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With the current Covid-19 Pandemic, wearing a face mask is necessary to keep safe. Governments are now advising for everyone to wear face masks outside, especially in confined spaces such as the public transportations and shops, in order to help slow down the spread of the virus.

So why not make your own face mask at home and save money! You don’t need to be a sewing pro to make your own mask. These handmade face masks are easy and quick to make. You could easily make one for about five to ten minutes, depending on your handiness.

Besides, learning how to hand sew could be your new quarantine hobby! All you need is a needle and a thread to make one of these stress-free sewing projects. There is no need for a sewing machine. All the other items required for this project are probably already in your home. You can also customize the mask for yourself or your loved one, depending on which color or pattern they want.

Good luck and happy sewing!

What you will need:

Here are the materials you need to have for this easy DIY facemask:

·      Plate or bowl, with 8-inch to 11-inch diameter

·      Pen or marker

·      Scissors

·      Needle and thread

·      Iron

·      Elastic, hair bands, or bias tape

·      Safety pin

·      A fabric of your choice

Ideal fabric for a facemask:

·      The ideal fabric for a face mask is 100% cotton woven or quilted

·      Try not to use any fabrics with too much stretch

·      If you don’t have a fabric lying at home, you can use old pillowcases, tea towel, T-shirts, or a vacuum bag.

·      Old scarves, shawls, and bandannas could also work

Step 1: Preparing your fabric before sewing

Before you begin, gather all the required materials. Start preparing by tracing your pattern on the fabric. Simply, place the fabric on the wrong side on a clean and flat surface. Then, place a plate with a size of your choice. We recommend using a 10-inch to 11-inch plate for adults and an 8-inch for kids. Trace the plate on the fabric with a pen or a marker.

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Step 2: Let’s cut your fabric!

Cut the around the circle with a scissors. Fold the fabric in half and another half, giving you a triangular-shaped fabric. Unfold the fabric and carefully cut along the fold lines. This would leave you with four equal pie pieces of the circle.

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Step 3: Sewing your mask

Take two pieces of the pie with the right sides together. Carefully hand sew along the edge of the fabric with a 1/8-inch seam allowance. Repeat this with the remaining two other pieces.

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Unfold the fabric pieces to have two diamond shape pieces. Place then with the right sides facing together. Sew along the edges of the fabric but leave a 1-inch opening on the side.

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Turn the fabric inside out by using the left un-sewn opening. Then, fold in the raw edges of the opening and sew it closed.

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Step 4: Ironing the Fabric for crisp and cleaner edges!

To create crisp and clean edges, press a hot iron around the mask and flatten it.

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Step 5: Adding the elastics on your mask

Fold the ends of the fabric on one side of the mask. Then, fold another ¼ inch on the fabric. Press it with an iron for easy sewing. Repeat on the other side of the fabric. Sew the folded part on each side to create a pocket to put the elastic band.   

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Cut the elastic to your preferred length. We recommend using 10-inch length of elastic for adults and 8-inch length for kids. If necessary, use a safety pin to thread the elastic through the holes of the mask. Tie or sew both ends of the elastic bands together. Rotate the elastics until the knots are hidden inside the sewn pockets.

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Extra Steps: Care and cleaning

And done! Your masks are ready for use. But remember to always be responsible. Wear, wash, and reuse. After wearing, always carefully remove it without touching the fabric. Use the elastics on the side to remove the mask from your face. Wash the mask immediately after use, at least once a day. Keep the mask dry at all times.

Stay safe and chic with these double-layer fabric masks.