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Face Mask with Elastic Using Sewing Clips Tutorial by ILikeBigButton.com April 08 2020
We have been home now for close to a month, only leaving our home when we need supplies. What a change to our lives this last month has been. I am now a full-time teacher/chef/working mom. My sweet husband, who just started working from home because our kiddos were all in school, is now experiencing daily band concerts, 6 feet from his office, and the whirling dervishes that are our active kiddos being on top of us all day every day.
More than ever we have to watch what we touch, who we come into contact with, and when we have to go out, we have to protect ourselves from unknowing coming into contact with germs. It is a lot to take in.
As a precaution, I decided to make our family some face masks. Nothing fancy, I was limited to what supplies I had on hand. You will be surprised to know that I have a limited supply of fabric. A few years ago, I had so much fabric I didn't know what to do with it all, but I have finally whittled did down to scraps while making baby blankets for the babies who have joined our extended family and friends and gifting it to church projects to bless others.
So with some fabric scraps, headband elastic (it's all I had), sewing clips, and my trusting sewing machine, I found a set of instructions and struck out.
Here is the first version I made:
Supplies:
- Face Mask Instructions (I used these as general guidelines)
- 2x 9.5" x 6.5" pieces of Fabric
- 2x 7" of Elastic (this is a good average size, but may need to be adjusted if you are a smaller person)
- Sewing Clips
- Sewing Machine
1. Cut out 2x 9.5" x 6.5" fabric rectangles.
2. With right side of 9.5" x 6.5" fabric facing up, pin a piece of 7" elastic from left bottom looped to left top. Pin a piece of 7" elastic from right bottom looped to right top. Like so.
3. Pin the second piece of 9.5" x 6.5" fabric facing down to the fabric with the elastic pinned to it.
4. Sew a 1/4" seam starting about 1/2 way on the long side. Go all the way around the perimeter, stopping when you have about 1.5" to 2" left. Make sure to go back and forth at each of the corners to anchor the elastic. Leave that gap so that you can turn the face mask right side out.
5. Turn the mask right side out and iron it flat.
6. Make three pleats lengthwise, like you are folding a paper fan. I eyed it and used the sewing clip width as my pleat measurer, but if I was making more of these, I would make myself a template to make this part easier. The pleats help the mask form around the wearer’s face. Secure each pre-sewn pleat with a sewing clip as pictured above.
7. Now sew a 1/4" stitch around the outer perimeter of the mask face, going back and forward over the corners to add more stability to the elastic.
8. Then, top stitch a second time around the outer edge about 1/4" in from the first round of stitching.
9. Tada! You have a finished face mask.
*Afterthoughts, this mask was the perfect size for my husband, but I would probably make the elastic a 1/2" to 1" shorter for women. I will have to play with it to see what size works best for me. And of course, my kiddos will need smaller masks, this one seems best sized for teens to adults.
How To Make A Self Fabric Cover Button: 7 Fabric Cover Button Sizes February 21 2020
Easy Peasy! So Much Fun!
Cover Button Tips:
- The size of the fabric circle for each Cover Button size should be approximately twice the diameter of your button blank. If you would like a matching sized reusable plastic circle template, simply choose "Add Template" from the drop-down menu and the correct sized tool will be added to your order.
- When the circle of fabric and Cover Button Cap are snugly situated in the clear base of the Cover Button tool, flip the tool over and double-check the positioning of your fabric. If it has a pattern, you will see a preview of how the button will form and can make adjustments to the fabric before you install the back.
- You may want to add a dab of E6000 or comparable adhesive before installing the Cover Button Back as a precaution to ensure a permanent hold.
- Save your fingers: Tip #1 - Use the backside of a permanent marker or comparable item on the smaller sized Cover Button Caps to press them into the clear base of the Cover Button tool.
- Save your fingers: Tip #2 - Take a flat piece of wood and use it to apply even downward pressure on the pink plunger of the Cover Button installation tool when installing the back. Not so much pressure that you flatten the button, just until it pops into place.
- To remove the Cover Button from the clear base once it has been formed, bend the mold slightly and push up from the bottom to pop out the button.
Size 20 (1/2 inch / 12 mm) Self Cover Buttons by ILikeBigButtons.com February 20 2020
We love our Cover Buttons! Easy to make and versatile they are one of my favorite go-to craft supplies.
We carry them in 7 great sizes. The smallest, Size 20 (1/2"), is about the size of your pinky nail in both Wire Back (sewable) and Flat Back (glueable).
Size 20 (1/2 inch / 12 mm)
Size Reference
I Like Big Buttons! 💘 Cover Button Love Sale 💘
Cover Button Sets and Cover Button DIY Kits are 10% OFF | No Coupon Necessary
Size 20 Cover Buttons are great for small projects:
Stud-sized Fabric Cover Button Earrings
Fabric Cover Button Bobby Pins
Fabric Cover Buttons for your favorite outfit
To see other great Fabric Cover Button ideas, visit our DIY Project section here.
