We have been getting requests for the pattern I used for the face masks I have been making. The truth is, it is a mash-up of several different face mask patterns we saw out there. We tried our best to combine what seemed to be each of their strongest features for my masks. So below is the tutorial for how I made mine. I have created a video tutorial, as well as a step by step written and photo tutorial.
*DISCLAIMER: I am neither a professional sewer nor a medial professional, this tutorial is simply a guide for those wishing to make a fabric face mask. We do not guarantee that this will protect against bacteria or viruses*
Materials you will need:
- One 17 x 8.5 inches piece of cotton fabric
- Two 3 x 3.5 inches pieces of cotton fabric
- thread
- pins
- an iron (I found this really helped, but it is technically optional)
- sewing machine (or you could sew it by hand)
- scissors
- .25 inch wide elastic or shoe laces or string to comfortable tie around your head (length will vary)
- a 3 or 4 inch piece of thin wire, twist tie, or paper clip (optional)
Here is a video tutorial, below are step by step instructions with photos.
Note: this mask has a "pocket", so you can insert a filter (this can be industrial strength paper towels, or cut up pieces of vacuum bags, or in a pinch, extra fabric).
Before you do anything, wash and dry your fabric in a machine so that there will be no shrinking after it is finished.
Step 1: Cut your fabric. You need one rectangle 17 inches long and 8.5 inches wide. Plus two smaller rectangles that measure 3 inches by 3.5 inches each. Then cut your rectangle in half, so that you have two 8.5x8.5 inch squares.
Step 2: Pin your pleats. You will need 3 pleats on both sides of the mask, so 6 pleats total. I like to pin 1/2 inch deep pleats, starting about 1.5 or 2 inches away from the bottom of my fabric. Once you finish pinning your pleats, your fabric should be about half the length it was originally.
Step 3: Pin your hem. Choose which end will be the top of your mask, and fold over the edge a smidge less than half an inch. Repeat this for the other piece.
Step 4: Iron. Iron both pieces of your mask, so that the pleats will hold when you remove your pins (which I like to do, so that it is extra easy to sew).
Step 5: Iron the two channels. Fold over the two longer sides and iron those down, then fold this in half. Repeat for second channel.
Step 6: Hem. Sew down the the two top edges of your mask now. If you will be inserting wire into your mask, I recommend that you begin sewing about a quarter away from the edge to leave an opening through which to insert and remove the wire. You only need to do this for one of your two panels, because you only put the wire in one side of the mask. Sew down the entire length across the top of the other piece.
Step 7: Pin the mask. Now it is time to pin the channels to the body of the mask. Lay down one side of your mask, with the right side facing you. Now, with the channel folded in half, lay it down, centered along the edge of the mask, folded side in and cut edges hanging off. You want about half of the channel to be on the mask, and the other half to be off. This excess fabric assures that despite the channels being a point of tension on the mask, they should not separate from the mask body after wearing. Pin in place. Refer to the photo below to make sure you are pinning it correctly. Repeat with the other channel piece on the other side of this same mask.
Step 8: Now place the one remaining side of the mask over the side that now has channels pinned to it. The two "right" side of the mask should be on the inside, and the "wrong" sides of the mask should be on the outside. Carefully pin these together on either side of the channels, and remove the pin that was holding the channels.
Step 9: Sew. It is time to sew. Your goal is to sew up the sides and bottom, with just a few stitches at either end of the top to secure that pocket doesn't hang open. Now, I took the extra step of starting and ending my stitches in the bottom corner (see my photo below) in order to prevent threads hanging out of the top opening and bothering the wearer. This also creates a double seam as good reenforcement. You should should finish sewing at the opposite bottom side you started on.
Turn your mask right side out, and boil it in some hot water to clean it after touching it during sewing. Hang to dry (unless you have a dryer). Once it is dry, you can insert the elastic/shoelace/string of your choice that you will use to wear it. I recommend cutting the elastic/string so that it goes around your entire head, rather than just your ears. This allows for a better fit. I have read that ear straps can cause painful bruising. Finally, insert the wire if you choose to use it. And you are ready to go.
We boil our masks in water for about 5 minutes each night, and we remove the wire before we boil them.
If you are looking to donate masks, we recommend you check out MakeMasks, a website that is run by volunteers and will match mask donors with the nearest hospital that needs them.
If you do not sew, or know someone who wants to make a mask but does not sew, we recommend this video.
If you have any questions, please leave a comment or send a DM on instagram and we are happy to help.
Two Sheep
Vivian & Jennifer
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