I’ve been making mask and collected a bit of information about mask making, so I thought I’d write up what I’ve gathered so far. Scroll down to the Owl Be Sewing Pattern to skip to my current favorite pattern.
The Deaconess Pattern
I think the best mask, especially for beginners, is the Deaconess pattern. this is where I started myself. It’s quick to make and you don’t have to print anything out, just cut rectangles to size, which is also very efficient use of fabric. I find them quite easy to breath in, too. Watch the video and follow along. Make sure you pleat the sides down with three pleats to about three inches. This is important for fit. For a larger face make the dimension 7 x 9 inches and pleat down about the same, maybe 3 1/5 inches on the sides. You don’t have to worry about it being mathematically perfect (or even perfectly symmetrical), just get out there and make! You can sew in the ear loops as shown (1/4 inch elastic works well, and is available again!) or you can easily modify the pattern to have ties go behind the head.
This pattern does not have a filter pocket.
Sweet Red Poppy Patterns
The Sweet Red Poppy Patterns mask making group on Facebook was an awesome resource while mask making was getting started, and her masks patterns are well designed. Check out her blog and her YouTube channel for the three types of masks and the scrub cap patterns. This is was my second stop on my mask-making journey.
The patterns have a lot of options for side channels, filer pockets and nose wires.
- Sweet Red Poppy fitted mask pattern with casing, multi-sized (link to download pattern is on page)
- video for face mask pattern
- video playlist
- Other SRP mask pattern pages
- Scrub cap pattern
- Facebook support group
⭐️ Owl Be Sewing and Olsen Patterns
This is my current favorite pattern. It has the side channels so you can do ear loops or self-adjusting ties behind the head. It has an easy to add channel for the nose wire, and incorporates a pocket to add a filter. I like the way it wraps the side panels from the Olsen patterns so there’s just that little bit less to cut and sew (though I feel like maybe it’s less efficient with the nicer face fabric; I switch to the Olsen pattern to conserve fabric). I also like that it’s a little flatter on the face (which is pure aesthetic, more fabric is probably better to keep the mask from feeling soggy) than the Sweet Red Poppy pattern.
Check back for a link to my post about modification I make.
- Owl Be Sewing video one – watch both one and two! seam allowance is 1/4 inch
- Owl Be Sewing video two – watch both one and two! Patterns are linked in desription or in next bullet point
- OBS patterns (google drive): Age 3-5, Age 6-10, Adult small/medium, Adult Large
- Sew 1/2 in seam allowance for “small” (age 10-16 ish) on small/medium pattern. All other OBS patterns are 1/4 inch seam allowance.
- Olsen pattern
- How to use the Owl Be Sewing pattern like the Olsen pattern. This can be done to conserve fabric. I also have notes on how to add the nose wire casing.
Other patterns
I think I may try the 3D mask, and the one that looks like a duck bill pattern next.
Useful tools
A few people have asked about useful tools here and there, so here’s a few to get you started (or justify adding to your toolbox!)
- Clips for pleats
- Stiletto to steer fabric (especially pleated fabric) into sewing machine.
- Turner for sharp corners, creases and to help with ironing
- 6×24 Quilting Ruler for cutting out straight lines with the rotary cutter (I also like the 3×14)
- 18×24 Cutting mat so you can use a rotary cutter (game changer!)
- Rotary cutter the 45mm is the most versatile
Joann Fabrics also has a good roundup of patterns and resources here.