How to Make Homemade Masks

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Thank you for your willingness to help us during the COVID-19 pandemic!

We are asking for help from our community members and businesses. We are asking for homemade cloth masks. Below are instructions that are available to assist you in sewing these much-needed items to keep our staff safe and healthy.

If you have any questions you may contact Halley Hunter, Director of Community Development, at (712) 382-1515 ext. 8811 or by email at hhunter@grapehospital.com. We appreciate our communities help during this time, and words cannot say how thankful we are for your continuing support.

Please pre-wash all fabric before you sew it to keep it from shrinking when we wash it. Thank you!

Instructions (With Elastic)

Materials needed

• Tight-weave 100% cotton fabric, minimum of 160 thread count per square inch (i.e. quilting cotton)
  • Fabric must be newly purchased within approximately the past year and never used.
  • Wash and dry fabric without fragrance or dyes prior to sewing.
• Ties and tape - 100% cotton - white or natural color - minimum 1/4 inch thick
• Nose piece - minimum 4 inches long - plastic coated wire twist ties
• Mask size when complete - 7 inches wide by 3.75 inches long
• 3 pleats per mask facing upward (from outside view)
• The mask should have two layers of fabric

You can make two sizes: Adult or Child. Adult-sized masks will be the greatest need.

1. Put right sides of cotton fabric together (Be sure any fabric design is placed horizontally.)
2. Starting at the center of the bottom edge, sew to the first corner, stop. Sew the elastic with the edge out into the corner. A few stitches forward and back will hold this.
3. Sew to the next corner, stop, and bring the other end of the same elastic to the corner and sew a few stitches forward and back.
4. Now sew across that top of the mask to the next corner. Again, put an elastic with the edge out.
5. Sew to the next corner and sew in the other end of the same elastic.
6. Sew across the bottom leaving about 1.5" to 2" open. Stop, cut the thread. Turn inside out.
7. Pin 3 tucks on each side of the mask. Make sure the tucks are the same direction
8. Sew around the edge of the mask twice.

Instructions (No Elastic Needed)

Materials needed

• Tight-weave 100% cotton fabric, minimum of 160 thread count per square inch
• Fabric must be new.
• Wash and dry fabric without fragrance or dyes prior to sewing.
• Ties and tape - 100% cotton - white or natural color - minimum 1/4 inch thick
• Nose piece - minimum 4 inches long - plastic coated wire twist ties
• Mask size when complete - 7 inches wide by 3.75 inches long
• 3 pleats per mask facing upward (from outside view)
• The mask should have two layers of fabric

You can make two sizes: Adult or Child. Adult-sized masks will be the greatest need.

1. Place right sides of cotton fabric together (Be sure any fabric design is placed horizontally.)
2. Starting at the center of the bottom edge, sew around the edges of the fabric leaving about 1.5" to 2" open.
3. Stop, cut the thread. Turn inside out.
4. Pin three (3) ½" tucks on each side of the mask. Make sure the tucks are the same direction.
5. Make ties using Bias Tape or Fabric.
   1. Bias tape: stitch closed.
   2. Fabric: Fold in half, turn under 1/4 " on each long side, iron in place. Stitch long edges closed.
6. Pin one (1) tie at each corner.
7. Sew around the edge of the mask twice, catching the bias tape as you go.

Thank you for your help!

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