About

Cost
$ $ $ $ $
Difficulty
• • • • •
Time
15 mins

Simple mask for dust, allergies, or to help prevent the spread of illness. Or for a costume.
Need a super easy, and quick to make face mask? Hopefully one that's comfortable too?

If you have t-shirt around you already have the material you need to make it. It's super easy, with only a little bit of sewing.

The practice of wearing face masks in Asian countries, like S. Korea, during pandemics has proven helpful in slowing the spread of illness.

However, medical masks are in short supply in many places, and need to be reserved for those on the front lines. So while handmade ones may not be quite as effective as medical grade ones data does show they do help.

For more info on that you can check out the website masks4all.co.

This mask can be used for many other purposes as well. To help deal with dust, allergies, or to use for a costume.

You can do a few variations of this mask.

You can make it so you can have a removable filter.
You can also make so it is worn over the ears or ties behind the head.
No matter which you choose, at it's simplest, you just need two rectangles of fabric and sew casings down the sides to thread a cord made up of t-shirt yarn through.

#masks4all

Posted by DreamsInBloom from Cedar City, Utah, United States • Published See DreamsInBloom's 21 projects »
Tags

PrintEmbed
  • How to make a surgical mask. Easy T Shirt Face Mask - Step 1
    Step 1

    Cut a 1/2 inch to 1 inch wide strip from the bottom of the t-shirt. (Don't use the stitched part of the t-shirt though.)

    Pull and stretch this piece. It will make it longer and it will start to curl up, forming a cord or yarn like piece.

    Set it aside.

  • How to make a surgical mask. Easy T Shirt Face Mask - Step 2
    Step 2

    Cut out two rectangles from the t-shirt as big as you want your mask to be. I made mine 6 inches by 7 inches wide, but you can make yours smaller or larger.

  • How to make a surgical mask. Easy T Shirt Face Mask - Step 3
    Step 3

    Next you'll make casings to draw the cord you made through.

    With either a sewing machine, or needle and thread, sew along the edge of one side of the t-shirt. Then, about about 1/4 inch away from that (about the width of the cord) sew another line. This is the casing you'll put your cord through.

    Repeat on the other side of the rectangle.

    Optional: If you want to be able to add a removable filter to your mask you can sew along the bottom to make a pocket, then just slip in your filter in at the top. Just be sure you don't sew your casing areas shut. (If you really wanted you could sew both the top and bottom up too.)

  • How to make a surgical mask. Easy T Shirt Face Mask - Step 4
    Step 4

    Thread your cord through the casings. You can use a large bobby pin or safety pin attached to the cord to help push/pull it through.

    Scrunch the sides of the rectangle around the cord.

    You can tie the cord three different ways depending on how you want to wear it..

  • How to make a surgical mask. Easy T Shirt Face Mask - Step 5
    Step 5

    Option 1:

    Thread the cord through the casing leaving a loop on one side. You can tie the ends when you put it on.

    This style lets you put the loop over your neck, so the mask can hang around your neck until you are ready to cover your face with it. Then tie the loose ends around the back of your head.

    Or you can put the loop part around the back of your head and tie the ends around the back of your head. (I think this creates a more secure fit.)

  • How to make a surgical mask. Easy T Shirt Face Mask - Step 6
    Step 6

    Option 2:

    If you prefer you can have both ends of the cord cut and tie both ends behind your head.

  • How to make a surgical mask. Easy T Shirt Face Mask - Step 7
    Step 7

    Option 3:

    If you prefer to have the mask held on around your ears, instead of around the back of your head you can do that too.

    Just make your cord shorter and tie them to make loops big enough to go over your ears.

  • How to make a surgical mask. Easy T Shirt Face Mask - Step 8
    Step 8

    You're now ready to wear your mask.

Made this project? Share your version »

Comments

More Projects