The 12+ Best Free Face Mask Patterns and Tutorials

Do you want to learn how to make a face mask? Here are nine great face mask patterns to choose from – and where you can currently donate homemade face masks.

We live in a weird time where face masks are the norm – and thankfully, there are lots of options out there to find one that works well for you.

According to the CDC, cloth face masks can be used as a “last resort” option in medical scenarios. Unfortunately, many hospitals are down to their last resort.

Even if you are just wanting to make a face mask for yourself, I hope that this post will be helpful in share what options are out there and how to make them.

This post is all about free face mask patterns, but here are some other face mask posts you may enjoy:

• Looking for no-sew options? Here are 12 awesome ideas!
• Don’t want to make them at all? Here are 9 face masks for kids with adjustable masks (most can be purchased for adults!)
• 5 Easy DIY Face Mask for Kids Patterns

This is a pretty long article, so we’ve created this handy table of contents to help you navigate to the information you are most interested in.

Free Face Mask Patterns

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Face Mask with Ties and Filters – Jennifer Maker

I love this one from Jennifer Maker. It includes a place for filters if that’s something you want to make. I really love that she used ties, as most just have an option for elastic. Elastic is hard to come by now, so it’s nice to have this option. I have heard some hospitals and doctor’s offices prefer the ties anyways.

For this pattern, you will need:

• Cotton
• Heavyweight t-shirt
• Ribbon or ties
• Thread
• 20-22 gauge wire
• Elastic

3D Face Masks from Hello Sewing

These have gained a good amount of attention over the past few months. A lot of people find that they are easier to wear and breathe in. There are lots of video tutorials as well, but I thought this was a helpful pattern and tutorial from Hello Sewing.

She includes a free PDF pattern.

For this pattern, you will need:

• Tightly woven cotton
• 1/6″ round elastics or 1/8″ flat elastic
• Thread
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Sewing Machine

Button Corner Face Mask

Cute and simple. I like the edges on this one.

This pattern requires:

• 1 piece of 8×14 fabric
• 2 strips of fabric that are about 1.75” x 6”.
• Two pieces of 1/4″ by 6 1/2″ elastic 
• Thread

The Turban Project – Cancer Patient or COPD

This one has been widely circulated by Deaconess Hospital. It’s a great video tutorial. I found that the adult size was a bit large, but it’s a great pattern.

Made Every Day – Fabric Tie Face Masks

This one requires:

• 2 pieces of fabric that are 9×8″
• 4 pieces of material for the ties that are 18″ long – she suggests knit fabric, bias tape, twill fabric, ribbon, or shoe laces

Easy Face Mask Tutorial – Clarks Condensed

This is the first one that I made, and it works well with elastic. This pattern is very simple, and I’ve included a lot of information about face masks in general.

In this post, I share both a PDF printable pattern as well as one that is in Cricut Design Space. These are very easy to make, and I have four different sizes available. It is very basic and to the point.

For this pattern, you will need:

• Cotton
• Elastic
• Thread
• Pipe cleaner for an optional nose wire

Craft Passion

This is probably the pattern I’ve seen used the most. She has very detailed instructions, and it is shaped differently than some I’ve seen. She also has one that allows you to put a filter in.

This one requires:

• Cotton fabric for outside
• Cotton or flannel for interior
• Bias tape
• 6″ wire
• Elastic Cord

Cricut’s Pattern

Cricut released their own patterns yesterday in four different sizes. These look like they’d fit nicely.

A lot of these are pretty similar, but I know that when I’m looking at patterns, sometimes different people explain things better. So if you get confused with any of these, just jump over to another one and hopefully it will help you feel a little less confused!

Face Mask with Bias Tape Ties

This is my favorite mask I’ve made. It uses the same pattern as my first one, but it uses bias tape. You can have it go across the top and bottom or just make straps!

For this one, you will need:

• Cotton
• Bias tape or ribbon
• Thread

Fu Face Mask

This one requires:

• Material for the outside
• Material for the lining
• Ribbon

It’s Always Autumn

This one requires:

• Cotton
• Pellon 830
• Elastics
• Thread

Bias Tape Mask with Sweet Red Poppy

This one requires:

• Quilting cotton
• Floral Wire
• Double Fold Bias Tape

Hello Sewing

This one requires:

• Main fabric
• Liner fabric
• Filter
• 1/6″ elastic
• Thread

Where to Donate Homemade Face Masks?

As I already mentioned, a lot of hospitals are reaching out about needing these. If you don’t know if your local hospitals are, I would recommend reaching out to their volunteer department to see their needs.

My friend from church sent me this list on the Deaconess Hospital website that lists places that are definitely taking them listed by state. That would be a great place to start.

I put up a post in Nextdoor and asked for people to post if they needed any for the organizations they worked out, and I got several responses – many of which were retirement or homeless shelters. Posting on local Facebook groups as well might be a good option.

Reach out to your state’s health department. Many of them have set up a page for volunteers, so they may have some good resources at hand.

Days for Girls has organized an effort to collect masks called Masks4Millions. This would be a good place to start.

Joann Fabric has organized an effort to help people make masks. I know my local location is providing materials, supplies, and patterns to anyone who would like to make a mask or even hospital gowns. You can reach out to your local store to see if this is something they are doing.

Where to Donate Face Masks in Colorado?

Since I live in Colorado, I have been collecting locations here specifically. I have a number of places that are looking, so if you are looking specifically for Colorado, please send me an email at katie@clarkscondensed.com, and I can get you the details.

You can also check the Deaconess Hospital website for Colorado, as they have a few listed.

Best Fabric for Face Masks

There’s some debate on this, so definitely check with an organization before you make one However, the general consensus I am finding is double layers of 100%, tightly woven cotton is preferred.

How Effective are Cloth Face Masks?

It’s important to note that these masks are NOT 100% effective against respiratory illness or protecting you from all pathogens.

However, they do offer some layer of protection – up to about 70% – depending on the materials you use. This is a great article that discusses the effectiveness of different materials.

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