Make Your Own Face Mask

Amid the corona / covid-19 crisis many people prefer to wear face masks. I will show you here how to make your own face mask.

A word about face masks.
First of all I would like to say that I do not give medical advice. Everything presented here is from my personal experience, which I share with you.

From what I am reading there are differing opinions about face masks. Some claim that there is no scientific proof that face masks protect you. I have a different opinion. Of course most face masks cannot guarantee protection from a virus infection, but they can significantly lower the risk. For example no “wet pronounciation” or accidental spitting while talking can hit you. That alone makes me want to wear a mask.

So let’s get out the sewing kit and get started to make your own face mask.

First you need some fabric. You can use T-shirts or old pillow cases or anything else you have. Make sure though that you can wash your mask. As far as I can tell they don’t have to be boiled as long as you use soap/washing detergent. After all I don’t wash my hands with boiling water either, but for sure with a lot of soap.

When you cut your rectangle for the face mask, make sure you have 2 layers. So either cut the rectangle double the size and fold it in half or cut two pieces. To check if the face mask is the right size for you, hold the piece of cloth over your face. Does it cover everything you want covered? Otherwise adjust the size (bigger or smaller).

When the size is right, fold the fabric over or double it. Then start making the pleats (folds). Mine are about 1,5cm /1/2 inch deep. Don’t worry if it is not absolutely exact. You are not making a dress 🙂

If you like you can iron the pleats. They will stay in place a little better.

Now add the grosgrain ribbon (Ripsband in German). If you don’t have any, make your own by cutting strips of fabric and folding them in half longways. Before sewing make sure that you put a piece of wire in the top part of the face mask so you can adjust the fit around the nose.

Now you have to decide whether you want ribbons attached to tie the mask at the back of the head or use elastic. I chose elastic. But you have to make sure not to sew the short ends of the mask shut or you won’t be able to put the elastic through.

As you can see here I prepped 3 face masks made out of different fabric.

You can also add extras. For instance, to make a filter pocket at the bottom inside of the mask, untuck the inner fabric layer from the ribbon and hem it seperately.

In the following picture you can see how I bent the inside wire to fit the shape of the nose.

And now for the final result of my three face masks:

Now you know how to make your own face mask. If you have any questions feel free to write to me.