DIY Face Mask with Ties, Fitted Nose and Filter Pocket

Bias tape maker!!! I had no idea these existed!!! My world is changed forever - no more pin-pricks and iron burns!!!!

Negative: As everyone is feeling, I hate that I am looking up videos for this kind of thing to make a few for my elderly father. Positive: The seam ripper pleats and pipe cleaners for the nose, oh my gosh...amazing! Melanie, thank you for making this video in such a clear and clean method.

Wow, who ever thought two years ago that we'd be watching videos on how to make comfortable face masks? And hopefully soon--we won't be watching them anymore.....YES!!

One hack for making the tape if you don't have the bias tape maker: Pin a safety pin to the ironing board. Finger-press the fabric for the tie and thread it through the safety pin, then pull it through and hit it with the iron as you go.

Melanie! Gotta tell ya I've probably looked at 50! ok that seems extreme but at least 20 videos on how to make the best easiest mask. WOW thank you! You've done a great job!

Excellent video. One of the best homemade mask videos. For those in a pinch looking for wire, a coworker making masks is using sturdy floral wire for the nosepiece. Be safe everyone and sew on!

Wow I’ve never seen the pleats made with the use of seam ripper like you showed us ! Thank you.

OMG you are a GENIUS! I never thought to put the band INSIDE the 2 materials before putting the band on! Gosh, no wonder the first time I had it, it was SO UNCOMFORTABLE!!!
Distance Hugs! You're the best! 🤗😄

OMG! The pleats were taking me forever! This method will save me tons of time! Thank you!

Its ppl like you that bring sunshine to our cloudy days 😎 This is awesome, THANK YOU!

I'm glad I found your tutorial. I've seen too many others that were slammed together, too long, etc. Yours is concise and user friendly! God bless!

Well done and love the pleating tips. The approach for the pipe cleaners is great! Thank you for sharing a comprehensive and easy to do tutorial! ❤️

Thank you this is super helpful and well done. We are Survivors and if this is what it takes to keep our families safe ... let's go ladies . We got this. And don't forget to give some to the essential employees out there helping us stay safe.

I have a pretty standard sewing machine but I believe I can whip out a few of these. First I am going to try for my hubby, and uncle who are both deemed essential employees, and if I can do it for them and get the kinks out. I am going to whip these babies out for my local essential workers in need. Great tutorial sis!

Thank you Melanie. I had so much fun following your tutorial. This was the best video I could find on the internet for face masks. Your patience for beginners like me is much appreciated. Thank you! 😊

Melanie your face mask video was so fun and easy to follow. I have made a face mask for everyone in my family by watching your video. I love the way you speed through the video so you can show the most important aspects of the video, cutting down on time. Thank you for making videos that keep us coming back for more.

Using the seam ripper is positively brilliant! This is the easiest pattern I've tried. And I appreciate the ties because the elastic really hurts my ears and besides, who can find elastic these days?

Thank you so much! Wore my mask to the grocery store for the first time this morning, and it was great...comfortable, breathable, stayed in place, and didn't fog up my glasses. Thank you for the great directions and video!

Such a clear and easy to follow video! As I was out of elastic and too lazy to make the strips, I used 36” shoelaces- tada, works well!!!

Lots of discussion on the best materials the last few days... but I'd just like to emphasize a couple of points:
1) the combination of your fabric/materials MUST BE BREATHABLE. Many videos appear to use fabric that looks way to thick. Hold the layers up to your mouth, if you can't reasonably breathe through the layers - then the wearer will end up breathing around the mask rather than through the mask, thereby significantly diminishing the mask's effectiveness.
2) Seems like most experts are agreeing that 100% cotton is the best fabric for most home made masks; t-shirts and bed sheets (reasonably tightly woven) are getting many recommendations and are readily available. I have had good luck with three layers of well worn/washed cotton sateen sheets. I'm guessing about 600 thread count. Also, the US Surgeon General has a video on how to make a mask out of a cotton t-shirt.
3) As a bonus, you can also use the elastic from a fitted sheet as ties.
4) be very very very cautious of any materials designed for cleaning or other specialty purposes (e.g., vacuum cleaner bags, disposable diapers, microfiber towels, etc...), they may (probably) have hazardous chemicals resulting from the manufacturing or treatment processes.
5) I found the pipe cleaners not quite strong stiff enough for my needs. Paper clips weren't any better. Try standard 16 gauge solid insulated house wiring (just one wire, not the combination of 3 or 4 wires in standard house wiring). It works very well. Just curl the ends back and crimp. It won't rust and the insulation provides a bit of cushion. Often hardware stores have small scraps laying around and will give them away for free.
...

