If you’re looking for a comfortable face mask pattern that’s easy to sew and customisable, you’re going to love this one. It can be made on under 20 minutes, it’s breathable, well-fitted, and easy to make.
I know that there are tons of face mask patterns already out there, but with the restrictions that have been happening here lately, we needed a comfortable mask that was well-fitted to each of our faces. As I am unable to create video at the moment, I have taken as many photos as I could for you to follow this easy how to make a face mask list.
How to Sew a Face Mask
Sewing this mask is not that time consuming, even if you are a beginner. I haven’t used a sewing machine for many years now and I was still able to sew these on a machine that I haven’t used before in around 15-20 minutes per mask.
You will need for each mask:
- Pattern fabric for the outside
- Plain fabric for the filter pocket
- Thread
- Sewing Machine
- Pins
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Scissors
- Elastic
- Template
Making a Face Mask
After downloading the template, print off the size of mask you want. The small is a great size for kids. Cut out around the template. For a more durable template, glue the paper one onto a piece of thin cardboard and cut it out.
To make the mask you will need to cut out three pieces of fabric – two of the printed pattern and one of the plain fabric. Fold the printed fabric over and place a piece of plain fabric on top. Lay the template on top of this and pin it down. Draw around the template onto the plain fabric and then cut out the three pieces.
Once you have your pieces, place the plain fabric piece to the side until needed. Place the two printed pieces of fabric on top of each other with the pattern (front sides) together. Pin the fabric pieces together along the two curved edges. Sew along these two sides using a 0.7cm (0.28 inch) seam – see the green lines on the photo below.
Once done, spread the seam that was just shown open and sew, on the printed (front) side of the fabric. See photo below, with the seams spread – the green dots show the seam.
Sew the right side, then the left side. This will hold the extra fabric from the seam down. Repeat for the other curved edge as well. See how it is done in the photo below.
Place the mask aside and grab the plain fabric. Fold the plain fabric in half, pinning the two curved edges together. Now measure 1.5cm (0.59 inch) in from the short, straight edge and draw a line. Cut this edge off.
Separate the two edges. On the first short, straight edge fold back the fabric once about 0.5cm (first fold shown in photo below)
and then fold over again. Pin this ready to sew. Repeat for the other short, straight edge.
Sew the curved edge of this plain fabric together first using a 0.7cm (0.28 inch) seam. Again, spread the seam that was just shown open and sew, on the printed (front) side of the fabric. Sew the right side, then the left side. This will hold the extra fabric from the seam down. Repeat for the other curved edge as well.
Sew the first of the short, straight edges together, then the second edge. When finished, it should look like the photo below.
Grab the mask, keeping it inside out (pattern sides together) and pin the underside of the plain fabric to the front side of the mask. Pin the plain fabric (filter) along the top and bottom sides of the mask.
Sew along the top long, curved edge of the mask using a 0.7cm (0.28 inch) seam. On the bottom edge of the mask, measure in about 2.5 cm (1 inch) and draw a line. Sew along the bottom edge of the mask, stopping at the 2.5 cm (1 inch) mark, leaving this open.
Nip some small cuts into the edges that have just been sewn, without cutting the stitching.
Turn the mask inside out by pulling it through the small gap that was left.
Once the mask is the right way, fold the edges where the opening was and iron the this down. Iron the rest of the face mask as well. Sew the small opening closed. You can sew across the top and bottom of the mask using a 0.7cm (0.28 inch) seam if you wish.
Fold over one of the small edges 1cm (0.39 inch) and pin. Fold over the other small edge as well. Sew along the edge, leaving the gap for the elastic to go through each side.
Cut the elastic the length you need. Depending on the size of the mask you used, this could be anywhere from 24cm (9.5 inch) for the small up to 30cm (12 inch) for the large. You will need two pieces of elastic the same length.
Thread one piece of the elastic through one side of the mask and the other through the other side of the mask. Tie a double knot in the elastic to hold it together, cut off the extra pieces, then thread the elastic through the holes again, so that the knot is hiding under the fabric strip.
