Mask-Making Instructions
To create these masks, you may either choose to use a sewing machine or hand-sew using needle and thread. Below are directions for pleated masks you can make for donations. We ask that anyone participating in the challenge make a minimum of 10 cloth masks. Please follow our sanitation guidelines for mask donations by ensuring that your workspace and materials are sanitary, that you are following proper hand washing protocol, and that no one in your household is sick.
If you would like to make a simpler mask for yourself, visit the CDC website for 1-minute and 10-minute face masks. Please note however that these styles of masks cannot be donated.
For a PDF version of these instructions, click below.
Translation services were generously provided by Centro Latino.
Materials
Two 9.5” x 6.5” rectangles of cotton fabric (use tightly woven fabric, such as bed sheets, quilting cotton, or linen. T-shirts can work in a pinch)
EITHER two 7” pieces of elastic (or hair ties) OR four pieces of 18” x 1.5” fabric
Needle & thread
Scissors
Iron
Ironing board
Sewing machine (optional)
This video was created as an in-kind donation by the Kully Struble media firm.
10-step Face Mask
Step one
Step two
1. Cut out two 9.5” x 6.5” rectangles of cotton fabric. Set these aside.
2. If you have elastic, you can skip steps 2-4. Cut four 18” x 1.5” strips of fabric for the ties. Iron the strips of fabric flat.
Step three
3. Fold the fabric in half lengthwise and iron a crease.
Step four
Step
4. Open the strip flat, and then fold each edge toward the center as shown above. Flat iron again. Fold it in half lengthwise along the original crease, and flat iron again. This is one mask tie. Repeat steps 2-4 three more times to create four ties total. Then stitch down the seam of each tie.
Step five
5. Pin each of your ties to each corner of your 9.5” x 6.5” in rectangle fabric. Gather or knot each tie at the end so they are easier to contain.
Step six
6. Stack the two rectangles of fabric on top of one another, with the ties gathered inside. Pin the edges to begin sewing.
Step seven
7. Stitch around the perimeter about a quarter of an inch from the edge, leaving one small section open. Once you are done stitching, using this open pocket, flip your project inside out.
Step eight
8. Once you have flipped your mask inside out, it should look like the illustration above. Flat iron your mask to prepare it for stitching.
Step nine
9. Fold your mask into 2-3 pleats, pinning each pleat as above.
Step ten
10. Stitch the perimeter twice: first stitch one quarter inch from the edge, then stitch a second seam one quarter inch from that. Reinforce the stitching keeping the ties in place at the corners.
Congratulations! Your mask is complete.