Cutting Fabric Face Coverings with Cricut Maker ™

Whether you’re a passionate sewer, or a complete beginner, Cricut offers a huge range of projects, patterns and quilt blocks to get you started. The machine marks and cuts pieces, safely and quickly, without the need for backing material. So, if you’re looking to create a cot mobile for your best friend’s baby shower, a tie for the next big interview, or a face mask to help keep you, and others safe… chances are you’ll find a project for it on your Cricut Maker.

Tools you’ll need:

Cricut Maker™

Sewing Machine with thread

Fabric for outer and liner

Cricut Fabric Grip Machine Mat

Cricut EasyPress Mini™ or household iron

Scissors

¼” elastic, ribbon, t-shirt yarn or bias tape

Safety pin

Coffee filters (optional for filter)

 Before you get started:

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Head to Cricut Design Space and search ‘face mask’ in the search bar. Click on the project named ‘face mask’ and then choose your finished size from the drop down box. This tutorial is based on a S/M size.
               2. Read through all project steps
               3. Pre-shrink fabric by pre-washing or steam-pressing
               4. Pre-cut fabric by hand to fit on mat. Please note the direction of the grain for each fabric piece. The cutting layout has been organised to follow the grain so Cricut don’t recommend rotating the pieces.

Cut on your Cricut Maker:

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Click ‘make it’. You’ll then see your project mats broken down into two colours. Light blue and dark blue. Light blue is the template for your liner of your mask and dark blue is the template for the outer.
               2. Mat 1 – Place an 8” x 16” piece of dark blue fabric right (pattern) side down onto the mat with the grain running the length of the mat.
               3. Mat 2 – Place the 7” x 16” piece of light blue fabric (pattern) side down onto the mat with the grain running the length of the mat.

Assemble:

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Gather all of the pieces and press if necessary
                  2. Match up dark blue outer pieces, right side together and sew the curved portion with a ¼” seam. Repeat with the liner pieces. Snip along the curve, being careful to not cut through the stitching.
                  3. Press the straight edges of the liner pieces down, about ¼” away from the edge of the liner
                  4. Stitch close to the edge of the liner piece.
                  5. Press the straight edges down about ¼” away from the outer pieces
                  6. Fold the outer piece over again about ½” and press to create the casing for the elastic. Stitch close to the previously pressed edge to leave enough room for the elastic
                  7. Press the curved seam to one side and top stitch along that side of the curved seam of both the outer and liner pieces
                  8. Align the outer and liner pieces, right sides together and stitch along the top and bottom with a ¼” seam. Backstitch to reinforce seams where necessary. Leave the sides open.
                  9. Trim and snip as necessary. Turn through one of the side openings and press all seams. Top stitch along the top and bottom, reinforcing as necessary.
                  10. Thread elastic through the bottom casing on one side using a small safety pin. Continue threading through the top of the other side of the mask until you meet back up with the other end of the elastic. For a S/M size mask, 20” elastic should be enough to wrap around the head/neck.
                  11. Connect the elastic with a zig zag stitch, making sure that elastic is not twisted. Move the stitch part of the elastic into the casing for comfort.
                  12. Place a filter (could be a coffee filter) through the side openings if desired.
                  13. You did it!

               TIP – remove and dispose of any filter and wash the mask after each use.

            2. Disclosure. This face covering is NOT rated for disease control. Its role is to help reduce contamination of the surrounding area when a person coughs or sneezes but does not replace the need for social distancing or regular handwashing.

               Want to see more tutorials from Circut? Why not check out their blog on how to Create a 3D Christmas Deer with your Cricut Maker™