From odd socks to plastic bottles, face masks have been made from a variety of weird and wacky things recently. Introduced to help slow the spread of the coronavirus, face masks have become an everyday essential item. If you fancy having a go at creating your own, we’ve compiled a list of some of the different ways people have been making homemade masks. Some of these methods involve sewing, for those who are handy with a needle, and others only require household objects and a few key folds.
The bandana face mask is the simplest DIY mask to make, only requiring:
Step 1: Start by laying your bandana out in front of you and place your coffee filter or kitchen roll in the centre (be sure to change this regularly)
Step 2: Fold the top and bottom to meet in the middle
Step 3: Repeat step 2
Step 4: Add hair bands to both ends of the folded fabric, roughly 15cm apart
Step 5: Fold the ends of the fabric over the bands to meet in the centre
Final step: Tuck one fabric end inside the other. And you’re done!
Had a clear out recently and are left with a bag of old clothes? Dig out an old, good quality t-shirt and use it to make this mask. You’ll need:
Step one: Place the t-shirt on a flat surface, measure 20cm from the bottom of the shirt and cut across
Step two: Discard the top of the t-shirt, leaving you with the rectangle you have cut off
Step three: Leaving 1.5cm at the top, make a 16cm horizontal cut from the right hand side
Step four: Then cut down the fabric until you’re 1.5cm away from the bottom
Step five: Make another 16cm cut parallel to the top to create a rectangle to be discarded
Final step: Cut the 1.5cm strings you’ve created in half, tie at the back of your head and head out into the world you go!
This method requires some sewing skills, perfect for those that are nifty with a needle or own a sewing machine. You will need:
Step 1: Place the cotton squares on top of each other (the easy part)
Step 2: Fold over the top and bottom by approximately 1cm and hem
Step 3: Fold the sides in by approximately 1.5cm and hem
Step 4: Thread the elastic or string through the wide hem created on each side (a safety pin or large needle could help you here) and tie the ends together to create the ear loops
Step 5: Adjust the ear loops so they comfortably fit your face, be sure to hide the knot inside the hem
Final step: Stitch elastic in place and you’re good to go!
If you're lacking any materials or tools but still want to have a go at DIY masks there are make your own face covering kits available that include everything you need. Hopefully these methods inspire you to unleash your creative side and produce some wonderful masks.
