Simple Step By Step Tutorial How to Sew the Olson Face Mask Pattern – child sizes too
Learn how to sew an easy face mask using my easy to follow instructions and free pattern templates. Even if you haven’t sewn face masks before – you can do it! I even have a video tutorial so you can see me make one in just a few minutes.
The Olson Mask Pattern was designed by medical professionals to be used when other surgical and N95 masks are not available. Most agree that it is the best pattern available for homemade face masks, and I think so too!
This DIY face mask includes 2 layers of fabric and is curved to fit the nose and mouth area. There is a pocket on the inside to hold a filter if you want to use one, but you don’t have to.
UPDATE: I recently drafted a similarly shaped mask pattern that uses comfortable adjustable ear loops. See my new free pattern here!
After you are vaccinated, you can sew a pretty Vaccination Card Holder Wallet to keep your record in.
Download the free (adult sized) Olson Mask PDF pattern here.
Olson Face Mask Template in Children’s Sizes
(If you have any printing issues, please make sure you are using the latest version of Adobe Reader – it’s free – and then print at 100%. I’ve heard that printing using a mobile device does not result in the correct size.)
Here are some additional resources you might find helpful:
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Video Tutorial showing an even faster method for making this face mask pattern.
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How to Make a Soft and Stretchy Face Mask (easy to breathe through)
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How to use a Pipe Cleaner (or other nose wire) to Make Your Fabric Face Mask Fit Better
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My recommendations for the best fabrics to use are found here.
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More tie options that I have tried, including different kinds of elastics and fabric ties.
I have made many masks with this pattern to share with family members and healthcare workers in my community. They prefer this style over the kind with binding and pleats. After sewing a bunch, I was able to streamline the original instructions for how to sew the face mask that are included with the templates.
The photo tutorial below was written with permission and is not meant to replace the Olson Mask Pattern, but accompany it. There are also some good Q&A’s here.
By request, I have re-sized the mask templates to make child sized face masks in two different sizes. The pattern templates for kids’ masks include:
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the face, mouth, and cheek templates in size child’s small for ages 2-5 (page 1)
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the face, mouth and cheek templates in size child’s large for ages 6-10 (page 2)
Cutting and sewing instructions are the same for the child sized fabric masks. Print the pages at 100% scale.
How to Sew the Olson Face Mask Pattern
You will need:
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about 1/4 yard tightly woven cotton fabric
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2 hair tie elastics (if you would rather use store bought ties, see this free face mask pattern with store bought elastics)
- cutting mat and rotary cutter (or scissors)
- matching thread
- sewing machine
- sewing pins or clips
Cutting:
The Olson Mask Pattern has 6 pattern templates and specifies cutting one from each template. You may save time by only using templates Mouth 1, Cheek 1, and Face 1.
Layer the fabric with wrong sides facing.
Cut 2 from Cheek 1, Face 1, and Mouth 1 mask templates.
Cut 2 each from pattern templates Cheek 1, Face 1, and Mouth 1.
When cutting, layer the fabric with wrong sides facing so you can cut the two pieces at once and they will be reversed.
Sew Single Hems
Take the cheek pieces and mouth pieces to your ironing board.
1. Press the longest straight raw edge on the cheek pieces over to the wrong side by 1/4’’.
2. Press the straight edge on the mouth pieces over to the wrong side by 1/4’’.
3. Sew along the fold on all of these pieces to make simple single hems.
Sew the Curved Mouth and Face Edges
1/4’’ seam allowance allowed.
1. Place the two ‘Face’ pieces right sides together and sew along the curved edge.
2. Place the two ‘Mouth’ pieces right sides together and sew along the curved edge.
Pin and Sew the DIY Mask Pieces Together
1. Place the cheek pieces and the mouth piece (sewn along the curve) on your workspace, with the right sides of the fabric down as seen above. If necessary, refer to the templates to ensure that you are not arranging any of them upside down.
2. Allow the cheek pieces to overlap on top of the mouth piece by about 1’’ and pin at the top and bottom of each cheek piece.
Do not worry too much about how much to overlap the mouth piece with the cheek pieces right now – you will adjust them for an accurate fit in the next step.
This is the ‘inside piece.’
