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How to make a Face Mask

We’ve had many requests for a face mask pattern so here it is!

Please note that any homemade masks are not medical grade and is not designed to replace them. When wearing a covering around your nose and mouth however it can discourage you touching your face when you are out and about.

You will Need:
Materials:
X1 Piece of tightly woven cotton fabric 30cm x 23cm
x1 40cm piece of 5mm elastic

Tools and Equipment:
Matching Thread to your bias binding, Pins, Needle, Fabric Scissors, Ruler, Erasable Pen, Iron and Ironing board, Sewing Machine,

Let’s get Making

Take you piece of fabric and fold it in half right sides together so you now have a piece of fabric that measures 15cm x 23cm.

Measure out your elastic – I used x2 16.5cm lengths of elastic however for my husband he needed it slightly longer at x2 18cm lengths – so if you’re planning on making several masks perhaps make a practise one first so you can see what size you need.

Pin your fabric together leaving a 10cm gap along the long edge and then sandwich and pin your elastic inside one corner like in the photo.

Try to have your elastic at a 45 degree angle into your corner
Be sure to leave a turning gap.

Stitch from the middle (don’t forget to leave your gap for turning) towards the corner and be sure to go back and forth on your sewing machine several times over the elastic to keep it nice and secure. Pivot and grab the other end of the same piece of elastic (that’s hiding inside your fabric) and bring it to the other corner and then stitch along this edge securing the other end of elastic inplace with many stitches again.

Do the same for the other side.

Now turn inside our and press with an iron – DO NOT IRON on the elastic as it could melt and loose it’s elasticity.

Next grab your erasable pen and a rular – you can use pin to mark the lines but I find a pen easier. Draw lines across your fabric every 3.5cm. Now comes the tricky bit, the pleats.

It’s quite difficult to explain so please be sure to check the photos and we’ll add a video to our stories on Instagram (@bunyipcraft) You pinch from line to another and pin in place.

Pin in place at both ends and then Stitch in place with a 0.5cm seam allowence around the whole of your mask even the long edges to keep it extra secure.

Don’t worry if you can’t get the pleats exactly right, just aslong as there are two pleats that then allows for the mask to stretch over your nose and mouth but keep tight near your ears.