How to sew a surgical-type mask at home
Here are the various steps to sew a surgical type mask at home. First, if you do not have it, you can download the paper pattern from the article:
How to make a surgical type mask at home – free pattern here
About the material, I have recycled a pillowcase and a shirt, both in pure cotton, machine washable at high temperature with antibacterial additive after each use, so I recommend that you sew more than one. Although they are not exactly as medical devices used in the hospital, they are still a barrier.
Let’s see the steps:
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Download the paper pattern
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Take the material: paper, cotton fabric, elastic, scissors, pins, dressmaker’s tape measure and sewing machine.
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Iron the pillowcase upside down
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Place the pattern paper on the 2 layers of fabric (or double fabric) making sure that the part where it is written “fold” is on top of the folded fabric
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Cut out around the pattern
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Cut two pieces of elastic according to the type of template you want to sew: Surgical mask A with elastic that goes behind the ear, two elastics 18 cm Surgical mask B with elastic that goes behind the head, two elastics 30 cm
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Open the mask with the right side of the fabric facing upwards
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Place the paper pattern on one of the sides, matching the “fold” writing where the crease is
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With tailor chalk, draw the points where you have to place the elastics
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The elastics marks should be made on all 4 sides
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Place the elastics by stopping them with pins
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Place the elastics as the mask “A” (on the right of the photo), to make the mask with elastics that go behind the ear.                               Place the elastics as the mask “B” (on the left of the photo), to make the mask with elastics that go behind the head.
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Close the mask leaving the elastic bands inside
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Sewn from the sides leaving the bottom open
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Turn the mask over on fabric right side out
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On the right side the masks will be with the elastic bands out as in the photo below
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Iron in order to flatten them well, and on the open side fold 1 cm of fabric inside
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The ironed masks will be as in the figure, with the bottom open and folded 1 cm towards the inside of the mask
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Position the pattern paper on the mask so that the part with the “fold” writing coincides with the fold of the fabric, on the opposite side to the open one
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With a chalk mark the place where the folds will position, mark it on both sides of the fabric
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 Fold the fabric matching the fold marks, stopping them with a pin
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folds will form
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Sew the folds
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Sew the bottom folded in to close the mask
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Iron the mask
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The masks are ready to be wear. In the photo, the top one is the type “A” mask with elastics that go behind the ears, while the bottom one is the type “B” mask with elastics that go behind the head.
Mask type A
Mask type B
For any clarification and doubt, please contact me via email or comments
Stay strong and positive, mates. Bye Scilla