How To Make a Face Mask

$2
15 Minutes
Easy

During our time at home, my daughter, Olivia, and I wanted to do something to support our community. Olivia found a pattern on Circut Design Space, and she made a ton of masks using her Cricut Maker and that pattern. To aid in teaching how to sew a mask, I made a video while Olivia was sewing one (you can see it HERE).

I wanted to make some fabric face masks the old school way with a pattern and scissors to share how to make them without a Circut Machine.

Please note these cloth masks are not a substitute for medical-grade (N95) masks for healthcare workers. Refer to the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) for information on how to remove your mask and wash your hands.

If you would like to order a mask, please see Olivia’s shop on Etsy (.


How to Sew Face Masks

To have a little fun, I wanted to use printed fabrics to bring joy to someone. After selecting my fabrics, I prepared them for pre-washing by serging the cut edges to prevent fraying.

Wearing the fabric pleated face masks with ties

Pleated fabric face masks with handmade bias ties are ready to wear in minutes.


Notice the nose area of the pleated masks is curved where I installed a piece of wire, thus making these masks more comfortable to wear.

Two styles of easy sew face masks are easy to make from quilting fabrics


Supplies for a homemade face mask (pleated style)




  • 1/3 yard of the face fabric (tightly woven cotton fabric)



  • 1/2 yard of the lining and ties fabric (tightly woven cotton fabric)



  • Pins



  • Thread





  • Scissors



  • Sewing machine



  • Iron



  • Fabric marker



  • Wire



  • Rotary cutter



  • Cutting mat



  • Ruler



  • Pleated Face Mask (pattern pieces)

Using a fabric marker to trace the mask pieces or used printed pattern.

Cutting the face fabric using the lining piece as the pattern

Cutting the bias strips


Special Invitation:

Ruler on the fabric bias


Using a rotary cutter and long ruler cut two bias strips of fabric one inch wide by 44 inches long for each face masks.

Place right sides together pin and then sew

Turn right sides out


Making the Bias Tape

Purchased bias tape is only available in limited colors and can be pricey. For this reason, I like to make my bias tape with a bias tape maker, rotary cutter, and 6-foot ruler.

Cutting one inch-bias strip with a rotary blade

Use a bias tape maker and an iron to make bias tape for ties and the mask edges

Ironing the bias tape as I pull the bias strips


After sewing the short sides of the mask turn right side out and press the seams.

Iron the masks stitched side seams flat


You can view my how-to-make a face mask video below you can see all the steps as I sew a cloth face mask.

Line up center marks and pin the bias tape to the lining and sew in place

Pin then stitch bias tape in place

Ties and bias binding stitched and ready for pleats

Topstitched sides seams

Stitching casing to hold the wire in place


This mask design is comfortable to wear but it needs an opening for a removable filter to improve the filtration and it could use another layer of fabric otherwise I like this design.


Cricut Face Mask Pattern (SVG files)

My daughter, Olivia, found a free pattern for face masks on Circut Design Space. She used her Cricut Maker and the Cricut Explore (with a fabric cutting blade and cotton bonded fabric) cutting machines to cut out all the face mask pieces.


They turned out perfect and the mask fits the best and they also have a pocket that you can insert a filter (you can use coffee filters) too, therefore, this is our favorite face mask pattern. Please note that this mask can be used in health care situations with an N95 mask in a filter pocket, but be advised to seek more information on this from your health care facility.

Olivia and I wearing the masks she made with the Cricut Maker

The Cricut face mask is the most fitted and comfortable mask we have made.


Additionally, Olivia found that if she made a few changes to the face mask pattern it made it more comfortable to wear, such as adding a pocket for a nose clip (used to prevent your glasses from fogging) and ties that have a section with elastic.


Sew a Simple Face Mask with Hair Ties

I found this beginner sewing pattern for a face mask on the CDC website, therefore I wanted to sew one too so I could share how I did it and then try it on to make a comparison to the others we have made.

Easy sew fabric face mask

Inside view of the easy sew face mask.


I followed the instructions on the CDC website for cutting the fabrics; however, I did not follow their sewing instructions; instead, I modified the sewing instructions. Together with their cutting instructions and my modifications, this mask took 15 minutes to create.


My modified sewing instructions are to place the cut pieces with the right sides together, pin and stitch the long sides, and then turn the right sides out and press. Serge, the raw edges, then press over to form a casing for elastic or hair ties. If you would like to use hair ties, then insert the casing's ties next, pin the casing over, stitch the casing, and be careful not to sew through the hair tie.


That is it, and this mask is ready to wear. However, in the final analysis, we did not think this mask fit well and pulled on our ears. It has not nose clip, and the shape and design are not conforming to the shape of a face. To sum it up, this design is the least comfortable, and it would be difficult to modify to add a filter or another layer of fabric.

The author may collect a small share of sales from the links on this page.

Kippi @ Kippi At Home
Want more details about this and other fashion and style ideas? Check out more here!
Go
Comments
Join the conversation
 2 comments
  • Diana Vda Diana Vda on Feb 08, 2021

    HY OLIVIA AND MOM

    Sorry but i do not see where you put in da filter??

    I like them and want tray to make them nexweek up

    mij outworkplace,,is that ok??

    heartwarmgreets from Diana.

Next