Make your own masks

This is a very simple class to create your own homemade 3 layer cloth face mask. Learning how to make a face mask doesn’t have to be complicated. You won’t have to work from a complex face mask pattern, you don’t even need to own a sewing machine. We will make a homemade, non-medical face mask which you can make from your choice of fabric – make it as plain or as patterned as you like.

Go to the Workshops page to book in! Or use the contact form to register for future workshops or to discuss times and dates convenient to you for groups interested in booking a workshop.

You can also make the mask using a sewing machine after the class to speed up the process.

What will we cover? 

The workshop is suitable for both beginners and more experienced stitchers. We will be hand stitching to create the mask with simple running stitch. 

The finished mask will have 3 layers of fabric as recommended by the Victorian Chief Health Officer and a spot at the nose to add a wire stiffener if you wish.  

You will need:

  • Fine weave poly/cotton or cotton fabric – Either 1 piece 90cm x 20cm or 1 piece 60cm x 20cm of outer fabric & 1 piece 30 x 12 for the lining fabric
  • Copy of pdf pattern – will be sent to you before the class – please have fabric cut before the class.
  • 40 cm 3-5mm elastic (hat elastic can be used)
  • Needle and thread
  • Scissors 

These cloth face coverings are not surgical masks or respirators

For the lining you can use cotton/poly-cotton fabric, lycra, flannel, coffee filters, part of a HEPA vacuum bag or air conditioning filter (look for products without fiberglass). Just make sure you can easily breath through it!

Centre for Disease Control and Prevention advice:

Cloth face coverings may help prevent people who have COVID-19 from spreading the virus to others. Wearing a cloth face covering will help protect people around you, including those at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and workers who frequently come into close contact with other people (e.g., in stores and restaurants). Cloth face coverings are most likely to reduce the spread of COVID-19 when they are widely used by people in public settings. The spread of COVID-19 can be reduced when cloth face coverings are used along with other preventive measures, including social distancing, frequent handwashing, and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces.

When wearing a face mask it is important to do so safely to avoid increasing the risk of infection to yourself and others. 

How to put on a face mask: 

  • Wash your hands before putting on the mask 
  • Make sure it covers your nose and mouth and fits snugly under your chin, over the bridge of your nose and against the sides of your face. 
  • Do not touch the front of the mask while it is on or when removing it (and if you do so accidentally, wash or clean your hands immediately) 
  • Change your mask if it gets wet as moisture reduces effectiveness
  • Wash your hands after removing the mask
  • Wash you mask after every use.

When wearing a face mask it is important to do so safely to avoid increasing the risk of infection to yourself and others. 

How to put on a face mask: 

  • Wash your hands before putting on the mask 
  • Make sure it covers your nose and mouth and fits snugly under your chin, over the bridge of your nose and against the sides of your face. 
  • Do not touch the front of the mask while it is on or when removing it (and if you do so accidentally, wash or clean your hands immediately) 
  • Change your mask if it gets wet as moisture reduces effectiveness
  • Wash your hands after removing the mask
  • Wash you mask after every use.

The cloth face coverings made as part of this class are not surgical masks or respirators. Currently, those are critical supplies that should be reserved for healthcare workers and other first responders. Cloth face coverings are not personal protective equipment (PPE). They are not appropriate substitutes for PPE such as respirators (like N95 respirators) or medical facemasks (like surgical masks) in workplaces where respirators or facemasks are recommended or required to protect the wearer.