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Blessings Overflowing

Faith~Family~Creativity

April 4, 2020 By Jackie Leave a Comment

How to Sew a Face Mask

If you have poked around this blog before, you might have noticed a few sewing tutorials. It has been awhile since I have posted one, but today I wanted to share a tutorial for something that many people are sewing right now – face masks.

How to Sew a Face Mask

Sewing face masks, let alone writing a tutorial about how to sew a face mask, is not something I ever dreamed that I would be doing. However, in the times we are currently living in, they are a necessity for so many. From new information I read last night about how Covid-19 can be spread, face masks are about become a necessity for all of us.

Due to the fact that our schools are going to be closed for the remainder of the school year, I am going to be teaching from home, and my children will be completing e-learning assignments at home. This has given me some unexpected time to sew.

face mask sewing

Last week, my little girl and I decided to start sewing face masks for local healthcare workers and other essential employees because of that extra time and our desire to do something to help others.

We have stitched up 81 masks so far, and we have plans to make even more.

Using fabric remnants and elastic we already had, we were able to make all 81 masks for no out of pocket cost. I have been cutting up wider elastic I had in my stash which means I will probably have to buy some supplies soon.

DIY face masks

I used the pattern from The Turban Project. However, I found that a few things weren’t clear in their directions. This led me to make this tutorial which will hopefully clear up a few things for anyone trying to make masks with that pattern.

diy face mask

Today I am going to show you how to sew a face mask from simple rectangles of fabric and some elastic.

diy face mask

To make a fabric mask you will need the following supplies.

Materials

  • Cotton Fabric (9 inches by 6 inches)
  • Flannel Fabric* (9 inches by 6 inches)
  • 1/8 inch or 1/4 inch Elastic** (6 1/2 inches in length)
  • Rotary Cutter or Scissors
  • Ruler
  • Cutting Mat
  • Sewing Machine
  • Thread

*If you don’t have any flannel fabric, you can use a second piece of cotton fabric and line the mask with interfacing. I will share more about that toward the end of this post.

**If you are having trouble finding elastic that is the correct width, you can cut wider elastic and make it thinner. I recommend stretching it after cutting it width wise. There may be some stray pieces of elastic which you will need to be cut off. I will also share a couple of elastic alternatives toward the end of this post.

face mask sewing supplies

Instructions for Sewing a Face Mask

Step 1: Cut a piece of cotton fabric and a piece of flannel fabric to a size of 9 inches wide by 6 inches high. Make sure the design of the fabric is placed so horizontally before cutting. All of the fabrics I used didn’t have a direction to them, so it didn’t matter which way I cut the fabric.

Step 2: Cut 2 pieces of 1/8 or 1/4 inch elastic to a length of 6 1/2 inches.

Step 3: Place the two pieces of fabric right sides together. (You will notice I didn’t do that in the picture below because I wanted the flowers of the flannel to be on the inside of the mask and not visible.)

Step 4: Pull back one side of the top fabric at a time in order to place the elastic.

The original pattern calls for putting the elastic in as you sew, but I liked pinning it in place first better which is what you will see below.

how to add elastic to face masks

Step 5: Place one end of a piece of elastic about 1/4 inch from the top of one short side of the cotton fabric.

Step 6: While holding the elastic in place, place the top fabric on top of the elastic and pin all three layers together.

how to add elastic to face masks

Step 7: Pull the elastic so that the other end of it is about 1/4 inch from the bottom of the same side as steps 5 and 6.

Step 8: Like in step 6, place the top fabric on top of the elastic and pin all three layers together.

pinning a face mask before sewing

Step 9: Repeat steps 5-8 on the opposite short side.

Step 10. Pin the fabric together in a few other places on each side.

