Robin Ankerich
- Jun 17, 2020
- 2 min read

Reusable Face Mask

Updated: Jun 21, 2020

When the Covid-19 pandemic took hold and hospital staff started to speak out about mask shortages, I was ask to help make medical-grade mask from blown-fiber surgical fabric. About the same time, I started making cotton mask for my family and those in my apartment building. Very quickly I realized that the standard mask patterns did not fit my face well. After many, many mockups and attempts with different patterns, I have finally figured out what works for my face.

Explanation of Materials

While most people are making mask with 2 layers of cotton, I read a few research articles that state a layer of cotton plus two layers of organza was better than two layers of cotton (though I did not save the original journal article I read, here is another sites link). So that is why I use one layer of cotton and two layers or organza. To prevent collapsing into your mouth, I reinforce the middle with a 2” piece of muslin across the middle. The wire is cushioned by flannel which also insulates the bridge of the nose to prevent glasses fog/air leakage. And the final material explanation is the foldover elastic; I use it to help fit the lower edge of the mask into your neck/chin while also being soft.

Materials:

1 – Pattern Piece

1 – Piece of woven cotton fabric (at least 7” x 11”)

2 – Piece of organza fabric (silk or poly) (at least 7” x 11”)

1 – Piece of woven bias cotton (2” x 9 1/8”)

1 – Piece of bias cotton flannel (1 ¼” x 6”)

1 – Piece of 5/8” wide foldover elastic (6” long)

(If you only have standard elastic ¼ - ½” will work, but the foldover elastic is soft and will help not to rub.)

1 – Piece of 20-gauge wire (5” long)

1 – Tie – (My preferred tie is made from ¾” strip of knit fabric or upcycled t-shirt that is about 50” long. The knit fabric gives and stretches. Otherwise a 1” wide strip of woven cotton bias double-folded into itself and edge stitched will also work).