Thanks for a great pattern and mask. I’m happy to see a young lady who knows how to sew! My daughter didn’t want to learn, and lots of young girls don’t want to learn from their moms or grandmother either. You’re precious!

I tried making my first mask with a filter pocket yesterday. Your video helped me with the ties and making the mask look professionally done. Thanks.

Loved this video, you took something so unpleasant to where and turned it in to something positive, valuable and beautiful. So cool.

Thank you so much for this video! Can't find elastic anywhere. I also heard you can use twisty ties instead of the pipe cleaner for anyone that can't find the pipe cleaners.

Thank you for this video. 😔 It's the best, most straight forward one I've seen so I'm settled on your pattern. Now, I'm off to make some for my daughter and her husband who lives in New Orleans and my 6 kids and husband here at home in Texas.

Thank you so much. Sending love, Take care and stay safe everyone

This is the best mask video I've seen. I did modify it some by encasing the pipe cleaner in bias tape before sewing it the the inside seam of the mask as I put the mask together. It made it a lot quicker and easier then sewing it directly into the mask fabric itself after the mask is almost finished.

Brilliant for the pleats!!! And also for the pipe cleaner. I have the full set of bias tape makers, VERY worth it. Thank you so much for this. Shared on my FB, for my US friends. The hospital in The city I live in is not accepting handmade masks right now, but my SILs is, so making a bunch and shipping them where needed. 😏 Be blessed, stay safe!

This is the simplest and most complete tutorial I have seen to make masks. Thank you so much!!

Thank you so much for your clear instructions! I'm new to sewing and this will be my first project. It helps to have the measurements below the video and all the links. Neat trick with the pipe cleaner! My six year old is so excited to help me make as many as we can. Nurses here are also saying you can use blue shop towels inside pockets to help increase the efficacy, so this pocket version is perfect.
Your smile and helpful attitude have made my day!
Thank you!

Many thanks for the instruction and pattern. I made these masked for the whole family so we could go out during these trying times. I was able to use materials on hand and, they came out great and were easy to put together.

Great tutorial! I made multiple masks with your tutorial, hand sewn. Thank you for the wonderful directions. Stay healthy and God bless.

Thank you for making this simple and to the point. We all have so much more to worry about these days, i ran out of elastic last week, i had forgot all about my bias maker! Thanks and stay safe

Melanie you taught me how to crochet with your amazing videos. Now you showed me how to make a mask quick and easy. The way you make the vent mask is the easiest I've seen! Thank you again for making everything fun and easy!

Thank you for sharing your skills and teaching me something I can use to help my family. Stay safe and well.

Great idea using pipe cleaners for the nose area. Wonderful job!!!

The best out all very clear at a speed everyone can learn n make a face mask

Thank you. This is my favorite video. I tried three different methods/videos and they were not working well for me until you came along. So Thank you for taking the time to make this video.

I am not an experienced sewer at all. I was able to follow these directions and they came out pretty decent!! Thank you for this tutorial.

Made a kid size, 7"x5". With a 30-36" strap. Instead of 3 pleats, I used one or two. I've made several of these already and I'm using up my stash 👍

Thank You so much for making this video, I made countless elastic masks from your previous video and everyone loves them!!

This mask would also work great with the elastic. I prefer the elastic with the filter option.
Also, instead of using wire for the nose .. I made pleats going in opposite directions on each side of the nose with about a 1" or less in between and it cinched the nose area really nicely. I tagged you on my Instagram for my sample.

Thank you Melanie. As always, a great tutorial. Want to use the materials I have versus having to order online. This will do it!

I hope you stay safe, Melanie. You're the friendliest and most positive lady on this beautiful planet. Never stop believing in dreams.

This is a great mask. I talk to a lot of nurses and doctors and I guess they are having problems with the string or elastic behind the ear. They are all starting to bleed from wearing them all day. It would be great if you could show a crochet tutorial for a little band that has buttons on each side that they can wrap the elastic of the mask around so the elastic doesn’t tough the ear. I crocheted a bag full and gave them to doctors and nurses here in Phoenix and they were so grateful and thankful. They asked how they could get more. They loved them!

I wished there was a "love" button! I love the clean, neat look of this demonstration & face mask. Thank you!

Great video, I liked the folding trick with the seam ripper. handy..smart cookie!

Thank you so much for the Tie video. I found your 10 Minute video last night, but don’t have any elastic on hand. I actually gave away lots of sewing supplies a few months ago. But I have lots of fabric. Today...sewing masks!