Step 11: Leave a 2 – 2 1/2 inch opening on one long side of the rectangle. This is for turning the mask right side out. (Notice way I pinned the top of the rectangle in the picture above.)

sewing a face mask

Step 12: Sew the mask using a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Backstitch at the beginning and the end of your sewing. Be sure to leave a 2 – 2 1/2 inch opening for turning.

sewing the corners of a face mask

Step 13: As you are sewing, you will have to stop at each corner. When you get about 1/4 inch from the end of the fabric, stop, lift up the presser foot, and turn the fabric 90 degrees.

sewing over the elastic on a face mask

Step 14: As you sew over the elastic, backstitch and sew over it again to secure it in place.

backstitch at the beginning and the end when sewing a face mask

Step 15: Stop sewing when you get to your last pin so that you leave a 2 – 2 1/2 inch opening. Backstitch at the end of your seam.

clip the corners of the face mask before turning

Step 16: Clip the fabric at the corners. Be sure to not clip too close to the stitches.

This is an optional step, but it is something I always do when sewing a pillow or something with right angles.

turning the face mask right side out

Step 17: Turn the mask right side out through the opening you left in step 15.

ironing the face mask

Step 18: Iron the mask. Be sure the edges of the opening are turned inside. You don’t want any raw edges showing.

You will notice that the next pictures show a different mask. I had to switch because, as you can sort of see from the picture above, the cushioned quilter’s ironing mat I have is stained. It looked even worse in some of the other pictures I took. So, I took some new pictures with a different mask I was sewing.

how to make tucks on a face mask

Step 19: Here is where it gets slightly tricky. You are going to make some “tucks” in the fabric.

As you make the “tucks”, place a pin straight down into your ironing board to hold the tuck in place. You need to do this to both sides at the same time. I think some people might be doing one side and then the other, but I have found that this way is a lot easier.

Basically, you are going to make some small folds in the fabric, all facing the same way, in order to get your mask to be about 2 1/2 – 3 inches in width.

ironing the tucks on a face mask

Step 20: Iron (steam setting or spritz water on the fabric) the middle of the mask. Take out the pins and press the edges in place.

making tucks on a face mask

Step 21: Pin the tucks in place again only this time pin them horizontally and not to the ironing board.

The picture above should give you a better idea of what the tucks should look like. Mine are definitely not perfect because I didn’t measure them. You can use a ruler to help you if you want.

sewing around the face mask

Step 22: Topstitch around the entire mask two times. Backstitch at the beginning and the end.

I tried to sew close to the edge with about a 1/8 inch seam allowance for my topstitching.

finished face mask

You should now have a face mask. If any of the above steps weren’t clear, please let me know.

How to Make Ties If You Don’t Have Elastic

Elastic has been hard to come by for many people who are sewing masks. I tested out the sewing method I explained above with ties.

I used double fold bias tape that I already had, but you could make ties out of fabric or even ribbon.

You will need 4 ties that are 16 inches long.

making ties for a face mask

If you are using bias tape or fabric, fold one end of the fabric to the inside about 1/8 inch and iron it in place. This will ensure that there isn’t a raw edge that will ravel.

making ties for a face mask

Stitch close to the edge along the opening of the bias tape so that the fabric stays closed. You can see what I mean in the picture above. Be sure to stitch along the edge you folded over. The raw edge of the ties will be what you sew to the mask like the elastic was sewn in the steps above.

ties for a face mask

Pin the ties in place with one tie in each corner of the short sides. I pinned the rest of the ties into the center to avoid sewing over them.

face mask with ties sewing

Pin all of the layers together leaving a 2 – 2 1/2 inch opening.

face mask with ties

Everything else about the sewing process is as same as above.

How to Use a T-shirt Instead of Elastic

face mask with T-shirt elastic sewing

I cut up an old T-shirt that was 95% cotton and 5% spandex. I made strips that were one inch wide. I then tested the stretchiness of the strips in relation to a piece of elastic that was the same length.

I made the strips about 5 inches long because there was more stretch than the elastic I had been using. When the T-shirt strips are stretched, the fabric should curl into itself.

face mask with T-shirt elastic

Use the T-shirt strips just like elastic. It is important to make sure that the T-shirt has spandex in it, that strips curl when stretched, and to check the stretchiness compared to elastic to determine how long to cut the strips.

Using Interfacing and Two Pieces of Cotton Fabric

If you don’t have any flannel fabric, you can use two pieces of cotton fabric and add interfacing to give an extra layer of protection. Fusible or sew-in interfacing will work.

face mask with interfacing

Make sure you iron fusible interfacing to the wrong side of one of the pieces of cotton fabric. The interfacing will be hidden between the two cotton fabrics.

face mask with interfacing

If you use non-fusible interfacing, you can baste the interfacing to the back of one piece of cotton fabric.

