It seems the covid-19 pandemic isn’t slowing down in the US anytime soon. It’s unfortunate that it continues to spread, but the health officials all say one way to possibly help stop the spread is by wearing face masks in public. While cotton made face masks will NOT prevent you from contracting covid-19 it is said to help more then not wearing anything.
During this pandemic I have made well over 200 masks! I know some who have made double and triple that already too. Personally with 3 kids at home 24/7 I’m doing what I can when I can while I help my kids cope with our current situation.
So throughout my face mask making adventure I have tried several different patterns and adjusted them here and there. I even designed my own using hair ties! What I’ve learned is we all have our ways of stitching and not all patterns no matter how well written necessarily turn out the same.
I’m going to link you to two of my favorite patterns and then in the next day or so I’m hoping to do a post with how I made each my own.
The main thing I changed up was assembly as a wonderful woman who runs a quilt shop in a neighboring town showed me how she sewed up masks quicker. I loved her technique on elastic placement that cut back the time it took for me to make each mask since previously I would pin each side of the elastic and her technique stopped that step.
Basically, for those who may not need the visual you place the elastic diagonally in the corner while sewing them right sides together. This stitches over the elastic twice securing it and is easy to hold and move around without pinning it. Most patterns either have the elastic tucked in half an inch or so down from the top seams or placed after turning right sides out. When I get the post done I’ll add a link here to show you what I mean too.
My biggest recommendation if you’re just starting to make masks, do a test run first before you make a bunch. Make sure the pattern you chose fits you right! Kids are harder to size too, so definitely only make one to try first!
And with that, here’s to another day of stitching and staying home. I hope you stay safe and find the good in each day!!!
