Fabric Face Mask Tutorial **Picture Heavy**

If this is the style mask you are looking for…

with a metal nose formable piece and ear elastics and a place to add a filter if you like but the whole mask is 3 layers of fabric .. this is the tutorial for you 🙂

I am Kathi and welcome to my blog if this is your first visit!
I am a retired pediatric cardiac RN and am passionate about everyone having the option to wear a face mask.
I live in North Carolina and sew on vintage Singer sewing machines that my honey helps me keep up!  That is him showing off his mask I made with this same method I am sharing here 🙂

Step one pick 2 cotton quilt weight or heavier cotton fabrics and make the first mask for you or a willing model!

Adult women size of mask requires:
1 – 7 1/2″ x 9 1/2″ rectangle (non directional printed fabric like my plaid if a good choice)
2 – 7 1/2″ x 9 1/2″ rectangles cut for back of mask or opposite side (can be considered reversible)
2 – 7″ pieces of elastic (I used 1/4″ wide white but you could use 1/8″ or knot a round elastic)
3 – metal twist ties (like used on bread or some trash bags) per mask
Sewing machine, sharp pins and good scissors make this much easier too! 🙂

Adult Men’s Size of mask requires 8″ x 10″ measurements above and elastic is 8″

Child’s mask depends on gender and age so adjust according to needs after making a few adult ones is my best advice.

Press your fabric rectangles well… if your elastic is all folded or wrinkled you can press it steamy press under all the fabric layers so it doesn’t melt.  Then press your back side 2 rectangles in half along the long way as shown above.

Once you have this sandwich turn it over and insert the elastic caddy cornered like I have above.  Then replace your front fabric making sure it is right side up and the folded edges are touching on the back layer of fabrics as shown below.

 I start about 1/3 way to the first corner as shown below on my vintage Singer 301 – Julius!

 See how as I turned the corner I am actually pivoting on that piece of elastic… this will leave you kind of a 45 degree angle on the outside but I like how sturdy it is.

 I sew down the short edge with a scant 1/4″ seam as you can see below and then stop before getting to the corner to bring the elastic in caddy cornered again.

 Once I have gone around it all once I take it out of the sewing machine … this is how it looks now on the back side….

 And on the front side…

 Now trim your seam allowance to 1/8″ leaving the corners all square .. Do Not clip them as they need the strength of holding the elastic well over time 🙂

 When you are done trimming you can turn it using your fingers in the corners and pull the elastic to test it for durability… easy to restitch now than to give it to someone for use and it break! lol

 As shown above I press from the back side and kind of roll the edges as I press to make it nice and neat… next step below is to inspect it then to make the pleats and stitch it.  Get your metal piece or twist ties ready 🙂

 Here is a nice view of the back… there the folds meet the edges it is a bit wobbly … but that will be fixed next 🙂

 Make your first pleat by hand … making sure IF you have directional fabric that the fold going down is the right direction of the mask.

 Then go to the opposite side and pin the middle there too comparing sides and pulling the mask taut to make sure your pleat comes out straight… I used a plaid for this demo … I cheated ! lol

 Now pin the upper and lower on each side… checking for level and evenness…
 Now sew with a small stitch length of 12/inch or shorter starting on the right upper side.  Go down that short side at about 1/4″ in removing pins as you get to them.  Go across the top and bottom right near the edge …

You just sewed a rectangle and it should look like this from the front…

 And this from the back…

 Now you will make a second loop sewing around the front of the mask (btw I am using Aurifil 50 wt cotton thread and having no breakage issues if you need thread recommendation for this project).

Start your stitching in the right upper corner close to the edge this time on the right, bottom and left sides… when you get to the top edge STOP…

 Now you will open that back side and put your twisted together twist ties or metal of any type that is bendable … in the center of the top edge in the seam allowance… by placing the metal in all that seam allowance… we will next sew around the metal piece specifically to hold it in place and don’t want it poking through over time 🙂

 Here is a picture of the back opening below… and you can see the metal stitch line I made to hold it in place so it won’t roam when washed….

 Press and try it on!!!

 If you are giving these to others and may not be able to explain all their features here is an idea of a card to enclose with your mask….

 I also added my phone number to mine so they can call if there is a problem or they have a question… and they you go!  Each mask takes me about 15 minutes once cut out… so turn on some tunes and make some masks!!!!

 Here is another mask I made with another set of photos if you need a different perspective too!

 Here is a bigger mask I made.. you can see it a bit gappy in the lower cheek level..  hope they fit the recipient better…

Thanks for visiting… Hope this tutorial was informative for you!  Have a blessed day 🙂

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