Since this pandemic started I’ve been making masks pretty much non-stop, making changes and altering patterns, finding the best fit with the most breathable shape, and the best type of ear loops/ties.
I’ve also been designing fabric specifically for making masks using my paintings, which has been a painfully slow process due to supply chain issues.
I tried 3 different fabric printing companies and none of them could compare to the quality of Spoonflower who luckily now have a decent turn around time, so I can finally share what I’ve been working on for the last several months.
I’ve opened a Spoonflower shop!
where you can buy my mask fabric by the yard or as fat quarter panels.
3 of the fat quarter panels (above) have 4 mask designs each that are sized to fit the average adult head. It says women’s masks on the fabric, but really they fit most regular sized adults, I want to change that, but if I make the word change now it will be another month before I’ll be able to have it for sale.
The other 2 fat quarter panels have 3 mask designs each that are extra large for the big and tall people in your life.
I also have yardage for sale that has 10 different mask designs in a repeat. Pictured is an earlier version printed it on cotton poplin which is 42″across for $20 a yard and makes 24 masks. I’ve also printed it on the organic cotton sateen that prints 56″ across for $27. The cotton sateen is gorgeous! The color is a tad more saturated than the poplin, it has a lovely feel, and you get 6 more masks.
The mask template I’m using is based on the Improved Summer Mask by Keiko Olsson. I love this mask because it has a very structured shape that is boxier around the nose and mouth, which makes it very easy to breath in, even with 3 layers of tightly woven fabric.
The mask is also very easy to sew, and I’ve added a nose wire to the ones I’m making to give it a tight fit at the top. I’ve also figured out how to make super comfortable, adjustable ear loops that make the mask easy to take on and off.
I also love that there are no seams or folds across the front so it really shows off the design of the fabric itself.
One thing I’ve found over the last couple years printing fabric is that there can be a small amount of distortion, so rectangles don’t always print exactly true, but for the masks that small distortion doesn’t really affect the finished product.
I designed the masks with 1/4″ seam allowance in the printed fabric and I designed it to print a bit oversized to allow for shrinkage. You should pre-wash the fabric on warm with non-phosphate laundry detergent and tumble dry before cutting out the masks.
I’ve written up a mask tutorial that you can download and keep or just follow along here.
You will need:
3 pieces of high thread count cotton fabric for the front, back and inside
1 Nose wire
Lycra spandex cotton knit fabric for the cord
Needle nose tweezers
2 Silicon bead spacers
Optional: Bone folder and seam roller
If you want to make this mask with your own pre-washed fabric cut 10″ x 6″ rectangles for the average adult size mask. Then draw a diagonal line 1 3/4″ away from each corner.
For the big and tall size cut 11″ x 7″ rectangles and draw the diagonal line 2″ from the corners.
1. Layer front and back fabric right sides together with inner layer or filter fabric on the bottom. I don’t bother cutting the mask out neatly before sewing since I can see easily the outline and I carefully trim all the excess away after stitching the 3 layers together.
Stitch with a 1/4” seam allowance around the perimeter of the mask, leaving a 4” opening at the bottom edge for turning right side out.
2. Trim fabric away at the 4 corners, then trim away the 8 smaller corners close to the stitching, to eliminate bulk when turning right side out. This really helps later when stitching the casing, because there are so many layers of fabric stacked up it can be hard to stitch through.
3. Before turning right side out, press seam allowances to one side. This step makes turning the mask right side out easier.
Along the bottom edge press the front fabric seam allowance to the same side
then press the backing fabric seam allowance to the other side.
4. Turn fabric right side out and use a bone folder or other pointed object to poke the corners outward. It also helps to run the point along the seams to push them outward, then press.
5. Place nose wire inside and centered along the top edge.
I often fold the two outer edges inward to make sure it’s centered. Pinch and hold the nose wire in place inside the fabric between your fingers
6. then stitch closely along the outside edge of the perimeter of the mask. Stop just before you get to the nose wire and turn the fabric, stitch 1/4” inward, then turn and stitch along the length of the nose wire to create the casing that holds it in place. You can place pins on each side of the nose wire to mark its location, but I usually make a visual check for it and feel for it with my fingers.
Turn the fabric again and stitch back up to the edge of the mask and continue stitching around it until you reach the starting point. This outside stitching will also close the opening at the bottom edge of the mask.
7. With mask face down, turn up bottom third at corners and use a seam roller to press along folded edge 2” from each side.
Repeat this step with the top third of the mask, pressing it to the inside.
