Virtual Community Phase II - the Mask Making Pattern

Easy Mask with Filter Pocket

For each mask you will need:                                                                                     

1 piece 8” x 14 ½” (Mask body)                                 

2 strips 1 ¾” x 42”  (mask ties)                                   

2 strips 1 ¾” x 4 ½” (mask sides)

Once all the pieces are cut take the 8” ends of the large rectangle and hem them about ¼”.

Take the two hemmed 8” sides and bring them to the center of the rectangle as shown below, then overlap by about 1/2”.  Pin them in place catching only the overlapped layers of fabric.  You are working with the 14” side of the fabric now and the hemmed section should be parallel to you.

Start pleating the mask part  - bring the center section of the mask down and overlap it below the hemmed part by about ½” and pin into place as shown below.

Repeat above the center hemmed pleat – you should have three sections pleated now and your mask part should be about 4” – 4 ½” tall.  Pin into place as shown above.  Hit with a hot iron and set aside.

With your strips of fabric, fold in half and iron.  Open the fold and fold each long edge in to the center line, fold in half again and iron.  You are basically making bias tape at this point.  See above and below.

Once you have all the pieces folded and ironed, take the small little strips and wrap them over the short sides of the mask body.  You should have the center of the fold hugging the pleated edge of the mask as shown below.  Sew it on with your seam at the inside edge of the strip.  If you have extra fabric on the strip just trip it off.  It’s ok if there is a raw edge there – it will be covered by the tie.

This is what your mask looks like now with the pocket open.   See below.  When you pull the edges of the mask it pops back into the pleats!  So fun!

Next take the long strips (ties) and find the center of them.  I usually fold them in half and hit it with the iron so I can see the center.  Center that tie up in the middle of the top of the mask body and wrap the fabric around the top edge of the mask.  Pin into place – see below.  If you are using a nose piece – place it in the center of the top tie and pin it in at this point.

Starting with one end of the tie, fold the short end to the inside so the raw edge will sew into the tie as shown below (left), and then start sewing the tie closed on the long edge catching both of the folded in edges (below right).

See the end is folded into the tie so there will be no raw edge on the end of the tie.   Sew the tie close to the edge that had been the “open edge” and when you get to the mask body  you will just sew right across to the other side, remove the pins as you go (see below left).  At the other end fold the end of the tie inside and sew right across to close it.  Repeat with the bottom tie.  There’s your mask.

I cut out 6-8 of these at a time, in all different flavors and then just assembly line iron and sew.  Goes fast after the first one.  Use fun fabrics and color combinations!  Have fun and thank you for doing it!  Blessed Be!