HOW TO: FACEMASKS

2 x cotton fabric pieces (6 x 9 inches) 2 x 4 inches of elastic, ¼ inch wide 1 piece of wire, 3 inches long. You can use 6 inches of plasticcovered gardening wire, doubled over on itself.

Step 1

Place patterned sides of fabric together. Pin down the pieces of elastic, so that they lie horizontally, and the length of them are inbetween the fabric pieces.

HOW TO: FACEMASKS

Katie Dunne

Step 2

Sew down one side of the fabric as far as the elastic, encasing the elastic inside.

Step 3

Stretch the other end of this same piece of elastic down the side of the fabric. Sew down the side of the fabric, holding the newly-created ear loop inside the fabric.

Sew across the top. Repeat the procedure of making the first ear loop on the other side, making the second ear loop. You now have two elastic ear loops encased in a fabric pouch, which is sewn shut on three sides.

Step 5

Trim the seams and elastic. Turn right-side-out and press with an iron.

Step 6

Fold 3 small pleats into the mask and pin down. You don’t have to be too fussy about the size, or where you pin. Top-stitch along the seam on the right-side of the mask.

Step 7

Sew down 1cm from the top of the mask, and across 4 cm, making an elongated L shape.

Step 8

Turn the mask inside out. Insert wire through the opening at the end of the L shape.

Turn back right side out. Sew down 1 cm to trap the wire inside.

Step 10

Turn in the raw edge at the bottom. Sew across to completely close the mask. It may be easier to pin this raw edge inside before sewing.

Step 11

Trim the edges. Your mask is now ready to wear! Press the wire in around your nose for a secure fit, and pull down the pleats.