Making a Fitted Mask (For My Friends) No Filter Pocket

I've been using the Craft Passion Mask pattern. It seems to fit better than the Olson mask pattern. You might want to try both, just to see how each works for you. I've also used the Canyonlands Quilt pattern. It has more pleats and takes more work. Thats the one in the photo above. He also has a mask made with the Craft Passion pattern.

I like the fitted style better than the pleated style because I think they offer better coverage, and I can put stabilizer in between the layers. The pleated style doesn't give me the option of an added stabilizer layer.

There are links at the end of the post to some YouTube videos that I found very helpful. There is a lot of information in them about what materials to use, and why they use them.

There are links in my post that go to products I use. I do not receive any money or commission if you click on them. You might be able to find things locally that will fit your needs.

This blog is not monitized. I don't make any money when you visit. You won't find advertisements popping up while you're trying to read instructions.

You're welcome.

Fabric and Supplies
100% cotton pre-washed fabric. If you have batik, use that because it has a tighter weave.

Wire for the nose piece. Some people are using a long pipe cleaner twisted double so that it's 2 pipe cleaners thick. It's soft and comfortable, but we don't know how long it will hold up in the wash.

I'm using copper wire because it should be durable when being washed.
I'm using a smaller gauge than recommended in the video below because it is easier to bend and is more comfortable on my nose. It also gives a good seal.

Sewing Machine. I have a serger so some of my seams are serged because it's faster.

Pins

Elmer's Washable School glue (optional)

Plastic beading foot or zipper foot to sew the wire in place.

Sorry for the farmer hands. I live on a farm, so it's to be expected.
This is the beading foot I use.

Top view.
You might have one in your accessory case.
I've seen some made out of metal, too.
Yours may look slightly different.

Some sort of non-woven interfacing. I'm using a medium weight cut away non-woven embroidery stabilizer from World Weidner. The videos below also offer other suggestions.

Cutting

Cut two pieces of the Pocket Main Fabric
Two pieces of Pocket Lining Fabric
Two pieces of non-woven stabilizer or interfacing using the Pocket Lining Fabric

Sewing

Place Main Fabric pieces right sides together.
Place a piece of stabilizer interfacing on either side.
Stitch the curved seam (center front seam)

Sew or serge center front seam of Main Fabric pieces
AND Lining Fabric Stabilizer/Interfacing pieces.
That's 4 layers sewn together.

Serge or sew the center front seam of the Lining Fabric

Pin the lining fabric to the main fabric along the top (curved) raw edges....

matching the center seams.

The lining fabric and the stabilizer/interfacing layers will line up and
are shorter than the Front Main Fabric.
The Front Main Fabric piece will be in 'sandwiched' in the middle.

Sew or serge the top edge.
Yeah... I know. It wasn't a great job because I was trying to video 
and serge at the same time.
And then the video didn't turn out. 

Press the seam with wrong sides together.
I hit the center seam at the curve with a hammer to flatten it out.
(Use some scrap fabric to cover the bulky spot when you hit it with a hammer. I
t will keep the hammer from marking up the fabric.)
The center seam is a bit bulky and I like to sew my wire in.
Hammering the spot flattens out the bulk. 

The center seam by the nose flattens out nicely.

I put the 5 1/2" piece of wire with pinched ends inside the seam.
I use the same size wire for all masks.
The video shows a 6" piece of wire. That might work better for you.
The 5 1/2" piece works best for me.

I pin the wire inside the seam and mark both ends of the wire with a heat erase pen.

 You can mark it with whatever you have available. I like to know where the ends of my wire are so that I don't sew over them causing my needle to break. I use a Frixion pen.

The wire is snuggly sewn into the nose area at the top of the mask.

Turn the mask so that right sides are together and pin bottom edge.

Yes, the front of the mask is longer than the back and the interfacing/stabilizer.
It helps reduce the bulk along the cheeks when you turn it under.

Sew along the bottom seam.
Turn the tube right side out.

If the center bottom seam is bulky, feel free to hammer that to flatten it out.

You'll be top stitching over the bottom to keep the layers in place.

I've been using Goody Hair Elastics cut along the seam.
If you are using flat 1/4" elastic there is no need to put a knot in the ends.
You may have to try different lengths of elastic.
I find 5 1/2" - 6 1/2" work.

Turn under the longer raw edge.

Fold the raw edge under it's encased in the seam.
I glue my seams with Elmer's Washable School glue because sometimes that works better than pins.
Either the white glue or the clear glue seem to work fine.
It washes out after 1 washing so it isn't a problem.

I always recommend people wash masks before they use them for the first time.

If you would rather pin than glue, this is how I pin the casing.

Sew along the ends where the elastic is to hold them in place. My video failed so you'll have to work with written directions.

I like a pleat along each side because I think the mask fits better.
Lots of people are using a corn holder to make the pleat.

Don't sew over the prongs, just use it to fold and make the pleat.

Make sure you pleat the opposite direction when you get to the other side so
both the pleats are facing the same direction on the front.

Topstitch down one side, across the bottom, and up the other side.
I don't topstitch along the top edge because the casing and wire hold the layers in place.
This is a child's mask on an adult Styrofoam head.

The strap was 3D printed to relieve the elastic pressure on the backs of ears
for people that need to wear the mask for long periods of time

You can find the file here. It was created by a young scout named Quinn. We tried a few different styles, this one works best for us.

This is my grandson's mask before I started pleating the sides.
It's just a little bit big.
I also extended the sides a little on his mask so it is slightly
wider (ear to ear) than the one in the instructions.

I added pleats later, and the mask fits much better. 

These are the best videos I've found and used.








Thanks for reading!

Stay safe, stay healthy, stay hopeful!

I'm heading out to the barn to do the evening chores. If you have questions, please leave them in the comments and I'll be happy to answer them.