Simple and easy to follow face mask tutorial - using bias tape for ties

Simple and easy to follow face mask tutorial - using bias tape for ties

I've been making a lot of cloth, washable face masks for family and friends over the last month.  I've kind of perfected the assembly to be as efficient as possible, yet a quality final product.

But if you're like me, you've either run out of elastic or can't find any in the first place to make cloth face masks.  I was able to get a hold of some .25 inch wide bias tape, which makes for a quick and easy tie strap.  The results are comfortable and effective.

So here it is, a picture tutorial:

What you will need:

Sewing machine
Iron
Scissors
Ruler
Straight pins
Cotton Material (8" x 14")
0.25 inch wide Bias Tape (2 yards)
Thread

Step 1:  Cut your Material

Each face mask requires a 8" by 14" piece of cotton material:

Cut your bias tape into 36" lengths.  You can get four 36" pieces (enough for two masks) out of a 4 yard package of bias tape.  If you are making a lot of masks, you can shorten the length to about 29" and get 5 lengths out of each package.

Step 2:  Fold your material in half and sew along the 8" side

Fold you material in half doubling over the longer 14" side and such that the "right side" of the material is on the inside.

Sew the raw edges that meet along the 8" side together to create a "loop" of fabric.  Sew pretty close to the edge, about 0.25" seam (Line the edge of the material up with the edge of the pressure foot).

Step 3: Turn the fabric loop right-side-out and iron it flat

 Now you have a 7" x 8" rectangle with two layers, seam at the bottom:

Step 4:  Use your iron to create 3 pleats

Start at the bottom of your rectangle, about 1.5" up.  Make the pleat about 0.5 deep.  Hold in place with your hand (or you can pin there until you get the hang of it).

Use your iron the press the first pleat into the material.

Create your second pleat about a half inch above the first and again half an inch deep.

Hold in place with your hand (or you can pin there until you get the hang of it).  Use your iron to press the second pleat in place.

Create the third and final pleat, again half an inch above the second pleat and half an inch deep.

Hold in place with your hand (or you can pin there until you get the hang of it).  Use your iron to press the final pleat in place.

 Step 5:  Attach the bias tape along the edge

Line up the middle of the length of bias tape along the edge of the pleated edge of your mask.  Hold the bias tape open and flat so that the mask is overlapping with about the middle on the unfinished side of the bias tape.  Pin this in place.

Sew the mask material to the bias tape carefully to keep the material and tape overlapped.

Do this on both sides of the mask.  It will look like this at this point.

Front Side: 

Back Side: 

Step 6:  Trim any excess from along the material that will be tucked inside the bias tape (if you lined the material up at the exact middle and sewed it perfectly, you may not have to do any trimming)

All trimmed up:

Step 7:  Fold the bias tape over and sew to finish

Fold the bias tape over the raw edge of the mask (pin if you need to)

Sew carefully along the edge of the bias tape to neatly finish off the mask's edge.  Repeat with the other side.

Bam!  Finished product!