Fabric Cover Buttons - Easy To Make, Great Impact! @ ILikeBigButtons.com February 06 2020
These aren't your grandma's Cover Buttons!!! Well, actually they are ;) only better, with so many many great uses for them.
Flat Backs are used for crafts where you would like to glue a cover button: jewelry, bracelets, rings, earrings, necklaces, bobby pins and barrettes, scrapbooking, and much more.
Wire Backs are used for fabric cover buttons in sewing, shoes, clothing, ponytail holders and much, much more.
Here are the 7 sizes we carry. From 1/2", which is about as small as your pinky nail, all the way up to 1 7/8" in diameter, about the size of the round side of a kiwi fruit. We carry them in both flat back (glueable) and wire back (sewable).
- Size 20 (1/2 inch / 12 mm)
- Size 24 (5/8 inch / 15 mm)
- Size 30 (3/4 inch / 19 mm)
- Size 36 (7/8 inch / 23 mm)
- Size 45 (1 1/8 inch / 28 mm)
- Size 60 (1 1/2 inch / 38 mm)
- Size 75 (1 7/8 inch / 48 mm)
Assembling fabric Cover Buttons is fast and simple. In just seconds, you will have a button ready for your latest craft project.
Our I Like Big Buttons! 💘 Cover Button Love Sale 💘
Cover Button Sets and Cover Button DIY Kits are 10% OFF
No Coupon Necessary | Good Through February 29, 2020.
See our pictorial below:
How to Make Fabric Cover Buttons:
Cover Buttons are easy to assemble:
- Cut your fabric scrap. You will want a circle that is about twice the diameter of your button blank.
- Put your fabric piece in the larger assembly tool piece (RIGHT SIDE DOWN). When you look into the tool you want to see the back of the fabric.
- Place the button front (the domed piece) on top of the fabric. Leave the fabric edges hanging out.
- Press the cover button edges down into the tool.
- Place the back cover button piece on top of your fabric and button front. If the cover button will be subject to repeated tugging from the back, you may want to add a little e6000 adhesive before attaching the back.
- Take the smaller piece of the assembly tool and with the open side down place it on the button back.
- Press down. You may hear a pop when the last bit of the button back slips into place. If you take the tool out and the button is not completely secured, just put it back in and press down again.
- When you take the small assembly tool piece off, the fabric edges will be secured underneath the button back.
- Remove the button from the larger assembly tool piece.
- Tada!
To see other great Fabric Cover Button ideas, visit our DIY Project section here.
I Like Big Buttons! - Fabric Cover Buttons - Easy To Make, Great Impact! October 09 2018
These aren't your grandma's Cover Buttons!!! Well, actually they are ;) only better, with so many many great uses for them.
Flat Backs are used for crafts where you would like to glue a cover button: jewelry, bracelets, rings, earrings, necklaces, bobby pins and barrettes, scrapbooking, and much more.
Wire Backs are used for fabric cover buttons in sewing, shoes, clothing, ponytail holders and much, much more.
Here are the 7 sizes we carry. From 1/2", which is about as small as your pinky nail, all the way up to 1 7/8" in diameter, about the size of the round side of a kiwi fruit. We carry them in both flat back (glueable) and wire back (sewable).
- Size 20 (1/2 inch / 12 mm)
- Size 24 (5/8 inch / 15 mm)
- Size 30 (3/4 inch / 19 mm)
- Size 36 (7/8 inch / 23 mm)
- Size 45 (1 1/8 inch / 28 mm)
- Size 60 (1 1/2 inch / 38 mm)
- Size 75 (1 7/8 inch / 48 mm)
Assembling fabric Cover Buttons is fast and simple. In just seconds, you will have a button ready for your latest craft project.
See our pictorial below:
How to Make Fabric Cover Buttons:
Cover Buttons are easy to assemble:
- Cut your fabric scrap. You will want a circle that is about twice the diameter of your button blank.
- Put your fabric piece in the larger assembly tool piece (RIGHT SIDE DOWN). When you look into the tool you want to see the back of the fabric.
- Place the button front (the domed piece) on top of the fabric. Leave the fabric edges hanging out.
- Press the cover button edges down into the tool.
- Place the back cover button piece on top of your fabric and button front. If the cover button will be subject to repeated tugging from the back, you may want to add a little e6000 adhesive before attaching the back.
- Take the smaller piece of the assembly tool and with the open side down place it on the button back.
- Press down. You may hear a pop when the last bit of the button back slips into place. If you take the tool out and the button is not completely secured, just put it back in and press down again.
- When you take the small assembly tool piece off, the fabric edges will be secured underneath the button back.
- Remove the button from the larger assembly tool piece.
- Tada!