Home Sewers: Here's My Favorite Mask Pattern

[blogslut]

One can easily adjust the pattern to fit one's needs, especially when it comes to the ear loops/ties.

[central scrutinizer]

1. I've been using this one

I don’t have any elastic but do have lots of cotton fabric remnants and old sheets. I also don’t have any interfacing and don’t do the fancy top stitching in the video. But this method seems pretty efficient.

[link:http://

|

I’ve made over 150 so far and given them away to family, friends and community organizations.

[blogslut]

3. Joann Fabrics stepped right up in providing mask patterns and supplies

Unlike that jerkface who owns Hobby Lobby.

[OriginalGeek]

17. I wouldn;t buy water from hobby lobby if it was free

and I was on fire.

I mean, even without the owner's assholery, the places are full of the absolute cheapest crappiest version of everything!

Before all that stuff about the birth control and them stealing ancient artifacts from the middle east when they were just a dump that sold crappy decorations I did take a painting class in one that I enjoyed. But it was a craft room rented by the instructor and not affiliated with HL - just the place the teacher found that could hold her class. But now that I know what I know I won't step foot in one.

I've spent more than a few pennies in Joann Fabrics though. My wife and I want to learn to sew. I want to learn to knit too. if we can get a handle on corona we may get to go to classes again.

[TlalocW]

37. I went into Hobby Lobby before the pandemic

Because I've been looking for a particular fabric - just anything with chocolate chip cookies on it - for a gift and no one from Joann to individually owned fabric places seem to have anything like that. I also tried Spoonflower, but the trial pieces I got were too orange. If HL had any, I was going to go against my personal mini-boycott just because I wanted to get this gift made. They didn't have anything, but they did have an entire bolt of a KU Jayhawk fabric Joann used to have. I was sorely tempted to get that, but then Covid hit, and it took it out of my hands as I didn't have the money for it. Not quite a moral win, but I'll take it.

I took a knitting class from a local community college, but I had to drop it as my life got busy, but I've been considering taking it up again and watching YouTube videos. I did complete one small... "rag" about the size of a dollar. I posted a picture of it on Facebook jokingly saying I was going to enter it in a competition at the State Fair. I hope you get going on sewing and knitting. They're both fun.

TlalocW

[TlalocW]

13. You might try these

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YDJLR8N/
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0767JC4X9/

I've been making masks to donate to Joann to give hospitals, and the elastic shortage soon caught up with me so I switched to bias tape that you can use to tie behind you head. It's slowed me down, but it's better than nothing.

I saw a video of a different style mask (looks similar to yours) that I'm going to see if it's any faster, and they suggested using the hair ties as you cut them in half or even fourths for loops. You can extend the sides of the mask so you can fold it back onto itself while putting the loops inside and sewing the loop shut.

I haven't tried the new pattern yet so can't tell you if they do work or not, but it looks like something worth trying.

TlalocW

[Ms. Toad]

20. I use Hoooked ribbon XL

Cheap and quick.

I won't use ear loops - too many complaints about how sore it makes the ears.

[TlalocW]

36. Huh, I had never heard of hooked ribbon

That's what's good about the hair ribbons - they're padded, but I'll look at the ribbon as well next time I'm in Joann's (if they have any). Thanks.

TlalocW

[blogslut]

41. It's a brand name for t-shirt yarn

[Ms. Toad]

43. It's kind of like the ties in a sweatshirt -

just not quite as heavy. Someone in the mask-making facebook group suggested it.

I had hoped it would be wider (I ordered it by mail), but the width is fine.

[central scrutinizer]

22. Those might work.

The drawback with mine is it requires using two hands to tie the straps behind your head and neck. Might be difficult with arthritis and it takes a little time. But I’m stubborn and cheap and I won’t buy anything until I’ve exhausted the stuff I have on hand. (I did have to buy more thread). I’ve got a large steamer trunk full of fabric remnants so they’ll probably outlive me. I just hope my old Singer 500A doesn’t die first.

[TlalocW]

35. So do mine

But mine go to hospitals so probably not too many workers with arthritis hopefully. I know it's maybe a slowdown, but the point is to save the N95 masks for the Covid and other more serious cases. Every mask has its advantages and disadvantages.

I also have gone through all my remnants. I twist balloons (or rather I twisted balloons - haven't since Covid), and I've made 60 plus vests over the years so I could always have a fresh vest for my multiple weekly gigs or holiday themed vests, etc. so I've made some interesting masks. I'm in KC, and Joann bought a TON of KC Chiefs fabric, and I bought an entire bolt because they bought too much so it was heavily discounted. I was going to make a vest out of that as well as table runners, pillow cases, etc. for friends and family who are fans. Gonna try a teddy bear, etc. but I've been going through that now. And now, when I drop off my masks at Joann's, I'll go through what they have (and the pickings are getting slim), and I think to myself, "Oh, that pattern would make some pretty masks," so I'll buy a few yards of fabric.

