We all have our favorites in the shop. This is my favorite mask for wearing an extended amount of time. In the shop I wear the mask 7-8 hours at a time. This mask allows me to breathe and talk more easily because of the space it leaves in front of my nose and mouth, plus it is a quick sew. I can cut and sew the mask in less than 15 minutes. So, let’s get started. Below, you can print out the pattern and the instructions. There are lots of versions of these masks out there, but after having tried a few of these and tweaking the designs, this the one that I think is easy to sew and fits our family. You can always tweak the design, to suit you as needed. Let’s get started….
NOTE: I have had problems with printing the pattern to scale. It is saved as a jpg file. The most successful approach I have had to printing is to open the pattern, save it as a jpg file on my computer. On the Mac I use Preview, open the saved file, print it, checking the scale and setting it to 100%. I have been unable to print this file successfully from Safari no matter how I scale the file.
NOTE: I have had problems with printing the pattern to scale. It is saved as a jpg file. The most successful approach I have had to printing is to open the pattern, save it as a jpg file on my computer. On the Mac I use Preview, open the saved file, print it, checking the scale and setting it to 100%. I have been unable to print this file successfully from Safari no matter how I scale the file.
Materials Needed:
- One 8 x 10” piece of exterior fabric, we prefer a tightly woven cotton with a high thread count, at least 200 threads per inch
- One 8 x 10” piece of cotton t-shirt fabric
- One 8 x 10 piece of cotton for interior layer such as a tightly woven muslin or a shirting
- Two pieces of elastic, 9” or longer to fit. Find something comfortable that you like to wear
- OR- Four pieces of 18” of bias or twill tape for ties
- Optional: cord stopper for adjusting elastic, you can use our silicone cord stoppers or even something as simple as pony beads.
- Optional: wire for nose fitting
1. Using your pattern, cut out the exterior fabric (we chose cherries), the inner layer (muslin), and the interior layer (cotton t-shirt).
2. Stack the fabric for sewing in the following order: lay the exterior fabric face side up (cherries), then place the interior fabric face side down (muslin), then place the inner layer fabric (t-shirt in light blue).
3. Using a 1/4” seam allowance, stitch across the bottom and top of the mask leaving the sides open.
I have outlined the stitching in red so you can see the top and bottom of mask stitched.
4. Carefully clip excess fabric from corners so they are easier to turn taking care not to cut into stitching.
5. Clip into the seam allowance around the curve so it will lay flat when turned right side out. Again, make sure you don’t cut into your stitching.
6. Turn right side out and put out the points and corner.
7. Take your wire and shape it into the shape of top seam of mask as shown.
8. Slide the wire into place between the t-shirt layer and exterior layer. Then carefully stitch around the wire back stitching at the beginning. This stitching will hold the wire in place. Be careful not to hit wire with sewing needle or you will likely break it. Go slowly and feel your way around the wire.
9. Place cord stopper on elastic pieces if using. Fold sides of mask in 1/4” to hide raw edges and pin in place. Then place ends of elastic at top and bottom of each side sliding into mask to hide raw edges. If using ties, then place one at top edge and a second at bottom edge. Repeat for other side.
10. Top stitch around the mask. When you get to the elastic, stitch over once, back stitch over it, then stitch again. These three rows of stitching should hold the elastic or ties in place. The mask on the left has been topstitched.
11. Fold the top of the mask down to form straight line from side to side and pin in place.
12. Fold bottom up, as you did top of mask and pin in place. Make sure the top and bottom of mask are up out of the way for stitching.
13. Stitch down along folded edges backstitching at start and finish of stitching.
Now we are almost finished!
14. This is the 3-D part. Lay mask face down on table. Fold down top, then fold up with wrong side facing up and align corner to top edge of mask. Do the same with the bottom of mask. (see yellow arrows) Make sure that the part folded up is parallel to side of mask (see red lines). Pin in place.
15. Stitch across the folded edges. Repeat on other side. Note that the mask no longer lies flat. That it pulls up the sides. That is supposed to happen.
Now the mask stands up by itself!
Try it on for fit
If you don’t like the fit, then you can play with the design by shaping the curve for the nose, by lengthening the mask, or shortening the length by making a little pleat in the pattern. Make this pattern your own. There are many different versions out there. Good luck. And, don’t forget to cut any stray threads or you might end up with an itchy nose, just speaking from experience.
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181 Winslow Way E Suite D
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
Call us now: 206-842-2261
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