Join me for a step by step tutorial on how to sew a medical face mask with filter pocket. There is a huge shortage of face masks for the medical community and these diy face masks could really help.
Please note, I am making no claims as to the effectiveness of these masks. These masks will not prevent you from catching a respiratory illness. For up to date info and guidelines, look at the CDC website https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Because of the shortage of n95 masks and PPE in general, some hospitals are accepting fabric mask donations to use as backup when needed. The hospital I spoke with just asked that the mask have a pocket where a filter could be put inside. So this tutorial shows you how to make a face mask with a filter pocket. Before you make any masks for donation, check with the hospital in your area for their guidelines and suggestions.
This post may contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Filters
This has been a FAQ from my youtube tutorial showing how to make this DIY face mask. The best filters I have found are these. These won’t necessarily prevent you from contracting a virus. N95 masks should be used whenever possible. But these say they will filter small particles. If you are making them for personal use, I think these filters would be great, but if you are making them for hospitals, check with them before you put any filters in the pockets!
Supplies
- 100% cotton fabric 15″ long by 8.5″ wide, these prints are cute here are some solid fabrics
- Nylon bands: https://amzn.to/39wn0hR
- OR 1/4″ or 1/8″ elastic https://amzn.to/2WUeUwZ
- Filters like these
- Needle and thread: https://amzn.to/33Xq59F
- Scissors: https://amzn.to/3azITy2
- Sewing machine(or you can hand sew these!)
- Iron
Elastic has been sold out everywhere, so I improvised and made my masks with nylon elastic headbands(linked above). I actually like the nylon better because it’s way softer than elastic and it’s easy to tie to get a snugger fit for someone with a smaller face. Also, you want to make sure your fabric is 100% cotton and keep in mind that men need to wear these too – so if you are making them for a hospital, keep that in mind!
How To Sew A Medical Face Mask With Filter Pocket
DIY Face Mask Step By Step Tutorial
- Cut Fabric. You will need 15″ long by 8.5″ wide.
- Fold your fabric in half and use pins to mark about a 3″ opening at the top. This is where the filter will be inserted, so you can adjust this size to make it smaller or large depending on the filter you want to put in.
- With your sewing machine(or manually), stitch the top towards the opening you just pinned. Make sure to backstitch near the opening of the pocket.
- Next, rotate your fabric so that the pocket is in the center of your mask.
- Cut your nylon 6″ if using nylon and 7″ if using elastic. Then pin or hand sew the nylon or elastic into the corners of the mask. The mask should still be inside out at this point.
- Once you have your elastic or nylon secured, make sure the straps are INSIDE the mask, not outside. Then do straight stitches down the sides of the mask.
- Turn your mask inside out and use a pencil to poke out the corners.
- Now it’s time for the pleats. Make 3 lines across your mask at equal widths. You will use these lines to know where the center of your pleats should be.
- Get your iron read and fold those pleats as neatly as possible. Make sure all the pleats are going the same direction and iron them flat.
- Last step is sewing the pleats in place using your sewing machine.
And voila! You have yourself a DIY face mask with filter pocket. I hope you will check in with your local hospitals and see if they are accepting masks. If they are, make sure you ask what type of masks and their particular guidelines. Happy Making!
Want to pin it for later? Hover over the image below until the red ‘pin’ button appears.
What kind of filter do you use in this mask. I have heard you can use flease and citric acid because the food 19 does not like the citric acid powder. I heard From another video of a nurse says this is in the mask I think it’s n 95 mask. Please let me know. I like the way you make your mask. Thank you for posting this video
You need to have a print page possibility where it will go to a new tab with a printable page with the pictures and text on a white page and black text. Please do that. I tried many ways to print it but it ends up on 20 pages. One big picture and a short text and then the next page. The pictures on the print page should be small and the text normal. Please!
Hi Kristin! Great tutorial!
Would it be possible to include in the written instructions the insertion of the nose wire?
Thank you so much for a great video!
Masks-adult. How far in from edge you sewed ? 5/8” for opening filter and side edges?
Your instruction was very easy to follow
Thank you for the tutorial. I made six of them. For a filter, I used a regular, paper vacuum cleaner bag, not a hepa cloth one.
I think the slit for the pocket needs to be bigger. It is very hard to get the filter in and out. My next filter idea was to use coffee filters, but it’s too hard to get the coffee filter inside and then flatten it out.
I can’t find what size the fabric should be for children’s masks. What size for regular sewing elastic do I use for the child mask
What would the fabric dimensions and elastic length be for a youth mask?
How many inches should the sides be once completed?
Hi. Trying to make mask for family, neighbors and “Family Dollar” workers !
I’ve sewn for years and quilt a lot. Question is….. what is the width of finished product? If I make 1″ tucks I have a measurement of 4″??? Does that sound right?
Please let me know soon. A text message works for me. 765-730-0455 Debbie Reed
Thank You so much!
I used the measurements for the amazon filters you suggested, approx 3 1/2 by 4 3/4
By the time I did this, I didn’t have room for the 3 pleats. should the pocket be at the top rather than in the middle.
could you show me the back of the finished mask
Love it but….sewing the sides after the elastic is sewn in where do you start sewing at? Do i run it from where I feel the elastic or what?
I found your tourtorial the easiest to follow.
what seam allowance do you use?
where do you start your first measurements for the pleats?
Also, when sewing them in, do you back stitch?
1/4 inch or 1/2 seams ? Where should we mark to get even folds ? ( what measurements )
This was quite Easy to understand, but having a large family, if I could print the directions to look at as I get stuck, it would sure help.
Thank you so much for sharing these tutorials on mask making. They are clear and easy to follow. May God cover you and bless you and your family. May he bless you financially, spiritually, emotionally, and physically. May he continue to bless the work of your hands. I am truly grateful for you.
Hey,
My hospital requires that the front and back be different colours so they can easily and quickly tell the from from the back.
Any suggestions how I could do that?
Thanks
Greetings,
I was wondering would you be able to give suggestions on how to create with a fabric glue gun AND/OR can recommend a video that also has a filter pouch.
I am having problems with finding a quality DIY video/step by step video using a glue gun and/or sewing with a thread and needle.
I am not a seamstress and I have no idea how to sew. I do not know anything about darts and all of that. Please advise
What seam allowance did you use?
Some inch markings for pleat marks would have been helpful, especially, for those of us that haven’t sewn in years. Thank you though for your tutorial.
Doesn’t fit way too small I used quarter inch elastic 7 in….just ..too tight and around the ears way too small
This is great on so many levels.
I can’t wait to give this a try. Thank you for reaching out and helping our health care workers who place themselves and their families within harms way, to save others’ lives.
My sister, works in the hospital system, has shared that nurses are reusing their masks for weeks, not days, because of the severe shortage.
Great, great idea.
Best tutorial to make masks-adult and children. Love the idea of the pipe cleaner for the nose. Very informative and easy to follow the steps.
Can you please tell me what seam allowance you used?
Thank you
Would you have any suggestions or ideas on how to make adjustable ear loops? I’m making these for my nephew’s coworkers and imagine there are various size heads 😬
Thank you,
Sarah
At what intervals are the Mark’s for the pleats?
How many masks can you make out of 1 yard of fabric?
Followed this link to get full written instructions. I don’t do well with videos. Where are the written instructions? Don’t say it’s here if it isn’t.