8. Keeping the mask face down with top third folded toward the inside, fold the edge back making a Z shape and pin in place.
Fold up the bottom third of the mask the same way and pin in place on both sides of the mask.
9. Cut two 12” long strips of cotton lycra knit fabric 1/2” or 3/4” wide. Either width works equally well. Tug ends of each strip to make it curl into a cord.
10. Fold fabric at the side of the mask over the cord and the edges of the pleat folded fabric to create a casing, then stitch in place.
There will be a lot of layers of fabric for the needle to stitch through here, so go slowly and remove pins before you get to them. Repeat on the other side.
The mask should now look like this.
11. You can either tie the ends of the cord together for comfortable fit or you can make an adjustable ear loop, To do this uncurl the end of one cord and put the end of the second cord over it and tightly roll the two ends together. Clamp the coiled end tightly between the tweezers, then roll the silicon bead over the end. This takes a bit of work, but the beads are stretchy so they can be tugged up and over the fabric and the tweezer with a little effort, using a skinny lace crochet hook can help. Once the bead is up over the tweezers, roll it up a bit further, grab the cords and pull the tweezers out. Roll the bead up the cords to the halfway point, then tie the end of the cords in a knot.
The silicon bead spacers will go over the 1/2″ wide cord much easier than the 3/4″ cord. It can be done, but it can be a bit fiddley, if the silicon spacer beads are too tight a fit for you to get over the 3/4″ cord, you can also use slightly larger 6.5mm Nitrile Rubber O-Rings with a 3.5mm opening.
The inside of the finished mask.
In case you missed it, the downloadable tutorial is here and you can buy my mask fabric in my Spoonflower Shop. According to health advocates, masks are going to be with us for at least another year, even with a vaccine, so you mine as well have some fun making expressive, artsy and comfortable masks for yourself and loved ones.
Keep creating,
Judy
ABOUT JUDY
Judy is an artist, explorer, image wrangler, knowledge seeker, instructor, speaker, creative alchemist, and purveyor of inspiration, helping others channel creativity on a daily basis.
34 responses to “Cool New Masks!!!”
great job, judy!!
thanks Wendy!😁
The mask fabrics are gorgeous! A niece asked me for masks as she’s going back to teaching soon. These will make cute ones that her students will enjoy as well.
Thanks Jeanne! How fun for your niece to wear them teaching, I love it!!!
I love the mask fabrics! Thanks for the downloadable/printable instructions. I have watched the video, but it is helpful to have written instructions to refer to while I am sewing.
you’re welcome Gail. I wanted to write up the instructions also, because I added a nose wire and have the adjustable ear loops which are 2 key elements to having a well fitting mask.
Wonderful tutorial!
thanks Patricia!
Phenomenal! Wonderful fabric, great tutorial, thanks for putting so much effort into getting this all together.
Hi Jill, thanks and your welcome!
Beautiful fabric design – will you be putting up allover designs on spoonflower – I would like to make a different style of mask
thanks Theresa, I have an all over mushroom print fabric in 2 different size prints that should be available really soon. I’ve printed the fabric with another company so I know the repeat is good, I’m just waiting on spoonflower for that one. I’m also working on a new all over covid repeat fabric, but I had to start with new artwork because the previous painting wasn’t big enough to do a repeat.
I started this process months ago with another mask pattern that I had designed and was doing trial printing with, but I decided I like the fit of this one better because it doesn’t fit as close to the face so its much easier to breath in and switched to it. I also love this pattern because I have the ability to create a mask image that works more like a painting and isn’t interrupted by seams and folds. If I were to create yardage from the other designs it would be a big investment in time that I don’t have right now, but I might get to it eventually.
I’ve ordered some of your fabric anyway – it’s too beautiful to not make in to masks. If they don’t fit me, they will fit someone in the family. now for the long wait for it to get to New Zealand
thanks for the purchase Theresa, I’m sure they’ll fit as masks from the printed fabric. The printed fabric is larger 10.5″ x 6.5″ and fits pretty much everyone whose tried one on, even Phil, but the XL size fits him better since he’s a giant, lol. I’ve had several people tell me they want to use the fabric for other quilting projects too. Sorry about the long wait, that’s the hardest part about ordering from spoonflower no matter where you are.
