Step By Step Guide To Sew A Simple Medical Mask
People need to wear a fabric medical mask in order to help avert the spread of the COVID-19 (coronavirus). If you want to wear a mask but is not available at that time, you can make a mask yourself and can also donate some of the masks to help the people. Here are some steps to make your own simple medical mask:
- Clean your hands & your work area first before starting to make a face mask. When you are going to make a face mask then it's necessary to use good hygiene. Simply you need to wash your both hands with soap & water or with the hand sanitizer for at least 20 seconds to be sure that your hands are clean now and you need to use bleach spray or bleach wipes to disinfect the working tools and your work surface area.
- Next you have to use a heavy-weight, tight-woven fabric like cotton due to the fact that the tight weave will provide you better protection against germs. Try to use some decorative fabric if possible, if not then you can also use a heavyweight T-shirt or a pillowcase to make a mask.
- Now you need to use a CDC-approved pattern to make your mask design. Here we will provide you the link, CDC-approved pattern mask. Click on this link and check for the pattern and print it out.
Then you need to trace your pattern onto your selected fabric and cut it out. Next, lay your fabric on the work surface with the good side facing down. Now place the CDC pattern on your fabric and use the fabric chalk or you can also use a pencil to trace around it. At last, you need to use fabric scissors or sharp scissors to cut the fabric rectangle.- Now cut 2 36 inch x 0.5 inch (91.4 cm x 1.3cm) strips of your fabric to use for ties. By using the fabric ties make it very easier to construct a simple mask and you just need fewer materials and you can also adjust the fit of the mask by loosening or tightening the mask ties. Simply use your fabric scissors to cut the mask ties.
- After that, you need to fold the top 0.5 inches (1.3cm) edge of backside over your fabric tie. Place your fabric you are using for your mask body on the workspace with the good side facing down. Lay your 1st fabric tie-down on the top of the rectangle cut and be sure that your fabric strip is central so that there is an equal length on both sides of your mask. Then you need to fold the top edge of the posterior of your mask over your fabric strip.
- Next take your sewing machine or a needle & thread in order to do straight stitches along with the rough edges of your fabric from one end of your fabric to the other end. You need to leave the fabric sides open to insert a wire.
- Take the floral wire and cut it about 5.5 inches (14cm). Now slide your floral wire into the sides which you've made before. Use your fingers to push this wire into place at the top of your mask. This floral wire will also allow you to adjust your mask around your nose.
- Next make 3 folds(small) over the center of your mask to make pleats because this will help your mask contour to your face. The first fold will be 0.5 inch (1.3 cm) below the top of your mask and then make the second fold about 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) fold & pin the pleat in place and the same for the third pleats but leave one inch (2.5 cm) of your fabric at the bottom to attach the strap.
- Then you need to stitch up all the sides of your mask to secure all the pleats and the floral wire. Next, simply fold the bottom 0.5 inch (1.3 cm) over your 2nd fabric strip. Sew a superior around the perimeter of your mask double to secure it. Finally, you need to wash your mask before using it.