****See updated pattern available below***
There has been an abundance of face mask requests from all over the USA as institutions are currently in need. I am a member of the American Sewing Guild and they are assisting with the effort. A website has been established that will allow requests to be made by any organization for sewn face masks. People who are able to sew are needed and all of the information is here. www.weneedmasks.org
If you are able to sew or know someone who can donate, please visit the website and see if your state has any needs. It is being updated daily.
If you are able to sew or know someone who can donate, please visit the website and see if your state has any needs. It is being updated daily.
There are so many free patterns available on the weneedmasks.org site and the internet in general. Many different and specific types from each hospital or medical center have been requested so every skill level will be able to help. Since the movement has begun, I have seen online comments that some people are ordering elastic from the Big Box stores. In these trying times, some basic items have become harder to find. I worry that some people may not be able to get elastic so I wanted to contribute a pattern that did not require it and used an alternative material. So here is a mask that is comfortably curved and has shoestring ties that are easily attached by top-stitching. These shoe strings may be easier to find right now. In fact, I got mine from Dollar Tree. If you can't find them, ribbon or bias tape would be a great substitution. If you can cut out a simple pattern and sew a straight line, you can complete these masks.
It requires four pieces of fabric and two shoelaces. There are no gathers or tucks so it is simple to sew but curved around your chin for a comfortable fit. The ties make it easy to customize depending on how tight you want to wear it. Like other home sewn masks, this is not approved by the Centers For Disease Control as PPE Protection and no claim of disease prevention is made. I sewed several for our home and we use them to help remind us to keep our hands away from our faces. It's amazing how often we touch surfaces and then touch our face. The medical centers are saying they will be able to use the sewn masks in certain circumstances to aid with their medical supply rationing. So check out the site to see if your area might need donations. If you are like me, you have extra fabric in your stash. You may also be at home and working on a project would make you feel very productive. I would use precaution with this type of mask for children because of the ties. A mask with elastic would probably be preferable for smaller children so keep that in mind if you decide to sew these for your loved ones.
So are you ready to sew a face mask? The project won't take very long and I have a pattern in a PDF document you can download below. The pattern does not include pictures but I also have a video below showing all of the construction that you can watch. I hope you have enjoyed this post, share what you learn and are generous with what you create. Someone , especially now, will appreciate your hard work! Be well.
Original pattern
| sew_a_curved_facemask_with_shoelace_ties.pdf |
****Updated pattern below- New design includes curved top for ease around eye area, added pipe cleaner nose piece and only one shoelace needed on bottom. Use a Cord stop fastener to hold in place. See pictures below. Stitches the same as original with exception adding the pipe cleaner in the nose area. The cord stop makes it easy to tighten and loosen. Curved area around eyes works great with glasses***
| sew_a_curved_facemask_shoelace_and_cord_stop.pdf |
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