neil in gemini space

hacking simple face coverings - 2021-11-09

i decided to try my hands at making a simple face covering (topical!). the uk womens institute version seemed like a sound place to start:

the wi DIY: WI Face Masks

in particular:

2020-07-09 - Updated Simple Face-Covering

once i started making the coverings i found two issues:

the description uses the same material for both the inner and outer layers so it is not obvious (to me at least) what side gets pleated, or where the bias tape goes.

the bias tape is 9 cm long but with an unstated width.

i eventually worked out what went were and a width for the bias tape (18 mm - so in bias tape world 36 mm total width or 9 mm sewn edge, or ... was close enough for government work). then i had some "wait a minute ..." moments! so have a read of the WI instructions then consider an alternative process.

this is not a sewing tutorial so you may wish to look up the meanings of some terms; i don't explain or link terms.

times are for a batch of 3 masks.

materials for each face covering

2 x fabric rectangles 28 cm x 19 cm (i cut 3 sets from a 50 cm x 50 cm fabric square).

2 x fabric rectangles 9 cm x 4 cm or 2 x strips of bias tape 9 cm x 2 cm (approx). cut from remaining fabric or use other offcuts.

2 x soft shirring elastic or similar each 20 cm long.

enough thread, of course!

i use 100% cotton and thread. use what you want or have.

act 1 - about 20 minutes.

i start with 2 x fabric squares 50 cm x 50 cm. easily bought at a local fabric shop or online. choose to wash, dry, and iron the fabric first (read shrink and run colors) as you wish. i make 3 coverings in a batch from this amount of fabric. we can be a little more efficient if we start with other sizes of fabric from a roll.

cut out the material and pin the long sides of the 28 cm x 19 rectangles right-side together ready for sewing. cut accurately!

2021-11-10 - cut the fabric (71K).

20-11-10 - fabric cut and 9 x 4 pieces cut (79K).

act 2 - another 20 minutes.

sew the long sides of the fabric together. if the fabric is thin then consider using tearable support material under the fabric at the start of the seam. this prevents thin material being pushed into the slot of the needle plate and messing up the seam, jamming, etc.

2021-11-10 - stitch the long edges (43K).

after sewing the seams turn the fabric inside out so that the right side of the fabric is now on the outside of our covering (best see the pictures!).

2021-11-10 - turn covering right side out (78K).

press the seams flat.

2021-11-10 - press the seams flat (79K).

on what you want to be the inside of the covering (the side next to our face), mark the center of the short side and put marks 2.5 cm either side of this along the short edge. the WI use pins; i prefer to mark with tailors chalk.

2021-11-10 - mark the pleats (63K).

act 3 - yet another 20 minutes!

with one long side towards you, accurately fold up the covering on the first mark (or pin) and press the edge.

2021-11-10 - first pleat ready (74K).

2021-11-10 - folding first pleat (86K).

fold back the top of the fold that you just pressed in line with the center mark or pin and press again.

turn your covering around and repeat on the other long edge.

2021-11-10 - pleats finished (60K).

place a 9 x 4 cm fabric rectangle on the short edges of your covering. the outside edge of the 9 x 4 cm fabric will line up with the short edge of your covering. the 9 x 4 rectangle will overhang the face covering long edges by about a cm (better to make these equal). pin or clip the 9 x 4 cm rectangles in place ready for sewing.

2021-11-10 - position and pin 9 x 4 fabric (82K).

before sewing turn the overhangs of the 9 x 4 cm fabric so that these line up with the long edge of the face covering. sew 1 cm from the short edge of the covering to secure both the pleats and the 9 x 4 fabric in place. repeat for the other short edge.

2021-11-10 - sewing 9 x 4 to covering (41K).

2021-11-10 - still sewing 9 x 4 to covering (33K).

act 4 - about 20 mins.

fold the 9 x 4 fabric over the short edge of the covering then fold the short edge of the face covering over again. press the edges and then pin or clip these.

2021-11-10 - folding 9 x 4 over edge (80K).

2021-11-10 - folding 9 x 4 over edge (87K).

turn over the covering to continue the folding.

2021-11-10 - folding 9 x 4 over edge (79K).

2021-11-10 - folding 9 x 4 over edge (77K).

2021-11-10 - ready to sew the short edge (59K).

more pressing and clipping or pinning!

sew close to the inner edge of the turned over face covering to secure everything in place. i use a height compensator to keep the foot level at the start of this stitch.

2021-11-10 - starting to sew the short edge (43K).

2021-11-10 - sewn short edges (84K).

pass the shirling elastic through the channel between the layers at the edge of the face covering. tie a knot, then pull the elastic through the channel until the knot is in the channel.

2021-11-10 - adding elastic (97K).

2021-11-10 - adding elastic (88K).

2021-11-10 - adding elastic (93K).

bask in your making skills:-)

2021-11-10 - finished, ready for next batch, can do better next time:-)

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