I decided to try making some face masks for my family and friends to wear out to the store, at work, or where ever they might be needed. Here's how it's done!
What You Need:
Sewing Machine
Fabric
Elastic
thread
scisors or Rotary Cutter
pipe cleaners
straight pins
tape
Iron (I used my Cricut Easy Press)
What To Do:
Start by folding your fabric in half (so you have less area to cut).
Then cut out a rectangle 6 inches tall and 9 inches wide.
Pin your rectangle together at the top, across from the fold right sides in.
Leave a space in the center open for you to turn the fabric right-side out about three inches wide. Mark this with pins so you don't forget.
Take this piece over to the sewing machine and sew from one end to the first pin marking your opening, back stitching at each end. Do this again for the other side.
Once your edge across from the fold is sewn on both sides take your elastic and cut two pieces 7 inches long.
Tuck one piece of elastic into your fabric taking the two ends and pinning them to the outer edges of your fabric with a small piece of elastic sticking out. Make sure your elastic runs flat from one pin to the other. Do this to both sides.
Once both pieces of elastic are pinned, go to your sewing maching and sew along the two short sides of your material backstitching extra over your elastic to be sure it's secure.
Once Your two sides are sewn together you can flip your fabric right side out.
Take your fabric, right side out, over to the ironing board and iron your mask flat, making sure your opening is folded in nicely to be sewn later.
After your fabric is ironed, take your pipe cleaners and cut them into 4 inch pieces. Fold the ends of your pipe cleaners in so it rounds at the end and doesnt poke through the fabric. Then take a piece of tape and tape two pipe cleaners together by the two ends. These will be your nose clamps.
Next you're going to mark your nose pieces on your fabric with straight pins. Place the pipe cleaner's on the long side of your mask opposite end of your opening. Mark the edges of the mask with the pins.
Once your mask is marked, take your fabric over to the sewing machine and stitch the left side and width of the nose pocket. DO NOT enclose it until after you slide the pipe cleaner into the pocket. Once your pipe cleaner is in the pocket you can sew the third side down.
Once your nose piece is in you will take your pins and create the pleats on your mask. I measured these out at first but found it was easier to just create the pleates by hand by folding the fabric over itself twice evenly placed on each side of the mask. Do this three times down the height of the mask.
Once your pins are in take the fabric over to the sewing machine and sew around the perimiter of the mask, being sure to catch the opening at the bottom of the mask we used to flip the fabric right side out. Back stitch at both the beginning and the end.
Once your mask has been sewn all around you are done! Enjoy your new mask!
You can also find a video of the process below!
If you liked this tutorial and tried it for yourself, we would love to hear about it! If you have any suggestions on ways we can improve our masks, we would love to hear them!
Send us a message or comment below. Otherwise, thanks for reading!
Jen
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