How To Sew a Face Mask – Step by Step

Madi Barnicoat/Madidoescosplay

This tutorial has been provided by Madi’s aunt Meg to help anyone who would like to make their own face mask or make them for others.

The Cosplay Journal is very grateful to both of them for allowing us to share this tutorial.

How the face mask works – short explanation

Hi – I am a surgical nurse with many years of experience in hospitals and clinics. With surgical masks becoming scarce I wanted to find a way to make one which can be reused. Normal cotton masks are not effective because the material is woven and will let particles through easily. A filter needs to be made from non-woven material which will trap particle and moisture. It will then need to be disposed of and replaced.

I hope I have found a really easy and useful solution to this problem. I have made a pattern for a surgical mask requiring minimal sewing. It is a simple pattern. The mask is built with a pocket in the back for the filter which will be exchanged when moist. (Surgical masks must be discarded when moist in the same way).

The filter is the key but it is not a problem to solve. It consists of something we all have at home. It is a facial tissue! And just like it stops a sneeze, it will provide a barrier to moisture and particles and it can be exchanged easily and as often as needed. At the end of work the mask can then be washed, the ‘filter’ replaced and it’s ready for re-use.

I would really love for as many people as possible to find out about this. So many people need protective masks. I think this can help. Of course, it can’t replace proper PPE masks but desperate times call for desperate measures.

Tutorial