Making a comfortable mask a size that is just
right for you is not hard at all. The directions below and the movie
will show you how to do it, step-by-step.
You will find the patterns for all three sizes
of the mask below the directions. The pattern
can also be found as a PDF here. You can find
this entire page as a PDF here.
There are three sizes:
All of the masks can be fitted
with an additional filter of your choice, as they are all double sided,
with a pocket in the middle.
STEP 1: PREPARING THE CLOTH.
To make the mask you’ll need to cut out four pieces of cloth.
You might want to make a template. Looking below, you can see that with
just one template you can cut out all four pieces of cloth. The template,
at least to me, looks like a boot.
It will be easier to sew if you iron the cloth first.
STEP 2: Sew the
soles of the larger boots together, and do the same with the smaller
boots as you see below. As you do this, be a little careful to make
an even border of .25 inch (6 mm). To hold the pieces together as you
sew, you can use pins or use a glue stick. A glue stick gives a temporary
but secure hold.
Add slits along the seam you have
just sewn for a smoother fit later.
STEP 3: Hem the
top of each boot so that the fold points to the seam you have just
sewn. You need to hem all four tops. The hems are .25 inch (6 mm).
STEP 4: Align the
center seams so that the raw edges of both pieces point out. Sew the
top edges of the two pieces together, starting in the middle, where
the top of your nose will be.
STEP 5: To get
a tighter fit when you wear the mask, you can sew about three inches
(8 cm) of stiff wire into the top between the two halves of the mask.
If your sewing machine can do a zigzag stitch, you’re set. Otherwise,
do it by hand. You can do this step later if you wish.
STEP
6: Sew together the bottom or chin sides of the mask.
STEP 7. Turn the
mask inside out.
Decide how you want to hold the
mask onto your face. Your choices are elastic straps to wrap around
your head or ears, a cord that you tie just once, or four straps. If
you chose elastic for around your ear or head, or a cord that you tie
just once, you can switch to straps later if you want to.
Step 8. Fold in the ends of the
larger side of the mask so that the borders of the two patterns meet
and sew the ends in place. Be sure not to seal the inner mask shut and
take care to leave room for elastic or cord if you want to hold the
mask on your face that way.
STEP 9. Put in
cord or elastic to go around your ears or make ties to strap the mask
around your head.
Ties that are 18 inches, about 60 cm, long will be fine for even the
biggest head. Ties can be shoelaces, string, ribbon, or you can make
your own. I often make my own by folding an inch or two of cloth several
times and sewing it together, but below I've used shoelaces.
Below you see that a layer of cloth
has been slipped between the inner and outer layers for a bit more protection.
Enjoy your mask!
And stay healthy.
Below
are the patterns, starting with the largest. You will find the dimensions
with each pattern so if you don't have a printer you can easily draw
them. If you have a printer, all of these files are available
in one PDF.
You can click on any pattern to
open it in Flickr for an even larger view.