Instructions for sewing cloth masks

Below are instructions on how to make a homemade face mask with elastic:

Materials needed (with elastic)

• Tight-weave cotton fabric (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.

• Rope elastic, beading cord elastic will work. You may also use 1/8 inch flat elastic if 1/4 inch is unavailable. Some have used wider flat elastic and cut it in half with some success.

One adult mask requires two (2) 9 inch x 6 inch pieces tight-weave cotton and two 7 inch pieces of 1/4 inch elastic. Therefore, one yard of 44 inch wide fabric yields 12-15 masks. You need 7.5 yards of elastic for 25 masks (14 inches per mask).

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

Put right sides of cotton fabric together. Be sure any fabric design is placed horizontally.

Cut 9 x 6 (adult) or 7.5 x 5 (child)

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.

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.

Now sew across that top of the mask to the next corner. Again, put an elastic with the edge out.

Sew to the next corner and sew in the other end of the same elastic.

Sew across the bottom leaving about 1.5 inch to 2 inch open. Stop, cut the thread. Turn inside out.

Pin 3 tucks on each side of the mask. Make sure the tucks are the same direction

Sew around the edge of the mask twice.

How do I donate?

To donate masks to Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System, please email communitycares@srhs.com.

You can also drop off masks at Crescent Hospice, 839 Main Street, Suite D, in Buffalo--they need masks for their caregivers, and the facilities they serve have requested masks, as well.