Exactly what I was looking for, a quick, basic, and easy face mask video without a lot of big terms or instructions that are hard to understand. This is by far the best instructional video I’ve seen. You laid this out in such an easy to understand way that even someone who doesn’t sew can understand! I don’t sew often but I know the basics, I usually stay away from making pleats if I can get around it, I never thought of using the seam ripper to make them so easy! Love it. You are now my go to for easy to understand tips. Thank you so much Melanie, great work!

Just a few quick suggestions if you don't have pipe cleaners for a fitted mask (not all ideal, but we can use what we have):
* Twist Ties given in garbage bag boxes (some might have a "paper covering" over the wire while others might have plastic)
* Twist Ties used for bags containing bread; hamburger & hot dog buns; bagels; tortillas; etc al. (again, some might have a "paper covering" over the wire while others might have plastic)
*Garden wire (usually made with a wire inside & covered w/a green plastic -- used to help support plants).
Good luck everyone & a big thank you to all who are making these for their communities! 👍

Thank you so much for taking the time to do these tutorials, sending you best wishes from UK xx

I very much agree that this is a great tutorial, my sister is a nurse. Under her guidance, I bought 5 packs of organic cotton muslin cloths on the DEFONO store on Amazon as the fabric of the mask. I made 26 masks for healthcare workers. If you need fabric I recommend it to you

Excellent tutorial for this not-very-experienced seamstress! I was able to use some jewelry wire since I didn't have pipe cleaners around. Since I didn't want the wire poking our faces since it's harder than pipe cleaner, I made it the full length of the mask. My husband didn't want tie-ribbons and we didn't have elastic, so I was able to make the strings wrap around the ear, but that does require measuring individual faces/ears. Currently using a Chemex coffee filter for the insert, but looking for something more substantial. Thank you!

Thanks much this video was a great help and my 1st mask came out close to perfect. I didn't have any pipe cleaner, but I did have some bendable wire I had gotten in the hardware section of the dollar tree. I cut a 4 inch piece then I put it between some masking tape, though I would have preferred using surgical tape since it has material. I also sewed it with the zigzag to hold it in place and that worked perfectly. I was almost finished at close to 2 am since I started my project late, and on the last 2 inches of tie #2 ran out of bobbin thread...calling it a night/morning and will finish up when I wake. Thanks again Melanie ! You are awesome !

You are fabulous, thank you for sharing this design too.

Super easy and comfortable fit.

For the nose piece, I used skinny "hobby" wire from a science project I had left over. It is thin, flexible single filament copper wire encased in plastic; easy to cut and easy to zigzag stitch over.

I love these! I wish I had bought a sewing machine. 🌻🌻

Thank you I made a few already! God bless you and keep u well.

love the bias tape maker!

🥺I find myself crying constantly because of our situation. But I also see a lot of people coming together to help their community and our world. I’ve been making hundreds of masks to donate where is needed the most and it has been a blessing in my life. It’s helping heal myself from this horrible war we are fighting! thank you for sharing! Please stay safe, well and happy. This will pass 🙏🌍🏠😷happy sewing 🧵

Not sure if someone has already suggested this, but I’ve just tried stitching the pipe cleaner to the first seam stitch, before turning inside out....holds it in really well.....

Just sharing from what I've seen (not my idea): ponytail holders for elastic. One lady in a video uses a thin piece of t-shirt since it stretches well (so does nylon). My idea for the nose piece is the rubbery garden wire ties (found at Dollar Tree) Thank you Melanie for your mask making video. I learned about the bias tape maker, wow. Very loving and kind gesture to the world. God bless our country and prayers to those of you affected by the coronavirus. Amen

Your instructions are easy to follow. Thank you so much!

Thank you for sharing this. Clear and easy to follow. Hope you and your family are staying safe:)

I used a 6 x 9 for women, 7 x 11 for men, and 5 x 8 for kids. I used the green coated garden wire for the nose piece. I'll have 75 done. Great video.

Melanie, thank you for making this tutorial and sharing it with us. You are very thoughtful.
I have been watching you for years. Your tutorials taught me how to quilt. 12 quilts later, I love the creative outlet more than ever.
Take care. Stay safe. Stay healthy. I look forward to your next tutorial. Signed, a huge fan!\

I made one for myself and now I’m going to make a bunch for family.
I made one minor alteration: adding one more pleat under the chin helps the mask fit better.
Thanks, Melanie!

Thank you for this easy tutorial. I am excited to make these! 😄

Thank you for making this video. I am going to be making some for my husband who has to work this week due to him being an essential employee..

you are a life saver. thank you for your precious knowledge and ideas. its just amazing.

I watched her face mask videos. I made both kinds from her tutorial. I am so sorry she has passed away. She didn’t deserve this. May she Rest In Peace. She needs to know that she did make a difference in the world.

