The EASIEST DIY Cloth Face Mask Tutorial – Beginner Sewing
This really is the EASIEST face mask tutorial you can find… it only has TWO places to sew! You can find a video tutorial of this pattern at the end of the post, but here are the written instructions for you of (seriously) the EASIEST mask you can make.
Here’s what you need for this simple mask tutorial:
- 100% Cotton scrap fabric, bandana, or scarf (12 X 18in)
- 2 hair tie elastics or shoe lace
- Basic Sewing Machine
Start with a piece of fabric roughly 18in X 12 in. You’ll want to use 100% cotton that has a small weave. You can also up-cycle a t-shirt, pillowcase, sheet, scarf, bandana, or scrap fabric from another project.
Fold in half (hamburger style?) RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER – now it should look 12in x 9in!
Sew along the 12in side to create a tube like structure.
Turn right side out and place the seam in the middle. This will be the inside of the mask and wont be seen.
Make pleats in 2-3 places, it doesn’t have to be exact, you’re really just looking to make the fabric skinner to place the elastics on. This step is seen a bit easier in the video below.
Put the hair tie elastics on the ends of each side.
Fold the ends over the elastics and pin or wonderclip in place.
Use a zig zag stitch to sew the ends down. There will be quite a bit of fabric here, just run over it! Don’t be shy. It’s more important that you catch all the layers of fabric than hitting the ends (you can cut those off afterward, we aren’t going for perfection here). Don’t fold over too much of the fabric or the mask will not be wide enough to reach your ears. Expect the first one to be a bit of trial and error! Welcome to the world of sewing 🙂
You can trim up the unfinished edges you didn’t catch or simply leave them. Below is an example of each. The mask works the same! For personal use, this doesn’t bother me much at all.
Trim off raw edges 
or leave edges. 
Finished Side 
Finished Side
You’re done. So easy!
Here is the video tutorial of this same cloth face mask!
Comment on the video and tell me what you thought! If this was too much and you want an even EASIER face mask tutorial, here’s another “no-sew” option for you. Enjoy!
~All things for you and your new little life~
Meet Allison Tolman, LPN, IBCLC!
She is the owner and founder of New Little Life, a company dedicated to providing objective information and support for pumping mothers. With 15+ years of experience in various pregnancy and postpartum fields including as an LPN, birth doula, childbirth educator, and IBCLC, her current research focuses on testing and exploring breast pumps to find the most practical way to help pumping mothers reach their goals as well as teaching lactation professionals to better understand the complex art of pumping.
She runs a long-term coaching program to support working mothers who are pumping.
