While the should you/shouldn’t you debate about face masks goes on, I thought I’d make one anyway. So, I’ve printed out a pattern and selected some fabric from the stash.
Kindly and freely made available by Craft Passion here
There’s always one in every classroom though isn’t there?
Mr. Tialys disappeared into his workshop and went one better.
This, worn atop his 6 foot plus frame, should facilitate social distancing in the supermarket.
Tialys 
#1 by Wild Daffodil on April 7, 2020 - 08:41
Did Mr T really make that, or is it a joke?
I hope it is for real and we get to see a photo of you both in your masks!
#2 by tialys on April 7, 2020 - 09:43
He really did make it. Any excuse to go into his leather workshop although not, apparently, to finish making our sofa cushions 🙄
I don’t think he actually intends to wear it as he doesn’t do cosplay – my daughter does though so we’ll see if it gets an outing in the future.
#3 by katechiconi on April 7, 2020 - 09:02
Does he also wear the traditional black cloak, big black hat and carry a pomander? Just asking…. The masks are pretty good, I’ve made 8 of them now. The elastic looping behind the ears is the most comfy but round the back of the head gives a really tight fit, although it squashes your ears a bit…
#4 by tialys on April 7, 2020 - 09:45
My daughter’s boyfriend has already asked if Mr. T. can make one for his brother’s birthday. I’m assuming he’s into cosplay.
I’ll only make one fabric mask as I only go out every other week to do the shopping – we alternate – and I don’t have to wear one for dog walking as there’s nobody around.
#5 by katechiconi on April 7, 2020 - 11:23
I’m going to have three or four so I don’t have to wash them straight away if it’s not convenient. Perhaps you can walk around with the mask on, ringing a bell and calling out ‘Unclean, unclean’, while he follows you around like a plague doctor. That would *definitely* guarantee you solitude in the supermarket.
#6 by tialys on April 7, 2020 - 11:31
Either that or we’d be arrested for inciting a riot and I don’t fancy prison at the moment 😨
#7 by katechiconi on April 7, 2020 - 11:36
It would take ALL the effort out of maintaining social distance, but I take your point!
#8 by nanacathy2 on April 7, 2020 - 09:35
Mr T will look wonderful, talk about Grim Reaper! Very steampunk.
#9 by tialys on April 7, 2020 - 09:47
To think the plague doctors actually used to wear these back in the 17th century – it must have frightened their patients out of their wits.
#10 by Ruth Butler on April 7, 2020 - 10:39
I am sure others stand well back if you go out with this on!
#11 by tialys on April 7, 2020 - 10:51
He’s keen to try it out but I don’t think he really will.
#12 by Kim on April 7, 2020 - 10:41
Love Mr T’s mask! I’m slightly resisting wearing a mask but I can see a point when I’m going to have to join in.
Stay well 😊
#13 by tialys on April 7, 2020 - 10:53
I am also in the resistance movement – partly because I go out in public places so rarely – but I’ll make one in case they make it compulsory.
#14 by DawnGillDesigns on April 7, 2020 - 11:02
brilliant.
#15 by tialys on April 7, 2020 - 11:32
I’ll tell him 😉
#16 by claire93 on April 7, 2020 - 14:23
LOVE Mr T’s mask! Can just imagine him in gothic clothing, maybe for Carneval in Venice (maybe next year?)
#17 by tialys on April 7, 2020 - 14:47
Don’t tempt him!
#18 by claire93 on April 7, 2020 - 14:48
wouldn’t that be fun though! I’d love to visit Venice during Carnaval!!!
#19 by tialys on April 7, 2020 - 16:32
See you there! I’ll be the one with the plague doctor.
#20 by kathyreeves on April 7, 2020 - 14:45
That will definitely clear the super market! I dare him to do it! My DH has an entire suit with a gas mask looking thing; he says he’s going to wear it when he has to go out. (I haven’t let him go, with all his issues from last year, except to the dump to get compost!)
#21 by tialys on April 7, 2020 - 14:48
Can you imagine the response?
#22 by kathyreeves on April 7, 2020 - 15:33
You’ll get everything you need in the store, no problem…unless even the checkers run!