Love your fabrics. I made a practice regular sized mask. Bit it is tight and flat on my face. Suggest others try one out before deciding on a size.
the printed mask fabric is larger than the 10″ x 6″ measurement that the Keiko Olsson mask uses. The printed mask fabric is 10.5″ x 6.5″ which fits most average size faces. Also if your t-shirt cord is regular cotton knit and not lycra it is not as stretchy and you may need to cut a longer cord.
Got my Spoonflower fat quarter today, and love the fabrics and images!They have improved the color saturation and detail, and your paintings are gorgeous! I can get 4 full masks and 2 partial ones, to which I might just add fabric and get 6 altogether. Thanks!
Hi Jeri,
Wow that was a fast turnaround for Spoonflower! The color on the cotton sateen really is gorgeous, the blacks are super black and the other colors are bright and saturated. I’m so glad you like the designs, thanks so much for being my very first order!! ❤️😁
Yes, it was incredibly fast! I actually got the Petal Signature cotton, and it is a nice tight weave like the batiks, so I am happy with the density of it. I used your excellent pattern, and it just might be my favorite one so far! i love the clever origami-like folding for the pleats and casing, and the fit is really nice. I also ordered the nose wires you linked, and they came fast as well. Thank you!
Oh good to know the Petal Signature Cotton looks good, I hadn’t ordered the masks in that so I wasn’t sure. I really appreciate the feedback. I tried 2 other mask patterns that were similar to this design that fit nice, but this pattern’s simplicity of design, combined with breathability beats every other mask I’ve tried.
Will you be selling your masks? I love them but no longer sew..I’ve sold my machines! There are st least 2 that I want.
Hi Susan,
yes, I will be selling masks. I have a lot of non-sewing friends who have been asking. 😊 I have been sewing all weekend and still have a full day of work ahead of me today, but I’m going to try to get them up in my shop by tomorrow.
Oh, good! What is the name of your shop and how do I get to it? So exciting!
My shop address is here 😁 https://www.judycoatesperez.com/shop/
I love this mask, better than any of the others out there. Thank you so much for the tutorial. I’ve been looking for one that is more breathable and this is it. Instead of regular fabric for the lining I’ve been using 2 layers of chiffon. Somewhere I read that it makes a good filter, but it makes it so I can breath with the mask on. Again thank you so much for sharing.
Hi Susan,
you’re welcome. Every other week or so, I read new information about masks as they discover more about protection. The most recent thing I’ve read was that the outer layer should repel water and they recommended polyester or a poly cotton blend. I made a mask a couple months ago with a polyester outer layer and it was almost impossible to breathe through, so I thing we do have to make some comprises about what works best for ones own personal comfort and safety. I’ve also read about a silk layer mixed with cotton being good. Thanks for the feedback, and stay safe!
I just received my order from Spoonflower today. The design is beautiful, but there are only 20 full mask prints in the yard I ordered, and four two and three quarter inch partials. I can’t wait to make a new mask!
Hi Hilda, thanks for buying my mask fabric. As far as how many masks are in a yard that has a lot to do with what type of fabric you get, because they have different widths. The cotton sateen is 54″ wide so it will have one more row of masks than the 42″ printable area of the 44″ wide basic cotton. There are half masks along the top because the fabric is printed in a continuous repeat, so the design gets cut off at the end of 36″ wherever that falls on the repeat. I have made small child size masks from the masks that have the top portion cut off along the top edge of the fabric.
I sewed a sample mask today while I wait for my Spoonflower order to arrive. It worked great! Thanks for your very clear directions and helpful photos.
you’re so welcome Gretchen, thanks for letting me know, and thanks for buying my mask fabric. 😁
I just found you via spoonflower! This origami/Aplat style mask is my favorite! You’ve provided a wonderful tutorial as well. I like to use heavy interfacing in the middle third to really keep it off my lips. Gorgeous art, I can hardly choose a favorite.
Hi Jennifer,
wow, I can’t imagine how you managed to find me on Spoonflower, lol, but welcome and thank you! I love this style mask too. I tried making several others, and designed one of my own, but ultimately found this mask shape the most comfortable to wear. Others often slid down my nose as I talked or fit so close to my face it was hard to breathe. Adding a heavy interfacing for a bit of added structure is a great idea.
Designing the masks has been a lot of fun. I like to think that one of my masks could bring a smile to someones face while we’re all going through such a difficult time.
thanks for stopping by and saying hi!
judy
I made a couple of these for the first time last night. I love the design. It fits very well. And I got compliments right away! People really like the bee print. Thanks.
Hi Sue,
thanks for the feedback, I’m so glad you like the masks! 😊
stay well, Judy