KNITTED FACE MASK

Ecofriendly, washable and reusable Why not knit your own face mask? It is easy and quick (and can be completed in an evening), very simple to make requiring minimal knitting skills. You will need to know how to Cast On, Knit and Purl stitch, for Stocking Stitch which is alternate rows of Knit and Purl stitch (stst). If preferred, the whole mask could be knitted in Garter Stitch which is ‘ Knit’ stitch every row. You will also need to be able to Slip Stitch (slst), Wrap the yarn round the slst (wslst), turn, place a Stitch Marker on the needle (pm) and Cast Off and,finally, do some simple sewing. By using a pure cotton yarn and a cotton lining fabric you will be able to wash this mask at a high temperature after every outing, ensuring that all germs are killed. Any fabric scrap can be used for lining, but Lawn is ideal (this is a very finely woven thin cotton), but a recycled scrap of sheeting or cotton blouse could be used. I knitted my mask in plain white, but why not go colourful, or patterned with stripes of a bit of Intarsia?

You will need the following:- ● 4ply pure cotton yarn ● 3mm knitting needles (or size adjusted for tension) ● Two stitch markers ● Cotton thread, needle and pins ● Cotton Fabric 9” x 9” ● 18” Elastic 6mm wide(cut into two equal lengths) ● 18” Elastic 4mm wide ● Wire twist-tie or Pipe Cleaner ● For stitch Markers I used one of my designs, “Socks & Lace” which is

ideal for smaller needles as the rings are smaller than the standard stitch marker.

Instructions:-

1. Cast on 40 sts. 2. Work 8 rows of stst 3. Short Row 1 4. stst to last 3 stitches (sts) ,*slst on to Right Hand Needle(RHN,)

wslst,turn, slst back onto Left Hand Needle(LHN), pm* 5. Short Row 2 6. Work from Stitch Marker to last 3 sts work * to * 7. Short row3 8. Work as for short row 1 except this time you will stst to last 4 sts and

then repeat from * to * 9. Short row 4

10. Work as for row two except this time work to last 4sts and then repeat from * to *

11. Continue till you have completed 20 short rows, each 2nd row turn one sti earlier, so on the 19th & 20th row 10 sts each side have been unworked.

12. Work two full rows of stst leaving markers in place on the needles

between the 10th & 30th stitches. 13. Reverse Short Row1 14. Stst 9 sts,* slst on to RHN, wslst, turn, slst back onto LHN,pm.* 15. Reverse short Row2 16. Working from Stitch Marker stst to end. 17. Reverse Short Row 3 18. Stst 8 sts work * to * 19. Reverse Short Row 4 20. work as Reverse Row 2 21. Continue repeating Reverse Row 1&2 fo 16 more rows.

22. Next row stst across all 40 sts

-------- 23. Repeat Reverse Short Rows 1 to 20 on alternate side.

--------- 24. Work 8 rows of stst over all 40 sts. 25. Work a further 4 rows of garter stitch (Knit every Row) 26. Cast off.

To Complete your Face Mask 27. Cut your fabric with half an inch bigger than your mask.

28. Pin to the mask turning down a seam all the way round.

29. Place the ends of the 6mm elastic at the level of the garter stitch

and at the lower edge and pin.

30. Place your Pipe Cleaner or Twist-Tie in the middle seam, sandwiched between the knitted mask and the lining fabric on the garter stitch end (this will go over you nose and will be pinched to ensure a good fit over you nose).

31. Sew a double casing all around the Twist-Tie ( I used back stitch)

to ensure it is firmly in place and cannot slip. 32. Sew the fabric to the mask, around the edge, ensuring the cut

seam is turned inwards, when you get to the elastic stitch very firmly. 33. Whip stitch the thin elastic around the sides and bottom stretching

slightly as you sew to ensure the mask fits firmly round your face. 34. Adjust the fit of the mask to your face, taking a tuck in at the sides

if required.