#23 by tialys on April 7, 2020 - 16:29
🤣
#24 by Laurie Graves on April 7, 2020 - 15:29
All right. At the risk of overuse, another wowsah! if ever he does wear it, be sure to include pictures.
#25 by tialys on April 7, 2020 - 16:31
Well, I’d be pretending not to be with him but, if he does and I can get in a sneaky shot I will 😉
I’ve delivered the Wowsah and he is suitably grateful.
#26 by Laurie Graves on April 7, 2020 - 20:10
😉
#27 by Emmely on April 7, 2020 - 18:57
Brilliant, I dare him to go out in public wearing it!
#28 by tialys on April 7, 2020 - 19:02
Don’t encourage him! I think he wants to.
#29 by Emmely on April 8, 2020 - 12:50
He totally should!
#30 by CurlsnSkirls on April 7, 2020 - 19:00
Please thank him for providing a much-needed and lengthy guffaw session, along with all the prior comments, for which I thank my fellow writers! And thank you for making reference to what looks to be a better version of the pattern I employed yesterday when making up my own mask. Do not blame you for disassociating yourself, which is, of course, not to be confused with the social distancing of current times. xx
#31 by tialys on April 7, 2020 - 19:03
He is chuffed to bits with it and is considering making another in metallic look leather. Heaven preserve us!
#32 by CurlsnSkirls on April 7, 2020 - 19:04
Oh, my… I see your sofa cushions flying out the window as I type. . .
#33 by tialys on April 7, 2020 - 19:53
Hmmmm. I feel I’ve been very patient and, after all, the sofa cushions were invoked as the reason to buy an industrial sewing machine. Not that the plague doctor mask has seen a machine needle – all hand stitched!!
#34 by CurlsnSkirls on April 7, 2020 - 20:13
Oh, dear. . . Not to be left behind, was he? Hmmm. Suppose it would do no good for you to start using the industrial sewing machine yourself, would it? Not that you’d be horning in. . .
#35 by tialys on April 7, 2020 - 20:20
It looks a bit scary to me actually. I’ll stick with my Janome.
#36 by magpiesue on April 7, 2020 - 19:32
I couldn’t love Mr. T’s mask more. I want one! I totally understand why he would prefer to make such a thing over merely repairing/replacing couch cushions. I haven’t been able to bring myself to make a mask yet, although I’ve donated batiks to the cause.
#37 by tialys on April 7, 2020 - 19:56
He’s hankering after a metallic leather one next. I can’t help thinking it might have a look of the ‘tin man’ about it. Still, it keeps him happy in a way that sofa cushions definitely would not.
I think I’m only going to make a fabric one if they make it compulsory to wear one in public, otherwise I’ll maintain the biggest distance possible and breathe in infrequently when on my fortnightly visit to the supermarket.
#38 by Dartmoor Yarns on April 8, 2020 - 16:59
😮😦
#39 by Jenny on April 10, 2020 - 15:40
I made one from that same pattern you printed and it worked very well on my once-weekly supermarket trip….and felt reassuring in the face of an almost total lack of social distancing inside the shop – after everyone had obediently queued up 2m apart outside for 1.25 hours! Human psychology never fails to amaze me. Anyway, I’ll be making more for other family members now. Hope yours also went well.
#40 by tialys on April 11, 2020 - 08:52
For a very brief instant I read that you’d made the Plague Doctor mask and worn it to the supermarket 🤣
Are you in the U.K.? My daughter was telling me she had to queue yesterday to get into the M & S food hall but it was shorter than the Tesco Express one. I’m in France and, at least where I am, there aren’t any queues but people are being fairly good about social distancing inside the shop with about 50% wearing masks. Yes, human psychology is interesting to say the least. Where was the social distancing when everybody was fighting over loo rolls and handwash?
#41 by Jenny on April 11, 2020 - 09:03
Haha – now, that WOULD have shortened the queue! Yes, I’m in the UK with a few supermarkets within reach to choose from. Big Queue was at the posh supermarket at 8:15, would you believe, so from now on I’ll stick to Less Posh, where there’s also precious little social distancing but also plenty of parking space, and you can go straight in. I’ve seen hardly anyone wearing masks here (Herts) and only a few in gloves, though I always have those too.
#42 by tialys on April 11, 2020 - 09:16
‘Big Posh’ – you must mean Waitrose, how I miss it.