May 21, 2020

#masksforall

Last week we debuted the Lee & Pearl™ FREE Face Mask Pattern, which includes an innovative design feature — a NO-GAP STRAP that's slightly shorter than the mask, to keep the top edge snug while allowing the fabric underneath to conform to the shape of your nose.

No more fogged glasses with our NO-GAP STRAP!

Our pattern also includes a nose wire pocket, fabric ties, an optional chin dart and batch processing directions to make five masks at a time, because we know lots of you are making masks for lots of other people.

CLICK HERE to download Lee & Pearl's FREE Pattern 100: Fabric Face Masks with No-Gap Straps, Fabric Ties and Nose Wire Pockets.

This week, we are thrilled to announce that the fabric face masks we made using our pattern and the tightly woven batiks and beautiful cottons in our workroom stash, are now available for purchase in the Lee & Pearl Etsy store!

CLICK HERE to go to the Lee & Pearl Etsy store and browse our selection of Batik Fabric Face Masks with fabric ties, nose wire pockets, nose wires and our unique no-gap straps.

Be sure to add this listing to your favorites and check back often as we'll be adding different colors and prints in the weeks to come.

When is it appropriate to wear a cloth face mask?

The following recommendations are taken from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publications, Recommendation Regarding the Use of Cloth Face Coverings, Especially in Areas of Significant Community-Based Transmission and Use of Cloth Face Coverings to Help Slow the Spread of Covid-19.

These references are not intended to replace your own understanding of best practice. They are provided with the understanding that they represent the current CDC guidelines as of the time of their publication. It is your responsibility to ascertain what is best practice at the time you are making or wearing a mask. No claims are made by Lee & Pearl or by any individuals as to the efficacy or superiority of the masks made using this pattern.

"The CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g. grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission [of SARS COV-2/COVID-19]." (emphasis in the original)

"It is critical to emphasize that maintaining 6-feet-social distancing remains important to slowing the spread of the virus. CDC is additionally advising the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and to help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others. Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure."

The CDC has also provided guidance for removing and cleaning a cloth mask.

To safely remove the mask after wearing, the CDC recommends:

"Individuals should be careful not to touch their eyes, nose, and mouth when removing their cloth face covering and wash hands immediately after removing."

To launder the mask, the CDC recommends:

"They should be routinely washed depending on the frequency of use."
"A washing machine should suffice in properly washing a cloth face covering."

Several weeks ago we started our Lunch with Lee & Pearl daily livestream on the Lee & Pearl Facebook page. If you haven't had a chance to join us, we hope you'll stop by soon.

This week we're debuting a new feature — Small Business Thursdays. Our first installment will run through the costing worksheet that we used to price the face masks now listed in our Etsy store. If you sell on Etsy, or are thinking about selling on Etsy, this is one you'll want to watch.

CLICK HERE to go to the Lee & Pearl Facebook page to join us LIVE on weekdays at 2pm Eastern, 1pm Central, 12pm Mountain and 11am Pacific.

If you've missed any of our previous videos, you can catch up any time on our Facebook video archive —

CLICK HERE to go to the Lee & Pearl Facebook Video Archive to catch up on any Lunch with Lee & Pearl episodes you may have missed!

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