TlalocW

[blogslut]

23. I've resorted to 1" strips of cut up t-shirts

Works pretty good, actually. Plus they're not as ouchy around the ears.

The way I look at it is, even re-usable masks are going to wear out and the elastic is going to be the first thing to go. So why not use old t-shirts for ear loops?

[central scrutinizer]

27. Good idea

Do you fold, press and stitch them so they don’t fray? I’ve got some t-shirts that are too embarrassing to wear. Some of my remnants are knits and they would also work.

[blogslut]

29. I just cut them about 8" long and sew them on raw

Since t-shirt material is a knit it doesn't fray, it curls up around the edge. I don't have the patience to sew a channel like the lady does in the OP vid. I just sew the ends top and bottom to each side to make my ear loops.

[central scrutinizer]

30. I'll try one

Using safety pins to get the length right. The advantage with the ties is that they fit everyone. There are 3 year olds to senior citizens, women, men wearing my masks.

[blogslut]

31. If you sew channels in the sides

You can thread ribbon or bias tape through each side for ties, or one long thingy for that combo head-loop/nape-tie dealio.

[sl8]

2. But we have a septic tank, not sewers.

Sorry. Carry on

[Coventina]

4. I had the same initial reaction

[roamer65]

18. I thought septic field greener grass in patterns.

Grass is always greener over the septic field.

[blogslut]

5. I'm not great at spelling

How does one spell it?

https://www.grammarphobia.com/blog/2016/10/sew-sewer-sewist.html

[sl8]

7. You spelled it fine.

Just having fun with heteronyms/homographs.

And thank you for the mask information.

[Nevilledog]

9. I would have gone for - People who sew

[IcyPeas]

12. some people are saying sewist - cross between sewer and artist

i like that.

[TlalocW]

15. I use seamstress

Or seamster since I'm a dude who sews.

TlalocW

[Ms. Toad]

21. Same here.

But you can be a dude seamstress . . . after all women have been labeled with male suffixes for years

[lagomorph777]

16. Yeah, I was like "whaaat?"

[handmade34]

6. thank you!!

I make masks and leave them out in my small stand by the road... people take them and I end up making about 3-4 a day and try to use different patterns to meet people's needs

[MissB]

8. Those look like they have nice coverage and shape

And pretty easy to do too.

My only issue is that she uses metric. dang it.

[blogslut]

19. Here's a site with some helpful dimensions

https://aplat.com/blogs/shus-notebook/diy-cloth-face-mask

That's the first place I saw the pattern, but I like the extra stitching from the video in my OP better. There's bunches of vids and pages for it. Just use the keywords "3D mask" or "origami mask" to find them.

[MissB]

24. Sweet! Thank you!

I’ve cut out some of those four piece shaped ones (which I’ve sewn a ton of) but I think I’m going to give this pattern a try.

I ended up with a ton of 1/4” elastic.

[blogslut]

25. See, my printer ran out of ink...5 years ago

I like this pattern because it's just a rectangle with the corners cut off and I don't have to try to recreate that damned curvy bit like the 4-piece one.

[Hekate]

10. KnR!

[Green Line]

11. I like those, is there a filter pocket?

[blogslut]

14. The opening is the pocket :)

The mask fits relatively flush to the face because of its shape so it's easy to say, fold up a tissue or paper towel and just place it inside the mask.

[KewlKat]

26. I use this pattern as I can put a filter in it. Also a 3D Mask and I add a wire in the top.

The opening is across the center. I use my serger to stitch the raw edges of the opening and then press them over.

[blogslut]

28. Nice adaptation!

Last edited Sat Jul 18, 2020, 11:32 AM - Edit history (1)

Thanks!

[whistler162]

32. It is quite asceptical tanks

[blogslut]

33. Happy to be your pipeline

:p

[Hortensis]

34. Thanks, Blogslut/others. No machine with me, but good thread.

[Goodheart]

38. I like that pattern. Looks very easy to sew, unlike some popular others.

[TlalocW]

39. Since we're talking masks...

I've been using plant wire in the top part so that you can bend the mask around your nose. I take some needle-nose pliers and bend the ends back on themselves and then clamp down on them to make squished loops, feel them, and manipulate them again if the pokey parts can be felt. I worry that when they get washed though, the pokey parts might get free and rip the masks.

I saw a tutorial that suggested pipe cleaners. They even sewed them into the mask with a zig-zag pattern (mine are held in spot in the bias tape that goes across the top with stitching/back-stitching on either side and then stitching along the bottom). Someone told me they didn't think pipe cleaners would last very long in the washer. Anyone else doing a nose-squeezer, and what are you using?

TlalocW

[Lars39]

42. I've been using 20 guage copper wire.

I curl the ends. I've been putting the bias tape pocket for the wire on top of the nose area, leaving an end open in case it breaks or whatever. Haven't lost one in the washer or dryer yet.

[EllieBC]

40. I like that pattern!

Thank you for the link!