Mask Up!

The coronavirus pandemic has changed the world as we know it. Our city, once packed with tourists and second lines, now feels empty and quiet.

As our city is opening back up, you might also see something else change. Wherever you go these days, everyone is wearing a mask—but not the kind we New Orleanians are used to. We’ve traded in our carnival masks covered with glitter and gold for our very own Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended facial coverings.

However, as I looked to purchase masks for myself, I noticed that the ones on the market were either overpriced or, honestly, boring. Because of this, I dusted off my sewing machine and began to make my own masks with old fabric, paint, and hair bands. Soon my friends were asking for their own masks, and an Instagram account was created, @maskupno, to make more of these unique custom masks at low prices. I wanted to ensure that everyone I knew could have an inexpensive
mask as unique as their individual personalities.

But as the famous philosopher Lao Tzu said: “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” So that’s why I’m writing this article, to show you how to make your very own face mask.

METHOD ONE: Pretty in Pleats

• Gather your materials. You’ll need cotton fabric, elastic, a pencil, scissors, a ruler, pins, and a sewing machine.
• Take your fabric and cut two rectangles that are 9.5” by 6.5”. Sandwich the two pieces together and sew along each side.
• Using a pencil, mark the mask with three evenly spaced lines.
• Fold downward half an inch on each line to create pleats.
• Pin down and sew along the sides to secure.
• Cut two elastic pieces around 6 inches long. Take the pieces of elastic and sew each end to each respective corner of the mask, making two straps. Make sure that they are firmly attached.
• You are done! Your very own pleated mask, ready to wear. Iron if you desire.

But what if you don’t have a sewing machine? Well, lucky for you, there is a way to make a mask with just a bandana and some hair bands!

METHOD TWO: No Sew, No Problem!

• Gather your materials. You’ll need a bandana or another 22” by 22” square fabric and two hair ties or rubber bands.
• Lay the fabric on a flat surface. Fold the top and bottom edges towards the middle.
• Fold in half again.
• Slip a hair tie over each of the ends.
• Fold the end of the bandana towards the middle, making sure to allow the ends to overlap. Tuck one end into the other.
• Turn over and you’re done! It’s that easy!

Electra Pelias (pictured here picking up litter on the beaches in Grand Isle) is a recent high school graduate of Lusher Charter School, where she completed the Certificate of Artistry program in stagecraft. She is set to attend Loyola University New Orleans this fall and plans on majoring in psychology and environmental science in hopes of eventually becoming a teacher or social worker in the New Orleans metro area. In her free time, she enjoys thrift shopping, cooking, and exploring New
Orleans in her bright blue Volkswagen Beetle.