3. Place the pinned ‘inside piece’ on top of the face piece, right sides together.
Match the pieces together at the center seams and place pins at the top and bottom center.
4. Line up the straight edges on the sides and pin.
5. Now carefully remove one of the pins that holds the mouth and cheek pieces together. Smooth and adjust out the fabrics so that they fit nicely between the sides and the center seam.
Re-pin through all layers.
7. Repeat for all 4 pins that attached the cheek pieces to the mouth piece.
8. Sew all the way around the mask with a 1/4’’ seam allowance.
At each of the corners:
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stop with the needle down
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lift the presser foot
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turn the fabric
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put the presser foot down
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continue sewing
When you come to the place where you started sewing, continue sewing on top of your first few stitches and then backstitch to secure.
9. To reduce bulk, trim away extra fabric at the corners, without cutting the stitching. You can safely cut to within 1/8’’ of the stitching.
10. Turn the face mask right side out through one of the openings next to the cheek piece. Don’t try to turn through both openings at once, that will get tangled. 🙂
Press the mask to make it look nice. The filter pocket is the outer layer of blue fabric shown above. You can make your own filter using filter fabric that provides better filtration of most particles (compared to most fabrics). See how.
A nose piece wire (made of pipe cleaner or twist ties) can be placed in this pocket if you like. You may also stitch across this pocket 1/2” below the top edge to make a casing for the wire.
11. Place one side edge through a hair elastic and fold over by about 1/2’’.
Stitch the side seam down, backstitching at the beginning and end to secure well.
Of course, you may use other types of elastic (such as elastic cord or 1/4” elastic) or make drawstring ties, depending on the needs of the user and the resources available.
Tip: if you cannot find 1/4’’ elastic, try 1/2’’ fold over elastic (FOE). This flat elastic is soft and flexible – maybe even better than regular 1/4’’ elastic for making mask ties.
Always follow up to date guidelines on mask usage. Prevention is key! Here is the Center for Disease Control guidance regarding homemade face masks:
HCP {healthcare personnel} use of homemade masks:
In settings where surgical masks are not available, HCP might use homemade masks (e.g., bandana, scarf) for care of patients with COVID-19 as a last resort. However, homemade masks are not considered PPE {personal protective equipment}, since their capability to protect HCP is unknown. Caution should be exercised when considering this option. Homemade masks should ideally be used in combination with a face shield that covers the entire front (that extends to the chin or below) and sides of the face. {source of quote at cdc.gov}
Finally, you’ll need a Face Mask Wallet to carry your mask and other essentials with you…
Stay healthy and safe!
xoxo,
Disclosure: some of my posts contain affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of those links I may receive a small commission, so thank you for supporting SewCanShe when you shop! All of the opinions are my own and I only suggest products that I actually use. 🙂
thank you for sharing this pattern… any suggestions on how to alter this for a child?
Hi Kellie – great suggestion. I re-sized the templates and put a link to the file above. xoxo
Thank you so much for putting together this tutorial. I really appreciate it. I am spending my Saturday making these for my family and extended family. I am grateful to have an easy step by step process to follow. Great work!
-Lauren
Thanks for sharing this and explaining it so well! Just made one, pretty simple. I have a big roll of elastic strap, so I used that to make one strap to go around the head on top, then tie straps on the bottom, instead of an ear loop. Just couldn’t get a good fit that way for me. I also sewed an extra line on the finished mask across the nose, through all the layers, across the mouth piece. I unbent a paperclip and slipped that in this new pocket to be able to bend it around my nose. Worked pretty well! Thanks again.
The Olsen pattern was one of my saved mask pattern styles to make. Their video was good but you brought much clarity to the process. I thank you so much for the time and effort you’ve put forth. It is greatly appreciated. May you and your family keep safe during this pandemic.
I haven’t sewed in years. This tutorial was so easy for me and my daughter to follow and super quick. We whipped out a bunch today. Thank you!
Thanks for the pattern! I ran out of hair ties and couldn’t find elastic anywhere but ended up cutting up a fitted sheet to use and it worked pretty well. 😊
Thank you so much for the pattern. I made the cutest mask this morning. As someone with asthma and living in an area hit hard by the virus, even going grocery shopping is scary. This gives me a bit more comfort going out.
