What the Well-Dressed Quarantiner is Wearing

**Tobus** · 17th April 20, 12:06 PM

I bought one from Sport Kilt about 11 days ago, and still have no clue when it will show up. They're saying it may be as long as 24 days from the order. If I haven't caught the coronavirus by then from lack of a mask, I'll certainly be wearing it with glee.

I must admit, I'm eyeing those two boxes of tartan scraps in the corner with a different plan now. I had originally intended (and still do) to make a tartan quilt. But there's plenty for making masks. And pre-treating them in hot soapy water to felt them and shrink up the weave might not be a bad idea. Hmmm...

**The Q** · 18th April 20, 12:53 AM

I'm wearing a proper filtered face mask, rubber gloves and overalls. I'm sanding down the new keel I've built for my sailing boat..

Definitely not kilt wearing work...

**Katia** · 19th April 20, 07:30 PM

One of the masks I just finished is in a "fashion" plaid. (My boss knew I was making masks and asked were any plaid. I told him of course one of them was. The last time he saw me was Tartan Day, when I had to be in the office to do something there so of course I dressed appropriately...)

I am off to check out their masks, although I now am the proud owner of six (which were hard-gotten since I'm a novice at sewing who hasn't touched a machine in years... and the world's slowest sewist!), so it's not like I need more...but... tartan... (And had I known this from the get-go... I might've ordered from there rather than making my own!)

**kemileswallace** · 19th April 20, 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by Tobus

I bought one from Sport Kilt about 11 days ago, and still have no clue when it will show up. They're saying it may be as long as 24 days from the order. If I haven't caught the coronavirus by then from lack of a mask, I'll certainly be wearing it with glee.

I must admit, I'm eyeing those two boxes of tartan scraps in the corner with a different plan now. I had originally intended (and still do) to make a tartan quilt. But there's plenty for making masks. And pre-treating them in hot soapy water to felt them and shrink up the weave might not be a bad idea. Hmmm...

It shouldn't be too terribly long. Mine took 10 days and then they upgraded my shipping to be Fed-Ex 2-day when I only paid for USPS First Class.

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**OC Richard** · 20th April 20, 07:57 PM

Gle mhaith a-tathair!

**Tobus** · 22nd April 20, 11:07 AM

My Sportkilt facemask showed up today. Wallace tartan.

I like that it's shaped well to fit over the nose, with some room inside the mask, and that it extends generously around the sides of the cheeks. It has an internal liner that allows a filter (of the user's choosing) to be slipped inside.

I'm not a fan of the elastic band configuration, though. Unlike the masks which simply loop around the ear, this has a lower band that goes around the back of the neck and an upper band that goes around the back of the head. Getting the mask on and off isn't as quick or easy as an ear-loop style sinc you have to slip it over your head. Also, the elastic bands are a bit loose on my small head. I may end up snipping them and either stitching them back together as-is (to make them a tad shorter) or converting them to an ear-loop style. Not sure yet.

All in all, though, it's quite stylish.

(Forgive my amateurish selfies, and the fact that I haven't had a haircut in 7 weeks.)

**Jock Scot** · 23rd April 20, 12:40 AM

Just for everybody’s information from a virus protection point of view, facial hair cuts down the efficiency of face masks considerably.

Mrs Jock an infection control specialist, along with so many others in the medical world is having to deal with this present pandemic on the front line. She has to insist that ANYONE working with a face mask must shave off their Facial hair before they are issued a mask and BEFORE a fitting. The fit is that critical for maximum safety. Alright, have some fun with your tartan face masks but please be aware that they will not be as efficient as they might be and by some considerable margin, if you have a beard.

Stay safe everyone.

**Tobus** · 23rd April 20, 05:06 AM

Jock Scot, your point is well taken when it comes to true filtration masks in a medical setting, which would indeed require fitting and shaving. However, this sort of civilian mask is not in that category. It should be considered more of a "face diaper" than a medical mask. Its purpose is merely to catch large droplets and spittle (which everyone produces whether they realise it or not), both incoming and outgoing. It is not intended to offer 100% protection against airborne particles, especially the size of a virus particle.

For one thing, the material is not a tight enough weave. And even if one were in install a high-density filter material in the pocket, this type of mask does not have a formable nose piece to create a seal over the bridge of the nose. So even if one were to shave off one's beard, it would not eliminate the gaps and provide a tight seal.

So, yes, if one were wearing an N95 type mask and working in close proximity to people like medical personnel have to, then being clean-shaven would be important. For the average person going to the grocery store and maintaining social distancing as well as one can, whilst wearing this type of mask, shaving a beard just isn't going to dramatically improve the mask's efficiency. It's not intended for that level of protection.

**Jock Scot** · 23rd April 20, 05:22 AM

You are quite correct Tobus, but apparently it is being found that a worryingly large section of the general public are not aware of the finer details and consider a plain, non medical, facemask such as we are seeing here is good enough for front line use!

**Sir William** · 23rd April 20, 07:41 PM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

Just for everybody’s information from a virus protection point of view, facial hair cuts down the efficiency of face masks considerably.

Mrs Jock an infection control specialist, along with so many others in the medical world is having to deal with this present pandemic on the front line. She has to insist that ANYONE working with a face mask must shave off their Facial hair before they are issued a mask and BEFORE a fitting. The fit is that critical for maximum safety. Alright, have some fun with your tartan face masks but please be aware that they will not be as efficient as they might be and by some considerable margin, if you have a beard.

Stay safe everyone.

Many, many years ago when I was in the US Navy beards were authorized...until the powers that be realized that facial hair (ie, beards) prevented a tight seal in the gas mask.