It will come as a shock to no-one who knows me that I have…opinions about things.
Early April 2020 we started receiving guidance about fabric masks, and I knew that my sewing kit contained just the right things to make some quality masks for my family and friends. But how to choose the perfect pattern?
I consider myself an intermediate sewer–I can navigate a pattern and sew a straight line. I’ve made a few baby quilts and t-shirt quilts. I can patch up jeans and sew a hem. I knew the first mask might not be perfect, but I knew they would get better.
And so began my hunt for a great mask pattern.
Things that I looked for:
- All straight lines to sew/Least amount of cutting/Little to no scraps.
- While I liked the look of some of the more curved masks, I was not in the mood to precision cut fabric or sew curves on multiple layers. Since I was already using scrap fabric, I wanted to be frugal with it and not waste any. I wanted simple cuts that I could do easily in a stack with my rotary cutter.
- A universal or near-universal fit. I didn’t want to deal with lots of sizing issues, so I was looking for a mask that could be easily adjusted with straps to make it fit looser or tighter.
- At least two layers of fabric, preferably with a pocket space in case the wearer wanted to add something else.
- No complex sewing notions (weird fabrics, complex designs, lots of flipping inside to rightside)
Eventually, I found the Clover Mask. Unfortunately, the website (makemasks.org) where I originally found it is no longer active, but the instructional Youtube video is. I remember that the original website touted this as a good mask because the ties were one continual loop, meaning that once tied, the wearer could slip the top off their head and hang it around their neck without touching the outside.
This mask has a simple pleated style that used ties instead of elastic. I used up all of the paracord I had making masks for my friends, and then made some more with long fabric strips for ties. Overall, I like these masks–the pleats made them very breathable while the ties kept the mask super secure. They have a good seal–the mask noticeably “breathes” with me but the pleats keep it away from my mouth when I am talking (I hate the simple masks that I feel like I’m eating anytime I talk!). I used floral wire for the nose piece, which keeps my glasses from fogging up. The way the ties cinch the sides in made this mask fit a wide variety of faces, and there is enough fabric to fully cover your chin. Lastly, the pattern has a slot for a filter in the event one was recommended in the future. In the initial time of uncertainty, I also really liked that this mask was easy to put on, but required a little longer to take off. It kept me from touching my mask, and I was more likely to forget it was on my face.
While these were really nice masks to wear for a long amount of time, once things started slowly re-opening and I was playing the “mask on mask off” game a bit more, I knew I needed to find a pattern that would give me the same breathability of this mask without the ties.
Also, pleats are a *&^@(
After reading a ton of patterns, I landed on the pattern from Orange Dot Quilts. This is a really lovely, and simple, pattern, with a good fit. The shape of the mask kept it away from my nose and mouth, so I don’t feel claustrophobic in it or like I am eating my mask every time I speak. Even with ear elastics, this mask has a good fit and covers all of my chin and nose. One of my favorite parts of this mask is the nosepiece. I read a tip that the best material is that little piece of metal from the top of your coffee bag! So I have been upcycling those bits of metal into perfect little nosepieces since the summer. It is the perfect free solution to an annoying problem.
This mask requires all straight lines to sew, one piece of fabric, a clear inside/outside (because of the way the mask is folded) and no finicky pleats. A few complaints for me are that the video didn’t match the written pattern (not a huge make or break for me–I eventually figured out “my way” to do it anyway); the original pattern includes batting which I did not include because that just sounded WAY too hot; there could be some sizing issues if the wearer doesn’t have an “average” shaped face; the elastic can get uncomfortable after a long time wearing.
These masks kind of make me look like a duck but I don’t care! They are comfortable, breathable but secure, and I love all of the fabrics I chose for them.
I’m glad that I’ve found a mask style that fits me and that I like. Like any article of clothing, I think a well-fitted mask can be a pretty personal thing. Now I know that I have two styles of masks that fit me well, and would fit many others well too. I also know that next time I sit down at my sewing machine, I will probably make more adjustments on the quest for a perfect mask!