Try on your new face mask. If the elastic is too tight, you can cut it out and redo with a longer piece of elastic.
Other Sewing Projects
- How to Sew a Felt Alphabet
- Upcycled Mens Decoupage Planters
- DIY Needle Felt Book
- DIY Reusable Beeswax Wraps
- Felt Leaf Sleeping Bags
- Super Easy Cushion Cover
- Sewing Hems & Keeping the Original
- How to Sew a Face Mask
- Sew a Pencil Roll Up Case
How to Sew a Face Mask
Simple Living. Creative LearningIngredients
- Pattern fabric for the outside
- Plain fabric for the filter pocket
- Thread
- Scissors
- Pins
- Pencil or pen
- Ruler
- Elastic
- Template
Instructions
- After downloading the template, print off the size of mask you want. The small is a great size for kids. Cut out around the template. For a more durable template, glue the paper one onto a piece of thin cardboard and cut it out.
- To make the mask you will need to cut out three pieces of fabric - two of the printed pattern and one of the plain fabric. Fold the printed fabric over and place a piece of plain fabric on top. Lay the template on top of this and pin it down. Draw around the template onto the plain fabric and then cut out the three pieces.
- Once you have your pieces, place the plain fabric piece to the side until needed. Place the two printed pieces of fabric on top of each other with the pattern (front sides) together. Pin the fabric pieces together along the two curved edges. Sew along these two sides using a 0.7cm (0.28 inch) seam - see the green lines on the photo.
- Once done, spread the seam that was just shown open and sew, on the printed (front) side of the fabric. See the photo with the seams spread - the green dots show the seam.
- Sew the right side, then the left side. This will hold the extra fabric from the seam down. Repeat for the other curved edge as well. See how it is done in the photo.
- Place the mask aside and grab the plain fabric. Fold the plain fabric in half, pinning the two curved edges together. Now measure 1.5cm (0.59 inch) in from the short, straight edge and draw a line. Cut this edge off.
- Separate the two edges. On the first short, straight edge fold back the fabric once about 0.5cm - first fold in the photo
- And then fold over again. Pin this ready to sew. Repeat for the other short, straight edge.
- Sew the curved edge of this plain fabric together first using a 0.7cm (0.28 inch) seam. Again, spread the seam that was just shown open and sew, on the printed (front) side of the fabric. Sew the right side, then the left side. This will hold the extra fabric from the seam down. Repeat for the other curved edge as well.
- Sew the first of the short, straight edges together, then the second edge. When finished, it should look like the photo.
- Grab the mask, keeping it inside out (pattern sides together) and pin the underside of the plain fabric to the front side of the mask. Pin the plain fabric (filter) along the top and bottom sides of the mask.
- Sew along the top long, curved edge of the mask using a 0.7cm (0.28 inch) seam. On the bottom edge of the mask, measure in about 2.5 cm (1 inch) and draw a line. Sew along the bottom edge of the mask, stopping at the 2.5 cm (1 inch) mark, leaving this open.
- Nip some small cuts into the edges that have just been sewn, without cutting the stitching.
- Turn the mask inside out by pulling it through the small gap that was left.
- Once the mask is the right way, fold the edges where the opening was and iron the this down. Iron the rest of the face mask as well. Sew the small opening closed. You can sew across the top and bottom of the mask using a 0.7cm (0.28 inch) seam if you wish.
- Fold over one of the small edges 1cm (0.39 inch) and pin. Fold over the other small edge as well. Sew along the edge, leaving the gap for the elastic to go through each side.
- Cut the elastic the length you need. Depending on the size of the mask you used, this could be anywhere from 24cm (9.5 inch) for the small up to 30cm (12 inch) for the large. You will need two pieces of elastic the same length.
- Thread one piece of the elastic through one side of the mask and the other through the other side of the mask. Tie a double knot in the elastic to hold it together, cut off the extra pieces, then thread the elastic through the holes again, so that the knot is hiding under the fabric strip.
- Try on your new face mask. If the elastic is too tight, you can cut it out and redo with a longer piece of elastic.