How to Sew a Face Mask

Materials:

• Two 8″ cotton fabric squares for outside of mask, washed and dried – See Fat quarter bundles here
• Two 8″ cotton fabric squares for inside of mask, washed and dried – See Fat quarter bundles here
• 1/4″ elastic or 1/4″ – 3/8″ wide grosgrain ribbon – See Ribbons here
• wire or pipe cleaners or twist ties or paperclip (optional)
• filter (optional)
• pencil or other fabric marking tool
• sewing machine
• scissors
• printed face mask pattern (see below)

Face mask instructions
• Cut out inner and outer face mask pattern pieces on the solid lines.
• With fabric right sides together, pin pattern pieces to fabric or just trace cutting lines onto fabric. Cut out inner and outer face mask pieces.
• Transfer solid casing line (1 1/2″ from raw edge) onto the wrong side of outer face mask pieces using pencil or other marking tool.

• With right sides together, sew 1/4″ seam along the inside centre face mask pieces. Repeat for the outside centre face mask seam.
• Cut notches into the curved seam allowance just sewn or use pinking shears to trim curved seam allowance. This will reduce bulk and help the seam to lay flat. Gently press to one side.
• Turn under 1/4″ along the short side edges of the inner face mask and press. Stitch in place.

• With right sides together, pin inner and outer face mask pieces along upper edge, matching centre seam. Stitch using 1/4″ seam allowance (backstitching at the beginning and end).
• Turn right side out and press seam, extending 1/4″ fold along the outer face mask edge.
• Top stitch in place 1/8″ from folded edges.

Repeat the above process on the bottom edge – right sides together and matching the centre seam.

• Turn under 1/4″ along the short sides of the outer face mask and press.
• Fold this edge again (5/8″) so that it meets the pencil line and press.
• Stitch along the inner folded edge, creating a casing for elastic or ties.

Add elastic or ties to the mask. If you have elastic, cut a 12″ length and thread through the side casing. Tie a knot and adjust it as needed. Once it’s comfortable, you can slide the elastic around so the knot is inside the casing (optional).

If you’re using bobbles, you can cut them in half and sew them to the outside instead of feeding them through the casing. Otherwise, you will have to place them into the casing before stitching the casing seam closed.
For ribbon or fabric ties, you can attach them two ways. The first way (my preference) is to sew each one to a corner of the face mask. The length should be about 16″ each. This takes a little longer to put the face mask on, but it’s adjustable, the mask sits tight against the face and it makes it easy to remove the mask partially without having to completely remove it.