To baste the interfacing, you would use a long stitch length and sew close to the edge of the fabric and interfacing. This will ensure that the basting stitches don’t show when you sew the two cotton fabrics together.

I used a fusible interfacing in the picture above. Most of the masks I have sewn have been made with a piece of cotton and a piece of flannel fabric. However, I will be switching to interfacing since I am about out of flannel fabric.

Here is one of the masks I made. This mask was made with some fold-over elastic that was specifically for lingerie (I had bought it by accident quite a while ago.). It was smaller and thinner than normal fold-over elastic, so it worked well. I do not recommend using regular fold-over elastic to make face masks.

If you don’t sew, I ran across this video from the CDC. I haven’t tried it out, but it looks like it would be something that could work in a pinch.

It really is hard to believe we are living in a time when face masks are necessary, but sewing them is something those of us with sewing machines can make to help those in our communities.

If you have any questions about my instructions for how to sew a face mask, please let me know in the comments. I am happy to help. Also, I am hoping to update this post with a video tutorial soon.

Filed Under: Crafts & DIY Tagged With: Sewing, Tutorials

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jackiesblessings

I have mixed emotions when I reflect on all that h I have mixed emotions when I reflect on all that has happened in 2020. There have been so many negatives for so many people. I can’t say it has all been positive for me either. However, there are some things that have happened in 2020 for which I am so grateful. 
.
The main thing I am grateful for is the extra time I was able to spend with my kids. We had so much fun during quarantine and this summer. I know this wasn’t the case for everyone, but I do not regret the days when we had nothing planned and could just have fun together. Whether it was walking in the woods, playing games, watching a movie together, or even doing chores, I never once heard an “I’m bored.” 🙂 
.
In addition to the gift of more time together, I am also grateful for all of the milestones we have celebrated this year. In June, my parents celebrated their 50th anniversary, and then we had four milestone birthdays. Julia turned 21, James turned 18, Joshua turned 16, and Joseph turned 13. (Janna felt left out, so we told her that her birthday was special because it was her last birthday in single digits.) Also, today marks 25 years that JT and I have been married. 
.
While I won’t be sorry to see 2020 go, and I hope
and pray 2021 is better for so many people who are hurting right now, I don’t ever want to forget the good times we had this year. 
.
P.S. I took all of these pictures over fall break.
The girls and I recorded our parts for our virtual The girls and I recorded our parts for our virtual church service yesterday, and I couldn’t resist getting a picture with them in front of this beautiful Christmas tree. ❤️
James has been playing school basketball since he James has been playing school basketball since he was in the fourth grade. Tonight he and his fellow Seniors  were recognized at their game, and I just can’t believe James is this old. 
.
Normally, Senior Night is the last game of the season. However,  because everything in the world seems so uncertain right now, we wanted to make sure the boys got a chance to be recognized. We wanted something “normal” for them. I am thankful James and his teammates not only got recognized but also won their game. 
.
P.S. We had our masks on at all times other than when we took pictures.
We have another teenager in the house! Joseph is t We have another teenager in the house! Joseph is turning 13 today, and it just doesn’t seem possible. The beautiful baby boy who was placed in my arms on a cold and foggy day in December is still my “little” guy. However, after looking at this picture of the two of us, I don’t think he will be shorter than me for long. Joseph is still my shy guy, but he is also sweet, loving, kind, and just an all around good kid. We also lovingly refer to him as the cat whisperer because the kittens and cats follow him around like puppies. 🙂 It has been so much fun to have Joseph at school with me this year now that he is in junior high, and I am so thankful that I get to be his mama. Happy birthday, Joseph! ❤️
2020 has been challenging in so many ways. One of 2020 has been challenging in so many ways. One of those challenges was self-inflicted. 🙂 I just finished my fourth master’s level course of 2020 through Ball State, and I passed the high ability licensure exam last Thursday. This means that I will soon have high ability added to my teaching license. 
.
When I signed up to take my first class in January, I had no idea what 2020 was going to entail. Teaching in a pandemic isn’t for the faint of heart. Taking classes and caring for five kids while teaching in a pandemic has allowed me to see what I am really made of. I don’t mean to brag, but I am pretty happy that I received straight A’s. Beyond that, I learned so much, and I am grateful for this opportunity even though I felt stretched to my limits some days. 
.
Yes, 2020 has been challenging, but I have been blessed with more time with my family, knowledge gained, and challenges met and overcome.
I almost forgot to post this here. 🎂 Joshua is I almost forgot to post this here. 
🎂
Joshua is 16 years old today. It doesn’t seem possible that my little pip squeak of a baby boy is now about 6’4”. Joshua is now the tallest of the family, and I’m not sure he is done growing. There hasn’t been a dull moment since Joshua arrived, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. He is a fun-loving, hard-working, kind-hearted, and intelligent young man. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for him. I am so thankful God thought I was up to the task of being Joshua’s mama. ❤️
My little 7 pound 20 inch baby boy, who didn’t c My little 7 pound 20 inch baby boy, who didn’t cry as soon as he was born but first looked around to see what was going on in the world, is now a 6’2” handsome man. I truly never thought the years would go by so quickly, but here we are. James is 18 today. 