Thank you so very much for the tutorial and free pattern. I have been a nurse for 35 years. My daughter Chelsea is an ICU nurse in Nashville where my family lives. She is taking care of the sickest patients in Nashville. I have another daughter and son-in-law and they have 2 children. Several of my friends are compromised. Your graciousness and creativity will protect many many people. Today I am grateful for You!! thank you again. Lisa
First, thankyou for the tutorial. So much easier & faster than the other pattern I was using with darts & pleats. This article mentions using a double layer of specific brands of shop towels as having fairly good filtration. They bought equipment to test effectiveness. Definitely worth checking it out. I found refill rolls at Tractor Supply.
If you, read this…..read anyway. I bought some from tractor supply. Jackie
https://www.businessinsider.com/homemade-mask-using-hydro-knit-shop-towel-filters-better-2020-4?utm_campaign=sf-bi-ti&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social
Thank you so much for such a great pattern. It is so easy to make and offers great coverage. Thanks also for downsizing it to fit kids. I have had several kid masks requested and I am not great a grading down so I hadn’t starrted them yet.
Thank you so much for this! This was the pattern my local hospital asked for, but being a visual learner I really appreciate your step by step photos. Thanks again!
Thank you for the tutorial! I am wondering how you get your center seam so nice and flat when it’s turned right side out. Mine is not laying flat. Are you nesting the seams or laying them to the same side?
I nested my seams. 🙂
Thank you for the directions. They were much easier to understand than the ones with the pattern.
I was able to make 1 mask from one of my husband’s new, unused handkerchiefs. By putting the 1/4" fold parts on the sewn edge of the handkerchief, I was able to fit it all on perfectly. I did save the Face piece to last and refolded the handkerchief to get it to fit.
Hi Caroline – thank you so much for this post and especially the info about the HEPA filter. You mentioned a letter from the manufacturer, but I am unable to locate it your post. I would like it to ensure friends that the filter material is safe for them to use. Would you please direct me to it or provide a link? Thank you!
Their answer was in a direct email to me so it is not posted online. They said: "Our filters are made from Polypropylene plastic fibers and strands, adhesive, paperboard, and for some filters, metal wire. There is no Fiberglass in our Filters. However, our Filtrete brand products are designed to be used in your home and your HVAC systems. The filter media in a Filtrete brand filter performs very differently than an approved N95 respirator or mask. It cannot achieve the fit or performance of a mask or N95 respirator and modifying the furnace filter may damage the material. 3M does not recommend or support the use of a Filtrete brand filter to make a mask or respirator. "
I bought some cute fabric that I was going to use for masks, but its pretty thin. Could I add another layer to the mask? Or is that overkill?
Tighter weave fabric is best. An extra layer would be good, but make sure it is still breathable.
Thank you for this. Like Alana below, I added a small seam at the bridge of the nose but, I used it to slip in a strip of folded up aluminum foil that can be crimped for a better seal and easily removed for washing.
Thanks so much! I definitely wanted a mask with a pocket. I just converted the files to svg and a cricut maker project. Once I check them I’m happy to share to speed up cutting.
I want to caution that the hepa filter for inside is made of fiberglass. My hands are itching like crazy after trying to take one apart.
Would you please (for the sake of others) tell us what brand of filter you used? Was it a HVAC filter or was it specifically labeled ‘HEPA’?
Thanks so much – this will help others avoid the same thing.
I watched a video by Pocket Pediatrician about using Filtrete air filters. She had actually contacted the company and was assured the paper was fine to come in contact with skin and could be safely breathed through. These are the 3M Filtrete filters for your home, I’m talking about. They are free of fiberglass.
Thank you!
Thank you so much! I decided to make these because people need them so badly right now… within 15 minutes I had orders for 30 of them! So easy and fun to make! Thanks again!
Hi, I would really like to use this pattern to make masks for my family but I don’t have a printer. I can zoom in on my screen and trace it but it would be helpful if I had a measurement on each page as a reference. Like just any one straight edge on each page, if I knew how long it was supposed to be I could zoom to the correct scale and trace it.
