Since there is a shortage of medical-grade masks, they are reserved only for health care workers. Therefore, we will show you how to make a mask with things that you can find inside your house.
In that light, all Americans were asked to wear masks from basic cloth in order to stop coronavirus spreading.
Tools and materials
Here is an easy guide how to make a mask.
What you need for this pattern:
Tools
- Needle and thread (and a sewing machine, if you have one)
- Scissors
- Pins or clips to hold fabrics in place (safety pins and paper clips will also work in a pinch)
Materials
- At least 20×20 inches of 100% cotton fabric (like a flat tea towel)
- 4 strips of cotton fabric for ties (about 18 inches long and ¾ of an inch wide), or 4 flat, clean shoelaces, o two flat ¼ of an inch sewing elastics that are 7 inches long
How to make a mask – Step by Step Guide
- Choose your piece of cotton fabric and wash it.
Fold the fabric in half. Measure and cut out a 9.5×6.5 inch rectangle to create two identically sized layers.
Additionally, cut 4 thin pieces of material, about 18’’ long and ¾’’ wide.
Fold each piece lengthwise, then once more to tuck the rough edges inside. Sew a straight line along the middle.
- Take one of the rectangle layers. Pin down 4 fabric ties, one piece on each corner.
Attach the elastics to the first layer of fabric by securing the ends at the corners.
- Furthermore, take the second layer of fabric and lit up with the first. The patterned sides should be facing each other. Secure the fabrics together with pins.
- From the middle of the fabric, sew a straight line cross the mask, toward the bottom left corner.
Make sure the needle goes through the three pieces: the top layer, the end of the fabric tie, and the bottom layer.
- Stitch all around the perimeter of the fabric layers.
Continue to stitch your way toward the starting point, but stop to allow for a 1 ½’’ gap.
- Turn your project right-side out from the little 1 ½’’ gap. Your fabric ties or elastics should now stick out.
- Make three staggered pleats lengthwise on the mask, as if folding a paper fan. Secure each pleat with pins.
- With your pleats held in place by pins, stitch around the perimeter of the mask, ¼’’ away from the edge of the seam.
Finally, the mask is completed.