How to sew a Face Filtration Mask

Many manufacturers have sought a pattern to make homemade surgical masks for hospitals and their communities. The DIY pattern in this post will teach you how to make a face mask made of fabric with elastic ear loops or fabric ties.

The cloth face mask can be made with an internal pocket in which you can insert additional filter material.

If you cannot or do not want to use elastic ear loops, there are additional instructions for making and using the fabric ties. You can make fabric ties with cotton fabric, T-shirt material, or use a ready-made bias bond.

A printable version of these pattern instructions is available below the post.

The Best Fabric to Use to Make A Face Mask:

Researchers at the University of Cambridge tested the effectiveness of a wide range of household materials for use in homemade masks. They measured how well domestic materials can capture and filter small particles.


Test data suggests that the best choices for DIY cloth masks are cotton T-shirts, pillows, or other cotton materials. Using a double layer of material for your DIY mask adds a small increase infiltration effectiveness.


Other research has found that the most effective mask was made of two layers of heavyweight "quilters cotton" with a thread count of at least 180, and a thick and tight weave.


This pattern has 2 layers of fabric, and an inner pocket to which you can add additional layers of disposable filtration material if you wish.

DIY Mask Pattern:

The finished adult mask will be 7.75″ wide and 3.75″ tall.

Video Tutorial

Materials

• 100% cotton fabric (with a tight weave)
• 1/8″ flat elastic for ear loops, or 4 fabric ties (you can use the same cotton fabric to make strips, use pre-made bias binding, or strips of cotton jersey)
• fabric scissors
• ruler
• pins or clips
• sewing machine and thread

Cut List

For adult size masks:

• Cut 1 fabric rectangle 16 and long and 8.5 ″ wide.
• Cut 2 pieces of elastic, each 7 (long (or 8, for larger adult sizes)

For a child shaped mask:

• Cut 1 cloth rectangle 14 and long and 6.5 ″ wide
• Cut 2 pieces of elastic, each 6, long

For elastic ear loops:

• Cut 2 7 2 long pieces for adult masks (or up to 8 ″ for larger adult sizes)
• Cut 2 6 2 long pieces for a baby mask

For fabric ties, if you are not using elastic:

• Cut 4 rectangles 18 by 1.75 by 18 wide. Fold the long sides to meet the middle, then fold in half again to surround the raw edges. Sew the length of the rectangles along the edge to form the ties.
• 18 people may be too long for some people, feel free to trim it down.

Steps of Sewing A Face Mask:

 

Step 1: Sew to the top side, with pocket

• Fold the cloth rectangle in half, with the right side facing each other.
• Sew along the top 8.5 edge width edge, using a larger 5/8 ance seam allowance. Leave a 3 "opening in the center of this seam to create an opening for the filter seam, and allow the mask to exit from the right side after sewing. In the photo above, I saw this opening with pins Has marked.
• Update: Some people find it easier to insert or remove additional filter material if they have a larger opening. Instead of a 3 "opening you can have a 4" inch opening.

Don’t want a filter pocket?

• If you don't want or need a pocket, that's completely fine. You'll still need to leave an opening so that you can bend the mask to the right.
• After you attach the elastic or ties (in the next step) and the mask is out from the right side, you can stitch the closed opening. You can then continue along the rest of the directions.
• Next, bend the fabric so that the seam is centered in the middle of one side with the pocket opening. Using an iron, push the seam open.
• Fold the excess seam allowance, reducing the raw edge of the fabric. Topstitch or zig-zag stitch along each edge of this seam to eliminate the edge. When you insert and remove any filter, it will help to keep the fabric sinister.

Step 2: Pin Elastic or Fabric Ties

If Using Elastic:

• Pin one piece of elastic to each side of the mask, one end at the top corner and one end at the bottom corner of the cloth rectangle.
• Once the mask is turned from the right to the outside, an ear loop will be created.
• Place the ends of the fabric between 1/4 ends to 1/2 ″ from the top and bottom corners of the fabric.
• The piece of elastic itself will be sandwiched between two layers of fabric.
• Once you bend the mask to the right, the elastic will be outward.
• Repeat this process on each side to make two ear loops.

Alternative – Use fabric ties:

• If you do not find it elastic or prefer to use fabric ties, you can use 4 fabric ties in each corner.
• Each tie will be 18 ″ long. Tie a tie in each corner, being careful not to hold the ties in the side seam.
• You can also use twill tape, bias tape, or strips from a cotton jersey (T-shirt fabric).
• The finished mask will then be worn by tying cloth straps to the back of the head. See the notes below in the post.

 

Step 3: Sew the Sides, Securing the Ties

• Sew each side of the facemask, with 3/8 / suture allowance. Backstitch on elastic or fabric ties to secure them.
• Trim the corners with scissors to make it easier to bend the mask to the right.
• Do not clip the stitches by mistake.
• Turn the mask to the right and press it with an iron. You can use a pencil to take out the corners.
• Cut a 6-inch piece of pipe cleaner, flower wire or other flexible wire to make the nose piece.
• I twisted the ends of the wire back from poking through the fabric.
• Place the wire through the pocket hole and slide it to the very top of the mask. To keep it, stitch it from 3 sides to all four sides.

Step 4: Make the Pleats

• Draw a mask with three equally spaced lines. To do this, you can measure and mark with a water-soluble fabric pen. Or, you can do what I did, and twist the mask into quarters - twist the sides to meet the middle, and then fold in half again.
• Use an iron to make a crease.
• Use your markings to make three identical 1/2 "pleats.
• Pin the folds down, making sure all the pleats are facing the same direction.
• Sew along the sides to secure the plots. Give me twice The sides love to sew, just to be sure.
• When the mask is worn, it should be opened downwards, to prevent any particles from collecting in the folded pocket.

Now Your Face Filtration Mask is Ready.
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