How To Make A Face Mask From A Vacuum Bag
Steps for Making a Face Mask With Filter Pocket
To make your own face mask with a pocket opening to hold a filter, you will need to have the materials and also follow the step-by-step tutorial.
Materials Needed:
- Vacuum cleaner bag
- Template to cut the bag into the correct sizes
- Sewing Machine
- Iron
- Scissors
-
Pins
- One 9 inch x 12 inch piece of tightly woven cotton fabric
- Two 7 inch pieces of ⅛ inch flat elastic
Step-by-Step Tutorial
- To cut the vacuum cleaner bag, open it up and remove any cardboard pieces. Use the template to cut your filters. Keep both layers of the bag together after they are cut - they need to be used together. Keep your pre-cut filters secure and clean in a plastic bag or airtight container until you use them
- Fold the piece of 9 inch x 12 inch fabric in half, with the right sides facing each other so it measures 9 inch x 6 inch
- Sew a 1/4 inch seam across the top edge, leaving a 3 inch opening in the middle
- Bring the seam to the center instead of at the top. This makes it easier to press the seam open
- Press the seam open
- Insert and sew elastic in place. It can be easier to tuck it in there and pin the ends in place and remove them before you sew. The ends of the elastic should be right inside the folds
- Stitch along both ends with a 1/4 inch seam. This will make sure the elastics are secure and in place
- Topstitch a 1/4 inch seam across the bottom and top of the mask
- Make two pleats on each end. Make sure the pleats are facing down on the front aide. Pin them in place
- Sew along the edges of the mask to hold the pleats in place
- Insert the filter into the pocket
- The mask is now ready to use. Place it over your nose and mouth and loop the elastics over each ear.
Steps for Making a No-Sew Face Mask
To make your own face mask at home, you will need to gather specific materials mentioned below and also follow the step-by-step tutorial.
Materials Needed:
- A bandana made of cotton or cotton blend fabric. These are the most comfortable to wear, and the easiest to launder. The standard bandana size you’ll need is 20 inch x 20 inch square. These already have finished edges, and are ready to use
- Scissors
- Vacuum cleaner bag
- Template to cut the bag into the correct sizes
- 2 elastic hair ties or rubber bands for each mask. If you have difficulty finding these, strips from elastic bandages can also be used - you’ll need to cut and tie them to a comfortable size
Step-by-Step Tutorial
- To cut the vacuum cleaner bag, open it up and remove any cardboard pieces. Use the template to cut your filters. Keep both layers of the bag together after they are cut - they need to be used together. Keep your pre-cut filters secure and clean in a plastic bag or airtight container until you use them
- Fold the bandana in half. You’ll now have a piece of double-layered fabric in front of you
- Center the piece of vacuum cleaner bag in the middle of the fabric rectangle
- Fold the top side of the fabric halfway down and the bottom side halfway up, so that they meet and overlap slightly in the center. They will now totally cover the filter fabric
- Place a rubber band, hair tie, or loop of elastic around each end of the folded fabric, moving them toward the center until they’re about 6 inch apart
- Leave the elastic bands where they are. Now, fold the ends of the fabric to the center, so that they touch. Tuck the fabric in neatly
- Gently pull the elastic bands to the outer ends of each side of the mask. The filter fabric will now be centered inside the fabric, so that it covers your nose and mouth when the mask is worn
- The mask is now ready to use. Place the mask over your nose and mouth, and loop the elastic over each ear to check the fit.
