Category Archives: Health

Tips & Tricks | Double Masking, or Hybrid Top Masks

In January, when I wrote my post about Mask Science with the science behind masks, advantages and disadvantages of mask types, practical tests, tips for optimization and a short note on why and how we double mask, I still hoped that the vaccine might make masks redundant in everyday life, and that this could be my last mask post. Right now, it looks like thanks to Delta, masks will stay with us for a while (…), and as many people are looking to upgrade their masks these days, I’d like to explain our double masking with the Hybrid Cloth Mask (aka Luckhaus Mask) in detail. … ➔

Hybrid Mask | Museum Workshop »Clothing the Pandemic«

I first met Serena Newmark when she posted a beautiful Hybrid Beard Mask (aka #luckhausmask) on Twitter, and we chatted about her pretty skull fabric! Later, Serena asked me if I’d give her an interview about my experiences as a mask pattern maker, and she turned out to be a PhD candidate at FU Berlin with a profound – and super interesting – knowledge about 19th century Prussian furniture in Texas! I feel honoured that Serena will present my Hybrid Mask in a workshop, »Clothing the Pandemic«, by ICOM International Committee for Museums and Collections of Costume, Fashion and Textile, as part of her lecture about »The Creation of an Online Art and Design Reference Library: information seeking and sharing among mask makers«, which takes place online on June 23rd at 3:10 PM CET. … ➔

Hybrid Mask Anniversary and Survey around the World

One year ago, I got really fed up with testing one poorly fitting mask pattern after the other, and decided to use what I’ve learnt to invent my own Hybrid Mask pattern. And my very first attempt fitted perfectly! In order to help others with similar problems, I published pattern and instructions in German on April 14th and in English on April 21st.… ➔

Backstage | A Year of Masks, and Moments of Joy

It’s been a year since I first started testing mask patterns, having no idea that this would lead to making my own and helping the helpers! It’s been quite a ride since, and I am so thankful for how mask makers make this dark time feel so much brighter. Yet, there are days when everyday life feels so far away… and then, there’s a new pattern challenge, a license enquiry, a kind donation, or someone who thanks me in a way that’s so touching – and all of a sudden, I’m sure we’re gonna be fine. Thank you so much, Jenn, for brightening my day with your beautiful mask! <3 … ➔

Mask Science | We need to talk about Gaps

In Germany, the wearing of medical masks, i.e. FFP2 or surgical masks, became mandatory yesterday. Since I don’t think anyone will check certifications in public, this means that everything except cloth masks is allowed. I’d like to explain how masks work, how filter and fit determine their efficiency, and why a cloth mask ban doesn’t really make much sense to me. Furthermore, I’d like to point out solutions for a more responsible, safe and sustainable use of medical masks. One of these solutions could be wearing a cloth cover over medical masks, or double masking. … ➔

Press | Open Source Covid19 Medical Supplies Report

»One of the most popular patterns was developed by Iris Luckhaus, a German illustrator and sewist. Luckhaus, who was fed up with cloth masks fogging up her glasses, made a small change to the nosepiece of a standard cloth mask design that eliminated fogging. Her post went viral on the OSCMS Facebook group with incredible user engagement and over 300 shares. Since then, tens of thousands of her cloth masks have been made around the world.«… ➔

Available | Seasonal Hybrid Masks

I adore these stylish winter hybrid masks made of chunky Pendleton wool buffalo plaid, which my sewing partner Kiri Schultz from Seattle in the Pacific Northwest made! In her family, they are jokingly called “blankets for the face”, which I find at least as pretty as the fresh fir branches and cones in the picture. I bet these masks smell great!… ➔

Feature | Mask Tying Techniques at OSMS

I am so proud that Open Source Medical Supplies is showing my Mask Tying Techniques in a beautiful pictorial pictorial cloth mask guide! Thanks to Devon for connecting and to Sophia for the great design <3

Available | Introducing my Hybrid Mask Sewing Partners

Today, I would like to introduce you to my amazing sewing partners, who are making masks with my hybrid pattern and selling them in online shops, on Etsy or in retail stores. Each of them has a different approach to mask making, they offer unique fabrics and ways to apply my pattern – and I think all their masks are just stunningly beautiful! In the picture above, you can see some samples by Christina King, Reusable Mask Co Australia and Samook Designs. … ➔

