If you’ve tried before, you may have found pleating is too much of a hassle. To make it quicker and easier, I created this “handmade ruler” and the pleats still look beautiful.
Materials
- 100% cotton fabric: Each mask needs 2 pieces of each size, outer and lining.
Large (Adult):23X18 cm (9 ⅛ X 7 ¼ in)
Medium (Teen): 21X16cm (8 ½ X 6 ½ in)
Small (Kids): 19X15 cm (7 ¾ in X 6 ⅛ in)
- Elastic ¼ in wide: 2 pieces 20-23cm (8-9 in) long
- Card Stock (Firm and wider than the mask, i.e. tissue box.)
- Thread
Patterns: Large, Medium, Small pleated face mask
| Width | Height | |
|---|---|---|
| Large (Adult) | 17cm (6 ¾inch) | 10cm (4 inch) |
| Medium (Teen) | 15cm (6 inch) | 8cm (3 ¼ inch) |
| Small (Child) | 13cm (5 ⅛ inch) | 7cm (2 ¾ inch) |
| Download Free |
A4 Size Pleated Face Mask Patterns (PDF File)
Letter Size Pleated Face Mask Patterns (PDF File) |
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PDF files can be easily printed at home or a printing service store.
OHARICO patterns are made to have extra room.
How to make a pleated face mask video
View the video on how to make an easy plated face mask in full (18:58).
Cutting pattern and fabric
Cut out the patterns
Use a ruler to check that the “confirmation scale” printed on the pattern is 5 cm x 5 cm. If it is that size, it will be printed in the actual size without being scaled.
Cut the outer line of the pattern with a cutter or scissors.
Cutting Outer Fabric
Fold the fabric in half, right sides together. Line up the left line of the pattern, which has the half ring marking, with the fold of the fabric.
Pin the pattern on the fabric and cut with scissors or place weights and use a rotary cutter to cut out the shape.
Mark the center of the width at the top and bottom with sewing pins.
Cutting Liner
Fold the pattern at the 2 blue lines as shown on the pattern to make the liner smaller than the outer fabric. This process will keep the pleated mask slim.
*The liner will be 1cm shorter in height than the outer fabric.
Fold the fabric in half, right sides together. Line up the left line of the pattern, which has the half ring marking, with the fold of the fabric. Cut the fabric to the pattern.
Mark the center of the width at the top and bottom with sewing pins.
Sew outer and lining together
Stack the outer and lining fabric, right sides together. Line up the center points on each pieces. Use sewing pins to keep them together.
We will fasten with pins while aligning the edges from the center to the outside.
Repeat the same process on the other end of the fabric. Because the liner is 1cm shorter than outer fabric, the liner will be taut.
Sew the liner and outer fabric together with 1cm seam allowance. If you would like to add a nose wire, leave 1.2 cm seam allowance on the nose side.
If you would like to add a nose wire, stitch another line above the previous line with the width of wire plus 0.2cm.
Turn the mask right side out.
Start with the right side of the mask.
Use an iron to flatten the mask. Because the liner is shorter than the outer fabric, there will be 0.2~0.3mm edge showing outside of the liner.
Repeat it on the opposite side of the mask.
Keep the liner inside of the outer fabric, so that the liner will be invisible from front side.
Start pleating
Prepare a piece of card stock that is wider than the mask. It needs some firmness, such as a tissue box (110lb).
When making large size pleated face mask, you need to fold 4 cm and 1 cm pleats, but 0.2 cm is subtracted in consideration of paper thickness and fabric thickness.
Please adjust the values in consideration of the size of the mask you are making, the thickness of the cloth, and the thickness of the iron ruler card.
Lay the mask liner up and the nose side towards the front. Place the ruler on the mask, with the 3.8cm marking to the front. Fold the mask to the 3.8cm line and iron.
Avoid steam as it will make the card stock ruler soggy.
Flip the mask over front side up and the chin side towards you.
Place the ruler with the 0.8cm marking side up on the mask, and fold down the top edge (the fold of the first pleat) to match the 0.8cm line on the ruler. Press with an iron.
Flip the mask over again, place the ruler on the mask with 0.8cm marking side down, and fold the mask so that the first fold match with the 0.8 cm line on the ruler. Press with an iron.
Flip the mask over again, front side up and the chin side towards you.
Place the ruler with the 0.8cm marking side up on the mask, and fold down the top edge (the fold of the second pleat) to match the 0.8cm line on the ruler. Press with an iron.
Repeat the same process one more time to make 3 pleats in total.
Iron the mask thoroughly and pin the pleats together. Stitch over the pleats at the both edge with 0.5cm seem allowance to keep the pleats.
Making ear loops and finishing
Making ear loops
Fold the side of the mask over for 1cm. Pin the edge to keep it down.
Press with an iron.
Fold it over again for 1cm, covering the edge of the liner. Iron and pin it down.
Repeat on the other side of the mask. Sew the edge of the fold with 0.2cm seem allowance.
A blind hem foot will help to sew smoothly.
Use an eyelet to keep the fabric down. Because of the pleats and folded edge, the mask is very thick. Slow down the speed of the sewing machine.
Run the elastic through the loops
Use a hairpin or bodkin to thread the elastics.
Thread the elastics through the hem.
Adjust the position of the knot to your comfort. Cut off the extra. Gently pull the elastics to keep the knot inside the hem.
Thread the elastics through the hem on the other side, and it is completed.