It is important to understand that wearing these types of fabric masks WILL NOT prevent you from getting Covid-19. It does help prevent the virus particles from hitting your face, which can help reduce your risk of contracting the virus, but the weave in the fabric is technically wide enough to still allow small virus particles in. The main purpose of wearing this mask is to help reduce the spread of the virus from an infected person.
So one day I was scrolling through Facebook and saw that a neighbor of mine was looking for fabric masks to send to her son who is in the Navy, since there is a shortage of masks for our service members. I decided to dust off the sewing machine and give it a try. I watched numerous YouTube videos and it certainly seemed easy enough. So one Sunday I sat down to gave it a try. Six hours later, five hundred interruptions from the kids, and three screwed up masks later I gave up. No matter what I did I just couldn't get the pieces to line up and the seams seemed so bulky against my face. So I scraped the whole thing, put the kids to bed and put together my own design. It simplified the number of seams and extended the chin piece to go down further on the neck, offering more coverage.
Here is the finished design:
Here are the step by step instructions and pdf pattern file:
Step One:
Fold your fabric so you will have four (4) layers. Place pattern on fabric.
*Tip: You can pin the pattern to the fabric to help keep it in place.
Step Two:
Using a fabric pencil, trace your pattern.
Step Three:
Cut out your pattern.
Step Four:
Separate your pattern into two sets. You should have two layers in each set.
Step Five:
Starting at the pointed tip at the top, sew down along the curve. Do this to both sets
*Backstitch at the beginning and end of your stitching to prevent the seam from unraveling.
Step Six:
Trim excess material. Be careful not to get too close to the stitching.
Step Seven:
Flip one set inside out and put it inside the other set. Line up your seams as tight and straight as you can.
Step Eight:
Laying your mask flat, stitch along the top and bottom.
*Backstitch at the beginning and end of your stitching to prevent the seam from unraveling.
Step Nine:
Flip mask inside out. Pin both the left and right side of the mask approximately 1" and stitch (this may vary on the width of your elastic).
*Remember to backstitch!
Step Ten:
Cut your elastic to your desired length. I found that 9-10" works well. Pull your elastic through the pocket on both sides of your mask. Tie in a knot. Rotate elastic to hide knot inside pocket.
*Tip: Attach a safety pin to the end of your elastic to help pull it through your pocket.
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