Tips & Tricks | Mask Hub Page with all the Links

I have created a mask hub for all mask links, so if you’d like to share one of my masks, you can just type the link www.irisluckhaus.de/masks instead of jumping to your browser and looking for the bookmark :)

Tips & Tricks | Mask Tying Videos by Reusable Mask Co Australia

My amazing sewing partner Reusable Masks Co Australia shot a lovely video with beautiful Carmen on how to dress up the Hybrid Cloth Mask with head ties, and another one on how to make ear loops! I could watch them all day long, and I thought they might be useful for my readers too. Great thanks to Sarah for letting me show them! … ➔

Press | Sewing Change: The Iris Luckhaus Story

Open Source Medical Supplies is my favourite international mask making group, as there are specialists from such a wide variety of fields, helping each other and the volunteers. I have been posting and discussing my hybrid mask pattern there, helped countless volunteers to sew it and was thankful to learn about material studies and neat sewing tricks! When John Kalil asked to intervíew me for their site, I jumped right in – and now, his article is online!… ➔

DIY Instructions | Customized Hybrid Face Masks

Since I first published my pattern for sewing the Hybrid Cloth Mask, which fits gapless (even without nosepiece!) and reliably stays in place, I’ve been asked about adjustments for special shapes and needs. In this post, I introduce a selection of these customized Hybrid patterns, and every now and then (last March 8th, 2021), I add new ones! … ➔

Tips & Tricks | Mask Tying Techniques for Cloth Masks Infographic

If you take a closer look, there are so many ways to attach a face mask to your ears or head! After looking into masks in great detail over the past couple of weeks and having all these little sketches for mask tying techniques on my desk, I finally drew an infographic that shows all the different ways to tie a cloth mask with ear bands or head ties.… ➔

DIY Instructions | Making a Hybrid Instant Mask

After starting out with a no-sew DIY makeshift emergency mask, then testing all available patterns for cloth masks and finally inventing my own – the optimized Hybrid Cloth Mask, which fits truly gapless, breathable yet reliably stays in place, even without a nose piece! –, I have now combined these two types of masks (and everything I have learned in the meantime!) to design an instant no-sew DIY mask with the same pattern and fit as the Hybrid Mask. … ➔

Press | Recommendations for the Hybrid Mask

I think it’s incredibly exciting and really great how my hybrid cloth mask gets around, how it is recommended, sewn and donated all over the world! In this post, I wanted to collect some of the recommendations and reviews. … ➔

DIY Tutorial | Hybrid Cloth Mask Pictorial

Since I first published pattern and instructions for my Hybrid Cloth Mask, which fits gapless yet roomy and reliably stays in place, I’ve been asked about making a detail tutorial for beginners and visual learners, but as a video needs at least 2-3 quiet days and a picture tutorial was possible to just make inbetween, I decided to go with that for now! … ➔

Feature | Hybrid Mask Test at MaskeZeigen.de

I felt honoured when I discovered my hybrid mask had been tested by the fabulously useful portal MaskeZeigen.de, an initiative started at the German government’s hackathon #wirvsvirus, which I’ve been following from the start! This is what tester Birgit S. says (direct translation :)), who has both sewn the mask and taken those lovely pictures above:

»The author of the instructions is a professional. And you can tell. (…) The highlight of this mask is the seperate, backwards folded nose pleat, which also contains the nose wire (…). I was pleasantly surprised at how well the mask fits. In my opinion, the author’s plan to design a mask that “fits as tightly and seamlessly as possible on the nose, cheek and chin and does not slide up into the eyes or down the tip of the nose” worked out perfectly. … ➔

DIY Instructions | Sewing a Hybrid Cloth Mask

For my own production, I optimized the pattern and manufacture of the cloth mask, to make it fit gapless and fog-free around nose, cheeks and chin and reliably stay in place, so it doesn’t slide up the eyes or down the nose. Individual parts such as wire, filter and ties are very easy to replace, plus the mask is quick and simple to sew, wash and iron.… ➔

DIY Instructions | No-Sew Emergency Mask

I designed an emergency maskeshift mask which can be made quickly and easily by anyone without sewing, simply with home and office supplies. If handled with care, it can protect others from your droplets, but its use for your own protection is very limited. If available, please wear a certified mask! If you decide to use this one, please understand that you’re doing so at your own risk: Keep your distance and wash your hands as if you’re not wearing it! … ➔