I found many patterns online but struggled to come up a with an easy tutorial that showed how to sew a DIY face mask with a filter pocket, nosepiece, and ties. I experimented and combined several patterns and ideas from others. This is what I’ve come up with. It is working well and can be sewn quickly and by anyone with basic sewing skills.
I’ll try to type out more details later but right now I’m going on 5 hours of sleep and I want to get off here and try to spend a day of mostly rest with my family, before I start sewing again.
To sew these masks you’ll need:
- (2) 6″ x 9″ rectangles of non stretch cotton fabric (tighter weaves are best)
- (2) 25″ long pieces of double fold bias tape, cotton twill tape, piping (or home sewn equivalents)
- thread and a sewing machine or needle
You can watch the video tutorial or I have uploaded a very rough, hand drawn pattern and directions. I may try to type up something nicer in the future but right now my time is better spent sewing masks and I think these are pretty easy to figure out from what I’m providing.
CLICK HERE OR ON IMAGE TO DOWNLOAD PATTERN
You’ll be redirected to Gumroad for the download. Type 0 in the price box and click “I Want This”.
A twist tie or straightened paper clip can be inserted in the sewn channel to allow for a better seal around the nose. The ties allow for a better and customizable fit. Those features along with adding a filter can really increase this mask’s effectiveness beyond that of a basic fabric mask.
I make no claims about the exact specifications of this mask’s effectiveness such as what percentage of particles it blocks or what size particles. By downloading and using this pattern you are releasing me from all liability involving said products.
These masks, made with the materials I describe, can be boiled in an attempt to sterilize them. I am suggesting that everyone who takes my masks boils them before first use and regularly thereafter. Again, I make no claims about the effectiveness of boiling.
I hope this helped if you were specifically looking for how to sew a DIY face mask with a filter pocket, nosepiece, and ties. If you have specific questions comment here and I will respond as quickly as possible. Now let’s sew!
Thank you so much!! Hoping to mobilize some friends up here in Alberta to sew your pattern. Thanks for doing all the research and offering instructions! God bless you and protect you.
Yay! I hope it’s going well!
Thanks for sharing this. I don’t understand how you would put a filter inside. What is the three inch opening for?
The 3” inch opening is where you insert the filter, it goes between the two layers of fabric. 🙂
I think there is a typo. I made the straps 25 inches long and I was not able to tie them. Then I changed it to 35 and it worked just fine.
No, there is no typo. 25” is sufficient, we have tried it on many men using that length. Make sure your mask is sufficiently pleated, it should be about 2” long on the side when you finish. And then be sure you offset the ties so that they are 2” longer coming from the top of the mask than the bottom. The top ties should ties behind your head, roughly at the level of your eyes, above where a ponytail would sit. The bottom ties should go around the base of the hairline, at the neck. You can’t tie big bows, but you should have plenty of length to do a double knot.
Tie material is the most difficult and expense material to find when masks are in demand, so it’s important to make them as short as they can comfortably fit everyone to avoid waste.
If you still have trouble with the 25” length, shoot me a picture of your mask on a cutting mat or next to a ruler. I’d like to know if somehow it still doesn’t reach.
Jena at MarriedtotheFarm dot com. 🙂
Or she can just make hers longer, can’t she?
Indeed, any person has the freedom to do as they like, but as I said:
Tie material is the most difficult and expense material to find when masks are in demand, so it’s important to make them as short as they can comfortably fit everyone to avoid waste.
I’m thinking of using scrubs that I can no longer wear to make some masks. Do you think scrub material would be ok? Thanks so much for this info, the masks that hang onto my ears HURT so much!
Absolutely, that material would be perfect! Happy sewing, I’m here if you have anymore questions. Thank you for your work right now!
Hi I had the same problem with the ear straps so I switched to cutting stretch fabric into inch-wide strips about 8 or 9 inches long depending on what size you need. Please try it.
What to do to finish off the very tip of the ties? I’m about to hot glue em shut 🤣
For bias tape I’m leaving them and sending with instructions that if they open up over time they can be trimmed and ironed. A line of stitching across the end, or a knot made with the machine, will help.
A lot of what we are using now is shoelace material and we have been hearing the ends and quickly pressing them, then they seal right up! Those of the best.
You keep saying, “it’s not perfect”. However, the mask looks great to me. If you had more time, what could be improved?
You’re so sweet!
I guess the imperfections I see are that the filter opened is unhemmed, the bias tape may open up over time and need maintenance (ironing and/or trimming)… and many of the one we are producing are not the most beautiful colors or combinations of colors. We are putting function and fast production first before fun prints or excellent finishing. It’s hard for a perfectionist like myself. 😉
I really like you pattern for making these mask! What would you do differently for a 3 year old 5 year old and 61/2 year old. Would you just make the length and wideth a little shorter?
I am glad I came across this pattern. I just made one of these masks and it was much faster than what I had been making. I finished it up and showed my 11 year old daughter and she said Mom that looks like it was done in a factory. I laughed because I am no pro at sewing. I am just now learning my machine and am totally a beginner. Can’t wait to get a pile of these made up and handed over to the medical professionals and or citizens that are in need of masks.