How to Sew a Simple Cotton Mask with Space to insert a Filter

By Julie Brown, adapted from other designs

Supplies:

1. One piece of thin cotton fabric measuring 8” x 15”. Non-directional print is easier. 2. Two pieces of 1/4” or 1/8” width elastic, 7” long. I prefer 1/8” width as it seems to sit better

around the ears but it may not be as durable with multiple washings. It partly depends how soft the elastic is.

If you can’t find elastic, you can also use elastic head wraps or stretchy hair ribbons (try a dollar store). You can also make straps out of strips of your fabric to tie behind the head. This takes longer to make and to put on, but I actually prefer this design for comfort.

3. One 4 – 5.5” twist tie or piece of thin, flexible wire Ruler 4. Some sort of filter to insert. This can be a store-bought mask filter, but could also be a dried

baby wipe, cloth diaper inserts, or even facial tissue.

5. Fabric marking tool (optional). 6. Pins 7. Scissors 8. Sewing machine, threaded.

Instructions

1. On each end, fold a roughly ¼ inch line over towards the unfinished edge, and iron. Fold

again, and iron again. This will create two finished edges.

2. Sew each of the 8-inch width edges separately, securing the folded edges on each side.

3. Insert the twist tie or wire into the loop created in one of these edges, evenly spaced from both sides. Sew vertically to hold in place.

4. Fold the main piece of fabric in half, right sides together, while tucking the elastic inside, and pinning it so that the ends just poke through the two edges of the unfinished side. The elastic should make a semi-circle loop on each side, inside.

5. Sew along the side, including over the two elastics. I like going back and forth over them a

couple of times to secure them well. Then turn 90 degrees and sew along the finished bottom edge 1¼ inches on each side, leaving an opening.

6. Turn the pocket right-side-out.

7. Iron three pleats into the mask. You could get very scientific about this, but I just grasp with my fingers and thumb on each side, and make three even-ish puckers so that the final mask is a width of about 3 inches. After doing this once or twice, I don’t measure anything. After all, I’m not wearing this to the ball! Iron them from each side to hold the pleats in place.

8. Sew the now 3” sides to hold the pleats. Sew with the grain of the pleats.

9. Insert a dried folded water wipe, baby wipe or other filter fabric into the opening. Expand the

mask when inserting the wipe to make sure it fully covers the area. This creates 4 layers and a non-fabric layer for improved protection. Change this after each use.

10. If it is for you, test the mask for good fit!