Hi Jaclyn – I added a 1" square to page 1 of the childrens size mask file. You may click on the link again to see the updated file. 🙂
I tried the patterns of 3 other masks and none fit right. This pattern was perfect and I am very grateful there is a child-sized version as well. My son needed to get his allergy shot and I wouldn’t let him go unless he had a properly fitting mask. Thank you so much for these patterns and laying out the steps so easily. Ours turned out great.
Hi…..I printed the adult size pattern and am in the process of making a test mask. I am to the point of putting the two sides together and I can tell that mine is not as big as the finished one on the video. I found your reply about the 1" reference square on child size….I printed that page and the large size child pieces are larger than my printed adult size…..what did I do wrong?
It is important to print all of the files at 100% – do not enlarge or reduce.
My only suggestion for this is to add 1/4" to the mouth edge that will be folded over. That way you can get a double fold over and there will be no raw edges at all. With just the one fold and the raw edge left exposed, it will eventually ravel and the stitching will come out.
Judy, as a novice sewer, can you explain a little more on what you’re suggesting? Are you referring to adding an additional 1/4" to all sides of the mouth mask? I’m not following how you’d get a "double fold over". Sorry for the probable stupid question!
Where we’re told fold once, it will have a "raw" edge. The writer was suggesting folding it a second time and then stitching. The second fold will require another 1/4". No raw edge and less chance of fraying.
Thank you for the children’s sizes. I have made the Olson mask for my dil and her nurse friends. She said she loves it. I used non fusible sewing interfacing for my filter fabric. I made a filter pattern by using the mouth pattern and cutting it down a bit to fit inside the mask. I then sewed the edges together and trimmed to 1/8th inch and zigzagged around it. It fits pretty good. I have more orders to get done.
Finding the elastic has proven difficult, but I had enough beading elastic to make a few more. I had made N95 covers, but she likes this one better. Now I can make the children’s size for her friend’s twins who need to be protected from their dad who is Covid19 positive. I pray for them all.
which filter side facing out– fuzzy or smooth
Fuzzy faces out
Many filter fabrics are not meant for faces like vacuum filters can have fiberglass and could be very dangerous to be breathed through.. Do check the warnings on packages or the websites if it can be used. Even Hepa can use Fiberglass.
Try 3M hammock filter, it has not fiberglass and it’s a electrostatic filter.
Thank you for changing the orientation on the pattern to landscape to correct the sizing. Now I have another question. My printer automatically changes the printing of the pattern to portrait because that it the orientation of the beginning of the document. It is the exact same size as the original pattern. I assume the changing of orientation mid-stream is where the problem began, both on Unity’s site and yours. I can’t figure out how to make that print as landscape from the Adobe pattern. Could you either give directions for doing that, because I’m sure I’m not alone, or change the orientation of the pattern by 90 degrees so it will print correctly as in the portrait orientation.
Thank You.
Loved your video. What type of machine do you have — it sounds so lovely!
Thank you! It’s a Bernina 770QE (Tula Pink edition).
Thank you so much for the pattern and tutorial! I made several for myself, my husband, and friends to wear to appointments and the supermarket. To accommodate those with beards/longer faces, I added a 1/2 inch to the bottom of each pattern piece and they fit very well.
I just made one of the adult size masks. It’s so tiny it wouldn’t fit a child. I double check I didn’t print the wrong one. Where did I mess up???
If you have any printing issues, please make sure you are using the latest version of Adobe Reader – it’s free at get.adobe.com. – and then print at 100%.
This happened to me too. I printed out the adult size and made the mask out of that pattern. Overall design was great. But so tiny, it would fit only my youngest child.
Someone reported to me that the problem was because they were printing from a mobile device. When they switched to a desktop computer, the problem was solved. Could that be happening to you?
Also, PLEASE ensure that you are using the latest edition of Adobe Reader. It’s free. 🙂
Read Caroline’s comments to the previous questions regarding the size of the patterns. Reprinted the adult pattern by making sure the ‘Page Sizing’ is set to ‘Actual Size’ and I printed it in landscape orientation because the pattern was now big enough to not fit in the portrait mode. Very happy now.
