All Angelenos are required to wear non-medical face coverings in public to limit the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 at this time. While bandannas and scarves are good starting points, what if you want to wear a fabric mask?

But what if you don’t know how to sew? What if you don’t know where to start? Never fear, you may already have everything you need!

There are a lot of easy no-sew mask tutorials online right now and Octavia Lab staff gave one a try—see how they did at the end of this post.

How do fabric masks work?

Basically, you are making it more difficult for a little, and we are talking little, virus to sail into your body, or out, if you are sick/asymptomatic.

Wearing a fabric mask of tightly woven layers, like cotton, makes the virus have a difficult time zig-zagging through the thousands of cross-hatches in the material.

Fabric Mask Fit:

There are many different sizes of people and there are many different sizes of masks. You should make sure that your mask fits over your nose and under your chin, and it should be snug. Be sure that your elastic bands don’t bend your ears too much or hang too loosely. Also, before going out, test your face mask to make sure you can breathe and it stays on.

Fabric Mask Maintenance:

While wearing, don't keep adjusting your mask, think of your face as hot lava,and keep your mask dry.

When you are done wearing your mask:

• Wash your hands with soap when you get home
• Take off the mask
• Place it in direct sunlight
• Wash fabric in laundry; remove elastic bands/filters beforehand
• Wash your hands with soap again

If you are an essential worker, try having two masks and alternating between them, washing masks between uses.

Check out this video of an Octavia Lab staff member who gave a no-sew mask a whirl.