Looking for some face masks that allow you to play your wind instrument? Today’s your lucky day. Keep reading for a free printable pattern, step-by-step instructions, & a little video.
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The instructions & supplies list below are for using the printable pattern, but if you have a cutting machine that uses svgs, I’ve also included some svg files (I’m not totally sure if they’ll work or not). If you prefer to cut the material with a machine, the steps should be the same other than cutting out the pattern & fabric.
Supplies
- printable pattern (or the svg files) – available on the Fischarper Freebies page (sign up for the email list to get the password)
- about 1/2 yard of fabric — I upcycled a pillowcase, but 100% cotton of some sort would probably be best
- iron & ironing board or pad
- pins
- ruler
- safety pin
- t-shirt yarn (or whatever you prefer for the ties/ear loops)
- scissors (2 pair if you prefer designated fabric scissors)
- sewing machine & thread
Get your free printable pattern &/or svg files on the Fischarper freebies page.
Get the password by signing up for the email list. If you don’t see the password email in your inbox, please check your spam or promotions folder.
Step 1
- Iron your fabric.
- Print the free template (this is a great opportunity to use scrap paper, & don’t forget to set your printing to draft to save ink).
- Check the printing size my measuring the 1 in or 1 cm box on the pattern.
- Cut out each pattern piece.
- Place your fabric like sides together.
- Pin each pattern piece to your material & cut out the pieces. You should end up with 2 mirror-image pieces for each pattern piece (4 pieces of material total).
Step 2
- Fold pattern pieces on the dotted lines.
- Pin these to your material (still like sides together) & cut the material out (this makes the lining side).
- You should have 4 mirror image pieces from this step.
Step 3
Pin matching pieces right sides together.Stitch along the widest side of each pair (on the rigth in the photo).Trim the seam allowance if necessary & snip notches along the seams. Be careful not to cut the seam. If you do, just stitch over that part again.
Step 4
- Pin the similar pieces right sides together (i.e. the top outside & lining pieces together, the bottom outside & lining pieces together).
- Try to make the seams go opposite ways to reduce bulk. It’s not a huge deal if you don’t get this step, so don’t let it be a frustration.
Step 5
- Stitch along the long edges, leaving the short edges open.
Step 6
- Turn both pieces right side out.
- For the piece with the small openings, it can be helpful to attach a safety pin & feed it through, like turning a tube of fabric.
Step 7
- Press the edges.
- Fold the excess raw edges & press even with the seams. This part is hard to explain, so the picture will probably explain it better than written instructions.
Step 9
- Lay out your pieces with the top & bottom in the correct order.
- Find the center of the bottom piece, measure one inch from the top, & mark with a pin.
- Line up the center of the top piece & overlap so that the bottom of the top piece is at the pin.
- Pin in place.
Step 9
- Line up the edges so that the tops are even.
- Pin in place.
- It might not lay perfectly flat; that’s ok.
Step 10
- Mark 2 inches from each side with a pin.Stitch from the pin to end of the fabric on each side. This leaves the overlap open for the instrument.
Step 11
- Fold over one tab so the raw edge meets the raw edge of the lining.
Step 12
- Fold over again & pin.
- Repeat with the other side.
- Iron.
Step 13
- Remove pins.
Step 14
- Attach a safety pin to the end of your t-shirt yarn & thread through each loop.
- Finish off according to your preference. I made ear loops for this one, so I knotted & trimmed the t-shirt yarn at the appropriate lengths.
The flap opens to allow the musician to hold the instrument up to his/her mouth. Then, when not playing, the top flap can go back over the bottom.
Sweet Red Poppy’s face mask tutorials (I actually adapted one of her patterns as a basis for this) & this face mask tutorial on Tom Walsh’s channel are among this project’s inspiration, so be sure to check them out!
The pattern is an adult size, but let me know if you’d like more sizes &/ or a video tutorial. If you make this mask, be sure to tag me on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
-Barbara
***This mask is not medically tested. Use it at your own risk, & be sure to do your own research.
Video edited with Kdenlive
Thumbnail edited with Gimp
Barbara Fischer runs Fischarper, LLC and loves her job as a harpist and private music educator. She enjoys blogging about various aspects of the music field on fischarper.com/blog. For more music resources, check out the Fischarper store. Find out where you can find Barbara on the interwebs here. And you can sign up to receive Fischarper updates by joining the email list.
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