There are so many words I could use to describe James: hardworking, dedicated, persevering, intelligent, funny, curious, kindhearted, dependable, respectful, and helpful. I could also expound upon his accomplishments, and I could tell you how great he is. However, I don’t love James for what he has accomplished but simply because he is my son.

I have been so blessed to be James’s mom, and I thank God every day for entrusting him into my care. I don’t know what the future will hold for him, but I know he will do great things. 

For anyone reading this who is struggling with a tantrum throwing toddler, a strong-willed child, and/or a child who questions everything, I would like to encourage you. Look for the positive qualities your child possesses such as perseverance, dedication, and curiosity and build upon that. I will never regret the hard days of parenting because my prayers and hard work have paid off. Helping James reach his full potential and keep those qualities without breaking his spirit has been worth the effort.

Happy Birthday, James!
I’m not going to sugar coat it. Today seemed sur I’m not going to sugar coat it. Today seemed surreal. It felt chaotic. Nothing was normal. We are all exhausted. However, it was wonderful to be with my students again after five months, and my own kids enjoyed seeing their friends. I don’t know how this school year will play out, but I am ready to go back tomorrow and try to make teaching virtually and in person work to the best of my ability. My students are worth the effort. 
.
James is a senior, and this was his last first day of school. Joshua is a sophomore, and Joseph is in 7th grade which means I have all three of my boys in the same building with me. Janna is in fourth grade, and she was very excited to be back at school. Julia will be a senior in college when she starts back next week. 
.
I am praying we all have a safe and healthy school year. I plan to try not to think about the unknowns and what-ifs and take it one day at a time.
This morning I told four of my kids we were going This morning I told four of my kids we were going to go on an adventure. (No, I didn’t leave one out of the fun. James played in a golf tournament with his dad. 🙂) Anyway, it was quite an adventure. It started with my vehicle telling me one of the tires needed air, but it must be a bad sensor because it was fine. Then I almost ran out of gas. I drove us on all sorts of country roads we had never been on, and I even thought I was going south when I was actually going north for like 10 miles. 🤷🏻‍♀️ It was very obvious I have not been many places since March. 
.
Anyway, Julia, Joshua, Joseph, Janna, and I went to @maxandhoneys where we took some pictures and picked a beautiful bouquet. It was really fun. After that, we went to Greencastle and then to Lieber State Recreation Area. We finished by stopping to do a few things in my classroom, and we made it home before it started raining.
.
I am so thankful for a day of doing something fun and “normal” but out of the ordinary. I don’t know if that makes sense, but that’s the best way to describe it. Yes, we had to wear masks sometimes and practice social distancing, but it was still a good day. 
.
Here are some pictures from our day. The last picture is of James before he went to play golf. How is he old enough to be a senior? 😢 I am so thankful for my family. 💕 Also, kudos to Joshua and Joseph for being good sports about picking flowers. Their future wives will thank me. 😀

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