Tutorial was very easy to follow. I agree with a previous commenter to double roll the hems on the cheek and mouth pieces. Also, I have an average to large head but the adult mask was big on me even after folding the ends 1" over the hair ties – I had air flowing freely out of the top, sides, and bottom. I added a pipe cleaner at the top for a better fit there and a tuck on each side helped, but didn’t solve, the air flow on bottom and sides.
Can you tell me what stitch “length” you used on your machine for this project? Thank you very much!
On my machine, it was a 2.4. That can vary by machine so I suggest a ‘medium’ stitch length.
Thanks so much for the great pattern and clear video instructions. My daughter-in-law, who is using these at her workplace, said she slipped a ribbon through the elastics to tie it so she could adjust the fit.
Awesome video! I was trying to sew a mask together (was using the CDC’s pattern and instructions) & was ready to start drinking!!! I could not get the elastic the right length! Ugh! The mask was not fitting tight at all either. I like how you chain fed the pieces too. I am going to try your pattern and advice. Thank you!
Kristi J, PT
Thanks for clear instructions. I noticed on the olson pattern,v3, instructions there is a note "please cut mask patterns ~ ½” to ¾” larger than shown (total width, so ¼” to 3/8” on all sides) " but your pattern is the same size as the olson pattern. Should I enlarge your pattern or is is correct "as is"
Thanksk
kay
Hi Kay – I think it depends on who you are making the masks for. I made a whole bunch using the original size pattern, which fit me and the nurses that I gave them to great. I also enlarged the pattern as you stated and that was good for my husband and his brothers.
I have looked through the questions (I’m sorry if I overlooked it). On all of the patterns on the “cheek” template, there is a dotted line about 1-1/2” in from the taller side. What is that line for? Thank you so much for all of your tutorials-and the research and information that comes with them!!
Hi Monica – that line is part of the original instructions, which you printed along with the templates. My instructions don’t use the line. 🙂
Does anyone know how many masks a yard of quilting cotton produces if pattern is cut as tightly as possible? Ordering fabric at the moment and wondering how much yardage to order. Thanks!
A "feeder" piece of fabric! Genius! Thank you for so many little tips and tricks for the novices among us (that would be me).
Use clips instead of pins. Otherwise, you have holes in your masks.
I had printed the pattern from the hospital website but their instructions were confusing. I went searching for a video for clarification and found yours. Your method was much easier to understand. Thank you! I also learned a helpful tip about a "leader piece" which in all my years of sewing, I never thought of! lol! Thanks for the helpful tutorial-and for putting on lipstick just for us! Cheers!
Hi there, I have made four adult size Olson masks. Before I make any more I would like to check with you that I have cut the fabric correctly considering the grainline. Is it correct to have side 4 of the face piece parallel to the selvage? Thank you so much for this pattern!
Hi Jana – for apparel and quilt patterns, grainline really matters. But for this pattern, I don’t think so. Unless you are trying to make sure the print on your fabric is right side up. 🙂
Caroline
Thank you for sharing your our experience and resources! Your instructions are clear and easy to follow. I have made a couple of adult-sized masks for my daughter, who is an essential worker. She says they are comfortable, but a tad big for her feminine face. The child sizes seem too small. How can I scale the pattern to be a better fit for a smaller adult face?
I would suggest starting with the adult pattern and either reduce it by 5% using your print settings, OR sew that pattern with a 3/8” or 1/2” seam allowance instead of 1/4’’.
Good luck!
You’re a GENIUS…….I’ve been sewing for years…yet did not come with the the brilliant idea to attach the mouth piece then perfectly lay the cheeks pieces down….sew in one fell swoop.
I was following another set of directions and taking way tooooo much time getting the mouth and cheek pieces in the proper place. It was a lightbulb moment for me….. How did I not grasp that idea on my own is sad…… Thank you. Goes so much faster now.
Thanks for this edit to the pattern 🙂 I watched the video but found it hard to hear what the guy sewing was saying compared to the others so this was super useful. Made 3 so far, for me, hubby and mum and had 2 friends ask for ones for them and their families so gonna be busy this weekend churning them out, first one took me 2 and a half hours to do now I can get them down to 1.4 hours per mask, should get quicker now I don’t have to refer to this all the time now. Also got the children sized one too thanks so much for working that out for us, got 3 kids ones to do too so good to have everything on hand.