Just found your channel Thanks love the tutorials on the mask!! I subscribed and signed up for the newsletter, so here we go..

I love this design! I've made about 35 so far. Do you have a tutorial for a pocket mask with elastic?

Such nice workmanship. I'll give it a try.

Excellent video! thank you! as a retired nurse, I always preferred the tie masks over the elastic. thank you for showing us your method. I was wondering, is your bias tape maker the 1"? thank you

From the UK thank you so much for an easy to follow tutorial. Both my husband and I wear hearing aids as well as glasses and it would be impossible to wear a mask with elastic as well. I was looking for a video and watched many, but yours is the simplest and easiest I've seen and I made a mask this afternoon while watching your instructions. Can I ask, what do I use as filter, I had intended to use iron on interfacing, but made the mask before I realised I hadn't put it in. Many thanks again. Stay safe, stay well.

I’ve been using tshirts, jersey stretchy ones, instead of elastic around the ears. It’s so much softer.

Thank you so much Melanie. I'm going to make masks for my family using this 🌼🌸🌼

Thank you for sharing your knowledge I used your guidelines for the kids masks

Hi. Thanks for sharing. I love the seam ripper trick! Can you give measurements for a child’s mask ? Thx !

great idea using seam ripper to make pleats!

Hello, I made a few pleated masks with elastic for myself 😁 I wore one on Saturday when I went shopping & it started to hurt my ears 😮 so I want to make some tie ones instead 💜 thank you for this tutorial 😁 when I added my pipe cleaners I wrapped a little bit of electric wire on the ends to prevent it sticking out 😋 but I have yet to wash them & see if this holds up 😋 Erica x

I thought your pattern/directions were really good! The best of all the ones I looked at!
I cut the fabric a bit larger, 10 by 7. Using the seam ripper to do the pleats really helped. I marked the middle pleat first and measured the other two 1.5 inches out. I didn't have a bias maker so I cut the ties 2" wide and that was easier to do the folding/ironing/sewing. I didn't have pipe cleaners, but did have some tie wraps leftover from some computer hardware. They were round, plastic covered wire, and large, heavy, and sturdy enough to bend over the nose. A wide zig-zag stitch and a straight stitch at each end worked very well to hold it in place.
I made the first two masks w the ties, but they are kinda hard to use when you throw your hair into a ponytail. I finally found some elastic in a storage bin and will do that pattern for the next two masks. It was time consuming to make the tie strips, so it should be much quicker with the elastic loops.

Ok, using a seam ripper to hold a pleat is genius. Thank you!

You go girl!
Amazing pleating technique.
After this batch 384 donated.
I’m to picky.
It’s taking to long because I make the pleats harder than they have to be.
I saw early in n where a handbag maker in NY uses Aluminum HVAC tape.
It works well as long as the needle doesn’t hit it.
There is a sticky side I leave covered.
It’s an ordeal cleaning the needle but wonderful stuff.
Stay safe✌🏻✌🏻✌🏻

Just wondering how the slit for the pocket will hold up with its raw edges? I've been doing a different version of the pocket which makes the opening finished, but then you have raw side edges. I like the way you advised zig zag over the pipe cleaner, makes so much sense.

THANK YOUUUU! I had a friend ask for a mask with face ties and pocket!! This is perfect!!!! 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

Thank you Melanie!! Gotta go to Amazon! Bless to You as well be safe🙋‍♀️😷

I loved the video and I plan on on making these adult ones. I was just wondering if you had the measurements for the binding strips and the outer/inner rectangles adjusted for a kid size one!? Thank you so much ❤️

As always, another awesome, easy to follow video. Thank you! P.S the seam ripper pleats are genius!

Thank you so much, this was the easiest tutorial!!!! You saved my life, there are no masks any where.

Great video Melanie. Thank you

I have watched too many masks videos! Coming back to yours. Minus the filter pocket.

Oh awesome! I inherited a bunch of sewing and craft stuff from my late Mother-in-law and I always wondered what my pink metal wedgie thing was for and once I'd decided it was for making ties, how on earth I was supposed to use it! Thanks so much for this!

For the nose: I put my pipe cleaner into the 3/8" seam allowance BEFORE turning right side out. I made a fast strait stitch running parallel to the original stitch to make like a "tube", slide the cleaner in, then zigzag and case. Seems to be working and it hides all the stitching for non-tie masks. Happy sewing and Melanie THANK YOU! 💜

Thank you! Very clear directions!

Awesome job! Thank you for sharing!

Thank You for such a great and informational video!

Very easy to follow. Nice job. Thanks for making the video.