Making Custom Masks with Neck Straps

Custom Mask with Neck Straps

I made this rose mask for me after making some that my hubby requested.

This is the most comfortable and best fitting mask I have made and worn.

Mr Scrapatch wears hearing aids and eyeglasses

and asked me if I could make him a mask that did not fit over his ears,

because the elastics get tangled with his hearing aides and eyeglass stems.

He picked the fabrics and elastic. 

This is the back of the mask

and shows the fabric square that holds the elastics to the back of his neck.

It is easy to pull this down around his neck and pull it back up when needed

and does not interfere at all with his hearing aids
as it fits well enough to wear the elastics under his ears.

These are extra large masks with deep angled pleats

that fit us better than the regular size masks.

It is easy to add the back fabric patch.

I also add a nose wire pocket and cut plastic coated craft wires 

and turn in the sharp edges with needle nose pliers.

This gives a tight fit over the nose and eliminates eyeglass fog.

Here are the pieces to make this 

Extra Large Mask with Neck Straps 

The mask rectangles, front and back are cut at

7.5" by 11"

The nose wire pocket is 2.5" by 5.5"

The back patch is 3.5" by 6.5"

The  4 elastic straps are 6" 

The nose wire is cut at 5..5" and the ends are tuned in 1/4" on each side.

I sew the nose wire pocket to the top center of the mask before 

sewing the mask tube and then I sew the top and bottom.

I turn rightside out and press the mask and sew the four elastics to the front.

Then I sew the back patch tube the same way I sew the front,

leaving the ends open and turning and pressing.

Then I sew the elastics into the four corners of the back patch.

Then I sew the elastics to the back patch.

I added the deep, angled chin tucks to my mask, too.
I found I had the tack the bottom elastic to the back of the bottom front corners
of my mask to get a good tight chin fit
so for my future masks I will cut the bottom elastics at 4.5 inches instead of 6 inches.
The ones I made for my hubby fit him well as is.

You can just see the elastic tuck on the right front back in this image.

I find being able to wear my mask around my neck a big plus.

I make all the masks I donate according to the recommended size
but it is nice to customize the ones I make for us to wear.




Basic Mask Pattern is Linked Here

In our state we every person over the age of 2 years old
 is required to wear a mask in public.
Stores and other businesses have signs on their doors
saying you must wear a mask to enter.
Mr Scrapatch is required to wear a mask all day where he works.

I am good with this.

Wearing a mask is being careful and being safe
and showing you care about others.

We are all in this together. 

<3 <3 <3 

The Masked Mask Maker Rides Again

I am making more masks for essential workers. 

All I need to do is finish cutting and shaping the nose wires 

and another batch will be ready to sew. 

I am using this

Easy DIY Fabric Mask Pattern 

from
Deaconess Hospital, Boston
They also have a
Free Mask Pattern with Tie Backs

I also add a sewn in inner filter layer and nose wire pockets.

The Masked Mask Maker

I pre-wash all fabrics and wear a mask when sewing.

May these masks help keep someone well.

May you and yours stay well and safe.

<3 

The Masked Mask Maker

Still Sewing Masks

Adding wire nose pockets.

Adding an inner filter layer cut from a new vacuum cleaner liner.

The white film is the filter to go over the nose and mouth area

to hopefully add an extra bit of protection.

I am using up any usable elastic I have,

including cutting the wide elastic in half lengthwise.

I have some of the round coated elastic.

My machine does not like this much, even when using my heavy duty walking foot.

I have had frequent thread breaks and it has even bent a 90/14 ballpoint needle.

The best method seems to be placing the round elastic directly under the needle and 

putting in tack stitches before doing the topstitch all the way around.

Then the pleats add another reinforcement line of stitches.
These get messy thread nests on the back.

These batch of masks are going to some city health department workers.

Then I was just about out of elastic.

Then I scored this bag of Foldover Elastic by Annie 

from my local quilt shop with curbside pick up.

This is one of my favorite types of elastic for this project

as it is the kind intended for baby headbands.

It is easy to work with and soft on the ears.

Ready to make more masks.

Just keep sewing.

May every little mask help.

<3