Mask Production

Download the Face Mask Template  (PDF)
(Provided by Artfully Quilted)

Materials

• OR Linens or other breathable water repellant fabric.
• Pins 1/4” or 3/8” wide.
• Elastic – white or black.
• Thimbles.
• Fabric Scissors.
• Heavy paper for patterns: 9” x 15” & attached mask pattern.
• Cardboard – optional (**tip: use a 9.5” piece of cardboard to loop around 10-15 times to cut all at once to produce 20-30, 9.5” pieces).
• Sewing Machine Thread.

PREP – Estimated time 3 minutes per unit

Station 1: Cutting

1. Cut a rectangular 9” x 15” base paper pattern.
2. Fold fabric in 4 layers Lay 9” x 15” base pattern on top of 4-layer fabric.
3. Cut around the base pattern.

Station 2: Pinning

1. Take 2 cut sheets and fold in half to make 4 layers.
2. Cut mask pattern per attached sample (8.19 x 5.4”).
3. Pin mask pattern to cut 4-layer fabric using 4 pins around the outside.

Station 3: Cutting

1. Cut the fabric for the mask pattern.

Station 4: Finishing

1. Remove pins and paper pattern from cut fabric.
2. Separate 4 fabric pieces into 2 sections of 2 layers of fabric each.
3. Pin 2 piece sections around curved edge vertically, every 2“.

Station 5: Elastic

1. Cut elastic into (2) 9.5” sections.
2. Insert (1) elastic into each 2-piece pinned section through the flatter open edge (opposite from the edge that is pinned).
3. Check to be sure elastic is not twisted inside the section.
4. Once elastic strip is inserted into the opening and placed flat in a U shape, center the new elastic ear loop and pin down each end of the elastic strip 3” apart - EVEN with the edge of the fabric (**tip: create a 3” line on your table as a guide**).
5. Use your completed 2-piece section as a guide for the other section to keep ear loops even.
6. Place a single pin through middle of the 2 sections to make one unit, ready for sewing.

Station 6: Quality Control

1. Examine product and correct any defects before advancing to sewing.

Station 7: Distribution

1. Count and log mask units before issuing for sewing distribution.
2. Record the name of the person picking up inventory.
3. Ensure timely turnaround time of assigned masks, and do not over allocate to a single sewing resource.

SEWING – Estimated time 7 minutes per unit

1. Unpin the 2 sections pinned together.
2. Place one 2-piece section on the machine and prepare to sew the edge with the elastic ends.
3. Place machine on a zigzag stitch and sew along the entire edge.
4. Line up second 2-piece section, place on the machine and sew the edge with elastic ends.
5. Remove from the machine and take out the pins.
6. Turn both sections inside out.
7. For each section, sew a straight stitch on the same edge for extra stability for the elastic, ensuring the elastic is caught in the stitch.
8. Place one section directly on top of the other section, line up directly on top of the other and prepare for sewing. Using a 5/8” seam for a small size mask and a 1/2” seam for a regular mask, zigzag stitch down the section that will be over the nose part of the mask, making sure all pieces are getting caught in the stitch.
9. Backstitch to finish and cut loose threads.
10. Open completed mask.
11. Trim up any frays.
12. Examine product and correct any defects.

WVU is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer -- Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran.
In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, and reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs).
The WVU Board of Governors is the governing body of WVU. The Higher Education Policy Commission in West Virginia is responsible for developing, establishing, and overseeing the implementation of a public policy agenda for the state’s four-year colleges and universities.
Reasonable accommodations will be made to provide this content in alternate formats upon request. Contact the WVU Extension Service Office of Communications at 304-293-4222.