I was making the Olson Mask from another website. After my 25th mask I was really getting bored and my spark to serve others by making masks was fading. When I looked at your video, I was instantly recharged. I made a mask in 1/2 the time and really enjoyed being able to move on to the next one. Thank you for sharing. You are a tried and true mentor. Can’t wait to try some of your other great ideas. And especially appreciate the patterns for children. Your the best!
Thank you for these super clear instructions! I had no problems following along. I do wonder, however, about this model with a seam down the front of the mask which ultimately means there are bigger holes in the mask right down the front of the face. As I was sewing the two pieces together it struck me that this was counterintuitive to having a tightly woven fabric mask and a nurse friend of mine also brought this up. It would seem that this mask MUST be used with a very good filter inserted, and not on its own. Has this come up for anyone?
Thank you for making a tutorial and video, it’s really perfect.
To make a larger mask for men, could I just trace an extra 1/2" all around each pattern piece? Or is there a better way.
Thanks for the video, Caroline. It really does speed up the process, even though I thought I was fast before. And now I know why sometimes my cheek pieces didn’t quite match up!!!!
I add a line of stitches about 1/2" in from the edge of the nose area for a nose clip channel – right now I’m using pipe cleaners that I had left over. Half of one, with edges folded in, works great. It’s easy to feed in the pipe cleaner in by lifting the filter openings, and I take them out with tweezers when washing the mask.
What would be the washing instructions for this mask since it has not been surged ?
Hi, Thank you for the child size patterns. I have made several hundred of the Olson masks. It is an easy to sew mask. I was just asked to sew one for a 5 year old. I did not have a pattern I took to Pinterest and your site popped up and it was a blessing. Thank you for the video as well. You look fabulous! Take care stay healthy, God Bless.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I spent hours putting together 3 masks and by the time I was done I discovered that there were tiny. I was using the wrong pattern. You have the right size for adults. Thank you!
Thank you SO much for sharing these free patterns. I can’t wait to make some new masks for my family and I love the pocket on this pattern. Much Appreciated, Stay Safe!!
My husband and adult son actually will need an extra large size of this face mask. Will it work just to increase the size of the pattern a little, or will the dimensions be thrown too Far off? The mask is about an inch too short on the nose, for example.
Just a tip for anyone trying to sew a mask for a man: I printed the Olson mask pattern at 110 percent and found that to be a really good size for a man’s face. You have to fiddle with the print orientation and settings a little bit to get it to print on 8.5 x 11 paper. If you have access to legal-sized paper, that might work better.
Hello! Thank you for this pattern as well as your video dedicated to your sister 🥰. I am using the Filti fabric to make filters but unsure how to cut them out? Would I just use the mouthpiece piece of the pattern or do you have a template for the filter fabric? If using the mouthpiece pattern piece, since it has a seam down the middle, would that compromise it’s effectiveness? Thank you for your time. If anyone else has suggestions for this please do not hesitate to answer. Thanks!
Thank you, Caroline , for a great tutorial. I found it very helpful in learning how to make these masks. I found that running my bodkin through the pipe cleaner channel helped in getting the pipe cleaner to go through the top seam more easily. I did it twice so hope it’s not a fluke and that it works for others!
I noticed the kid patterns don’t have face 1 face 2 for example – do I duplicate the pattern for each piece?
Yes. Please see what I said about that in the instructions (and the video). 🙂
Hello Caroline, is there any chance you’ll be posting a surgical scrub cap pattern or tutorial as well?
Thank you! this is really good. I will be checking you website for more good things.
Hi Caroline,
Great instructions and video. Many thanks for all your help.
Of note regarding the Adult Mask V2 there’s no 1" test square from Unity Health Point.
Cheers, Katie
Thank you so much for sharing these! I have already made 3 and they are great! Do you happen to have printable directions?
Thanks!
Hello Caroline, thank you so much for the free patterns for the face mask. I have made all the kids size one for my daughters and they fit perfect! The adults size is really big for myself but fit perfect my husband. I wonder if you have a small, medium pattern? The PDF adult pattern on-line, I would consider that large. I also seen in the comment below, maybe if I play with the printer percentage printing, that might work. Thank you so much!
