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.