Many people are donating cloth masks to those working in private nursing homes; or if you just want to make your own protective cotton facemask, here are some instructions:

  • This pattern has three pieces.

    • Download your face template here.

    Download your cheek template here.

    Download your mouth template here.

  • Use fabric/tightly woven cottons or cotton/polyester (wash fabric before cutting out).

    • What you need:

    Main unit.

    Nose unit.

    Cheek unit.

    Cut on the double

    It is very important to mark the pattern pieces clearly with tailors chalk or a marker. This is to identify where the pattern pieces are to be fitted when cut out.

    1 Sew main piece along centre front, iron our seam and top stitch if preferred.

    2 Prepare the nose and cheek pieces by sewing a ¼ inch seam on the edge seams as this will be the finished edge when the mask is turned out.

    3 Sew nose piece and iron out seam.

    4 Place cheek pieces in place again matching notches and pin in place.

    5 Stitch all around mask, removing pins as you go.

    6 Clip edges/corners to neaten (do not cut too close to stitching).

    7 Pull through the filter opening.

    8 Iron out corners and seams.

    9 Finish with a cord/ribbon/lacer long enough for persons head.

    Tip: use recycle old t-shirts.

    10 Cut strips 1½in wide by 18in long, pull and it will make a tie for mask.

    11 There are instructions online for an alternative mask a wire unit can be added at the nose also.

    Read more

    Home sewing project: making a face mask

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