3-D Shaped Mask with Nose Wire

Our guild has been asked to make masks for the farm workers in our Area (due 11/20/20 at the Police station in Paso Robles). Since there are no requirements as to the type of mask to make, I want to share my custom version of the 5 Dart mask pattern I found on YouTube.

Why should you learn yet another mask pattern, you ask?

Well — It is comfortable to wear and fun to sew!

I have made at least 40 of these masks for family and got great responses:

My niece who coaches swimming says it is great for shouting!
My son-in-law likes that it doesn’t fog his glasses.
My sister-in-law, a school nurse, likes the fit.
My daughter likes that it doesn’t hug her face.
I like that I frequently forget that I am wearing it!

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Supplies:

(2) 7½” x 9½” pieces of cotton fabric. I recommend using different fabrics for the outside and the lining.
(1) 7½” x 9½” piece of spun polypropylene fabric (shopping bags, interfacing). Optional.
(1) 3½” piece of wire (thin picture hanging wire is great). Optional.
(2) 6″ pieces of elastic or spandex cut for maximum stretch.
Printout of template or drafted template from instructions below.

Dart Mask template (make sure to print at 100%)Download

Instructions:

Tutorial— Click the arrow to move to the next step.

1-Lay lining fabric and outside fabric right sides together, with outside fabric on top. Cover with polypropylene (optional).

2-Sew seams along the long sides. Use ¼” seam allowance on the bottom. Sew two seams on the top at 1/8″ and 3/8″ from the edge (5/8″for smaller mask).

3-Open into a tube, then fold so that seams butt each other

4-Place the template with the center line right on top of the 3/8″ seam line.

5-Draw the 4 corner lines and the middle triangle with a pencil or fabric marker; sew along the 4 corner lines.

6-Turn over to the chin side of the mask (the side with the single 1/4″ seam) and mark the two outer triangles.

7-Turn back to the nose side (with the double seam) and clip the nose dart seam at the center and flip one seam to the other side.

8-Fold the fabric along the long edge of the triangle keeping the seam folded in opposite directions.

9-Sew along the other sides of the triangle to make a square dart.

11-Flip to the other side and repeat with the two chin darts.

13-Cut 3½” of nose bridge wire. If you are not using a nose bridge wire, skip to step 19.

16-Clip into top seam at nose bridge on both sides of the dart.

18-Make sure that the bend in the wire straddles the nose dart

19-Turn inside out and fold the raw seams in ¼”, or more for a smaller mask.

20-Insert elastic or spandex lengths to form ear loops.

21-Topstitch around the mask, making sure to catch ear loops and sew below nose wire.

Bonus

After you have the perfect mask the next problem is finding it!

Masks are like reading glasses; they go on, they come off and they get lost. We should treat them the same with a chain of beads, macrame or fancy braid so that you can wear it around your neck. This is also a great way to send kids to school if you want the mask to come home again!

I like a 14′-20″ chain with two lobster claw jewelry ties that can clip onto the ear loops.

Elizabeth

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