How to Make a 3D Fabric Face Mask

After sewing so many masks for the last 8 months or so, I wanted to try my hand at a different style than the one I have been making. There are many different types, however this 3D fabric face mask caught my attention since it is easy to make from a simple rectangle of fabric. No fancy pattern and no difficult measurements.

I watched many YouTube videos on 3D masks and combined the best features of each to make this 3 layer face mask with the bendable metal nose bridge. Here is how to make one.

3D Fabric Face Mask with 3 Layers and a Nose Bridge

Materials:

• Fabric- enough for 3 – 10-1/2 inch by 7 1/2 inch rectangles (I use a printed fabric for the front, then a plain solid color for the middle and back since the plain fabric is cheaper)
• 5/8 inch wide ribbon and lighter
• Bendable Metal Nose Bridge Pieces (I got 100 from Amazon for around $5)
• Sewing Machine
• Fabric Marker
• Thread
• Scissors
• Elastic for the ear pieces- (I use a soft elastic cord, however you can use thicker elastic if you would like)
• A Paperclip
• A Rotary Cutter and Matt (Optional)
• A Ruler

Instructions:

1. Using either your scissors and ruler or your rotary cutter and board, cut a rectangle that is 10 1/2 inches wide by 7 1/2 inches tall.
2. On the corners of your rectangle measure 2 inches across from the corner and mark it with your fabric marker, then measure 2 inches down from the corner and mark it. Connect the 2 marks and cut off the corner along that line. You will do this for all 4 corners. You will need 3 layers cut to these dimensions.
3. With your decorative piece of fabric as an outside layer with the design facing in, you are going to sew the three layers together using a straight stitch, leaving a 2-3 inch opening along one of your long sides. (This is how you will turn it right side out when it is time.)
4. Once you have sewn the pieces together, take your scissors and cut the points off of each corner. This will cut down on your fabric bulk when you turn the corners right side out.
5. When you corners are trimmed, turn your project right side out by going between the decorative piece of fabric and the layer next to it. Once you are done, iron your fabric to make sure it is lying flat for sewing the top stitches.
6. Sew along the top edge of your long side with the opening. You want to get close to the edge with out going off of the edge. Repeat this along the bottom.
7. Using your iron, fold your top flap down using your top side points as a guide. You want to make the fold just above those points. Iron the crease in place and do the same to the bottom flap.
8. Sew along the edge of the crease with the mask folded being careful not to go off of the edge. Repeat with the bottom flap.
9. Measure a piece of ribbon to slightly larger than one of your metal nose bridge pieces. Cut it and use your lighter to slightly melt the ribbon edge to keep it from fraying. Be extremely careful doing this and be sure you only get close with the lighter to the ribbon. Do not put the ribbon in the flame.
10. Open the inside of your top flap and fold the mask in half length wise. Once you find your center on the top flap, mark it with your fabric marker. Now find the middle of your piece of ribbon and mark it.
11. Line up the middle of your ribbon with the middle of the top flap of your mask. Starting at the left top corner of the ribbon, straight stitch across the top, down the right side, the along the bottom of the ribbon, stopping on the bottom left corner. This is the pocket for your nose bridge to slide in to.
12. Now you need to fold over the side edge of your mask (roughly 1/2 inch) to create the tunnel for your elastic to go through. Ironing the fold will help keep it in place while you sew it. Sew it down along the open edge, then repeat this for the other end of you mask.
13. Once all of your sewing is done, cut 2 pieces of elastic about 9-10 inches long. Unfold your paper clip on one end and crimp the opposite end like the eye of a needle. Run the eye end through the tunnel (You may have to wiggle the paperclip around a bit as the tunnel is quite small) and once through hook one end of a piece of elastic through the eye and pull it through the tunnel. Tie the two ends of the elastic together in an overhand knot. Repeat this for the other end of the mask.

These are very comfortable and breathable masks, and they really are fun to make. To wear these masks, place the elastics over your ears, then unfold the top flap and place it over your nose, and then place the bottom flap under your chin. I did learn that you will need to remove the metal nose bridge when you wash your masks. I found out the hard way that leaving them in the mask will snap them in half. I hope you have as much fun as I have had making them.