Design By Maureen McDermott, DVM 3/26/20 – Reprinted with permission
100 masks done.
WITHOUT stupid earloops and with a filter pocket. If you are making masks and you have elastic earloops or there isn’t a filter pocket please reconsider your design as people hate earloops and with fabric like this it doesn’t make a great seal at all without being really hard on your ears. We made a guide to follow to make these and if you have a sewing machine it takes about 5 minutes per.
1. Cut fabric of choice to 10” x 16”.
2. Turn over so the outer facing side of the fabric is down. Hem the short edges ~1” inward.
3. Fold the piece in half with the outer facing side of the fabric inside the fold. Align the hemmed edges.
4. Sew the short edges about 0.5” from edge. Trim edge if needed.
5. This will create a pocket, with the outer facing side of the fabric on the inside.
6. Turn inside out to reveal the outer facing side of the fabric. Keep the pocket opening at the top.
7. Added 2 pleats to the fabric and pin in place, about 1.5” from the edge.
8. Turn mask over. Cut a length of paracord to 5’. Orient over mask so that the free ends of the paracord are at the top where the pocket opens.
9. Sew the pleated edges down over the paracord. Make sure the paracord can freely move and is not trapped in your stitch.
10. Repeat on the other side. Make sure the free edges of the paracord are oriented correctly with the pocket opening.
11. Remove pins, turn over, put carbon filter in pocket, put on face (free ends of the paracord are to tie behind your head), and be less sick.
