently on hiatus, but you can watch previous segments from the show here, and follow Cassidy on Twitter @CassidyQuinn.