How To Make A Fabric Face Mask With Ties - Detailed Sewing Tutorial

With our national and local government recommending all citizens wear non-medical protective face masks it is helpful to be able to make your own. Making a protective fabric face mask is easy to do even for a beginning sewer. 

There are tons of different styles, patterns and ways to make a fabric face mask. In my previous post I put together a tutorial on how to make one with elastic bands that wrap around your ears to hold the mask on. You can see the full tutorial HERE. 

Today I am going to walk you through how to make a mask with fabric ties. It is nice to have the two options in case you don't have elastic available but still want to make a protective fabric face mask. 

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Protective Fabric Face Mask With Ties Sewing Tutorial

Supplies 
cotton thread
cotton fabric
cotton flannel fabric (optional)
sewing machine
scissors (I recommend these)
ruler
rotary cutter & mat (optional but very helpful)
pins
iron
fabric pencil or regular pencil


Tutorial Instructions

1. To begin cut a 9" x 6" rectangle from each of the two fabrics. 

Note - I like to use cotton flannel on the inside layer of the face mask because it is softer than regular cotton fabric however this is a personal preference and can be skipped. You can use two layers of plain cotton fabric if you do not want to use flannel fabric.

2. Next cut 4 strips measuring 1" x 20" from the same cotton fabric as the top layer of the face mask. These strips will be made into the tie straps for the mask. To make the ties first lay the strip flat on your ironing board and fold it in half so you have a 1/2" x 20" long strip and iron. 

Open the strip back up then fold the outside raw edges towards the center fold line you just created with the iron. Do this on both the left side and right side of the strip. Iron as you go to keep these folded sides in place. (see pictures above)

Once you finish ironing the sides in fold the strip in half along the first ironed mark tucking the ironed edges inside. You should not have any raw edges along the side of your strip showing any more. 

Now sew along the strip down the entire length where the two edges meet. Repeat this step for all 4 straps. 

Tip - to speed up the fabric tie strap process double the length of the fabric strips (1" x 40") you cut so you only have to sew two long straps. Once you have the two long straps cut them in half to create a total of 4 straps that are 20" long. 

3. Place the cotton rectangle on the table with the right side facing up. Then lay the flannel rectangle on top of the cotton piece with the wrong size facing up.

4. Place a small mark with your fabric pencil or regular pencil along the top side of one of the longer sides of the rectangle. Put a second pencil mark about 1" away through both fabrics. Leave the space between the two marks open so you can turn the mask inside out when you are done sewing them together.

5. Begin sewing your fabrics together starting just after one of the pencil marks. As you approach your first corner of the first short side stop sewing when you are about 1" away from the corner. Lift the top fabric and slide one of the fabric tie straps between the fabrics and line up one side of the tie strap to the corner. Cl

ose the fabric and then sew over the tie strap to ensure it can't pull out. Let the other end of the tie poke out the opposite side of the mask.

Continue sewing around the perimeter of the mask inserting the ties into the corners and sewing over them as you go making sure not to catch the other ends of the ties in your stitching. I find it easiest to keep the loose ends of the ties gathered together, sticking out from the 1" pencil marks along the top of the mask. 

Stop sewing around the perimeter of the mask when you get to the last pencil mark marking the 1" opening making sure to back stitch a few stitches in place.

6. Turn the mask inside out through the 1" opening. Finger press or iron the mask flat. Make sure the opening you used to flip the mask inside out is lined up flat so when you sew around the perimeter of the mask it gets sewn shut.

7. We are now going to make three pleats along the short edges of each side of the mask. I find it is easiest to locate the center of each short side then make a 1/2" pleat and pin it in place. Make a another 1/2" pleat above the center pleat and another 1/2" one below the center pleat, pinning each pleat for a total of 3 pleats. Do the same to the other side making sure the pleats on both sides go the same way! The short side of the mask will now measure about 3 to 3 1/2 inches now that you have added pleats. (please note- the picture below has elastic ear loops not ties, however the process for both types of masks is the same)

8. Top stitch around the entire perimeter of the mask using a 1/4" seam allowance. Make sure you sew the 1" opening along the top edge closed too. Also, as you stitch over the pleats I recommend removing the pins as you go so you don't break a needle.

9. Sew a second top stitch about 1/4" away from the first row of top stitching around the perimeter of the mask.

Congratulations you have completed your protective face mask with tie closure! Now get busy making a bunch more for all of your friends and family!

If you would prefer to make a mask with elastic ear loops please see my post HERE for complete instructions. 

I pray you are staying safe and healthy during the time of the Corona virus (COVID-19) outbreak.