Cut from quilting cotton
❤️ I already had, gifted from mother-in-law, a stash of cotton fabric that I had cut up of 10” x 10” squares and 2 1/2” strips WOF so that’s what I used. Being a nurse she would have been tickled pink that I used her fabrics for this ♥️
So I used 2 - 10” x 10” squares and 2 - 2 1/2” strips WOF
A- 1 piece 8”x10” (from 10” x 10” square) - front
B- 2 pieces 5”x10” (from 10” x 10” square) - back
C- 1 piece 2”x 6” (from A) - pocket for wire
D- 2 pieces 2” x 3” (from A & E) - extension of pocket
E- 4 pieces 2 1/2” x 19” (from 2 1/2” strips) - ties (opt - elastic)
Take B (back) and along the 10” side press 1/4” and then fold another 1/4” and then topstitch. Set aside
(If you are able to make buttonholes you can skip these *next steps)
*Take C (pocket for wire) and place your ruler (with the long (horizontal) edge at the top and 1/2” from the side) measure .3 make a mark and another mark at .7 Mark an x on the end.
Repeat on the opposite side.
This is a sewing line in which you do not sew between the .3 & .7 lines making a small pocket for the wire to go through.
*Take C (pocket for wire) & 1 - D (extension of pocket) and with right sides together sew a 1/2” seam. Do NOT sew between the .3 & .7 marks. Repeat for the other end. Press seams open.
With right sides together place C (pocket for wire) & D (extension of pocket) on top of A (front) matching seams with side marked with an x going into the seam. The .3 & .7 markings facing to the center of A (front piece) see the pipe cleaner sticking out in picture.
With right sides together place the other side of C (pocket for wire) & D (extension of pocket) to one B (back) (opposite side of your hem). Stitch.
Right sides together sew the other B (back) to A (front)
Press matching side seams. (C & D should be folded in half). Right sides facing. Set aside.
Ties:
Take one E and press in half lengthwise. Open and press one side towards the center. Repeat for other side. Then fold in half lengthwise and press again. Topstitch the full length. Repeat making 4 ties.
Take each tie and pin between the layers with the ends facing the center. I placed each tie right up against the seam at the top and the bottom. Make sure you pin, knot or whatever to keep the ties away from stitching lines. These should be in the center of the large pieces.
Topstitch along the bottom of the hem or else the metal will fall through....ask me how I know 😂😂😂
Stitch down the sides and backstitch over the ties.
Turn right side out.
Make pleats like a fanfold. I made three pleats. Topstitch on each side.
So will see how many I can make!
Update - so I only made 8 from my pattern plus 13 more from another pattern. Took me aprox 30 min per mask but the quality was good. I then switched over to this pattern on utube https://youtu.be/iNX0cRrYj6U and whipped up the 13 in no time! I then washed in hot water and tumbled dry as per requested by the fb group, My pattern washed up best, while the pipe cleaner was a great idea it needs to be bent at the ends to prevent poking out.
Update again - this is even better...made 10 from this one! https://youtu.be/lIKJe03ecos
I made trip into town to look for elastic and wouldn’t you know it...none to be found! So I used hair bands cut to 7” for each side. The round elastics are a b@#$&ch to sew. Wonder if the serger would do better? I also tried making straps from 2” strips. Much better but my machine is in dire need of a tune up. 🥴
Update #2
Got bored with the masks and made 10 scrub caps! https://www.joykatedesigns.com/p/hospital-scrub-cap-sewing-pattern/
Update to masks
Tried another pattern this one was on my embroidery machine and was so easy!