Did you ever figure out a smaller adult size? I too find the adult size way too big for most females I know. I tried scaling via printer percentage but it wasn’t quite perfect. Love the kid sized pattern too! I’ve made tons for my kids!
For a smaller adult or teenager, I increase the seam allowance to 1/2”. That makes it 1/2” smaller – perfect!
The seam printed on the child’s size mask patterns are smaller. Should they still be sewn at 1/4" like the adult size?
Yes.
Hi Caroline! I so want to thank you for providing this pattern and tutorial. Both are excellent and have provided me with the ability to protect my parents, brother, husband and children during these crazy times. Wishing you all the best. All your posts are always enjoyed but this was such a gift. Thank you.
Joanne Moore
This was such a great tutorial and pattern! I’m re-learning to sew (Home Ec from 1993 is a long time ago, haha). Thank you for providing guidance and helping me regain my sewing confidence. The masks tuned out great and my kids love them.
Thank you so much for this awesome pattern! I especially loved your tutorial where you fed the pieces one after the other though the machine to avoid the edges getting caught. I am not a quilter and I never knew this! My kids found the hair tie elastic too tight and uncomfortable on their ears. So I cut 2” strips of old tights/pantyhose and used those for the ear loops. So soft and comfortable! I made masks for the whole family in an hour. Thank you so much!
Filti.com has perfect fabric for making filters. Some HEPA filters from house AC and furnace systems and vacuum cleaner bags contain spun glass fibers. They are DANGEROUS to inhale as microscopic fiberglass and can cause lung damage.
I have made so many masks from this pattern (kid and adult) that I’ve memorized the steps. It’s so easy and the masks turn out great. Like another user, I added a simple nose clip compartment by top stitching about 2 inches on each side of the center seam, 1/2" from the top edge. Then I slipped in a bendable fastener from a roll-top coffee package to act as the clip, which I can easily remove when washing the mask. Now my glasses don’t fog. Love this pattern. Thank you.
Hi Thank you for this fantastic pattern. Do you have a size chart? I am always asked for what size fits who? Here is hoping. Kathleen Moraghan @ Allotallove
Thank you for the pattern. the instructions were clear and easy enough for me to follow. It was the first time I’ve successfully sewed on a curve. THANKS!!
Perfect even for a beginner! super simple and easy to follow along with. I didnt know how to sew real well and i was able to do this mask in childrens and adult sizes for my family and they actually turned out REALLY GOOD! Thank You SO MUCH!!
Caroline, your fast olson mask tutorial is fabulous. I have especially appreciated the child size masks. My 7 year old loves her (Olson) ice cream mask better than any of the others she’s tried…. it’s our go-to.
You have helped so many stay safe. Thank you.
As teachers will likely have to wear masks in Fall, I am wondering if you have a "clear window" mask pattern you found/ would be willing to share (like the kind for deaf/hard of hearing to read lips). I think these masks would help teachers communicate – and share their smiles/warmth – with the littlest of learners. I’d love to make and donate some to our local schools.
Huge thank you form Madison, WI!
I love this pattern because it doesn’t suck into my nose when I breathe. It didn’t fit my husband quite as well because he has abeard, so I added an inch to the bottom of all the pieces so it covered a little more at the chin i stead of riding up on the beard. The Olsen mask takes a little longer to make than the pleated style, but it is well worth the time for a better fit. Also, this video s very good at showing how to make it quickly.
Thank you for the great pattern and video tutorial.
Thanks for the great tutorial, picked a couple of new tricks of the trade. Masks have been made compulsory for us, I am putting in a double layer at the mouth piece and that works really well. I have made some for my grandson as he has to attend a clinic weekly and the surgical masks are to big for him. I am sending them off now.
Adult pattern did not work for me or my husband. Caroline’s instructions are easy to follow. But I had to make too many alterations to make it fit.
how would you suggest to alter the child mask pattern for an 11-13 year old (the adult mask seems to be too large)?
In this case I increase the seam allowance on the adult size mask to 1/2”. That seems to do the trick!
please for future videos use a fabric that doesn’t look exactly the same (red damask) as it does wrong side and right side – i must have made 4 masks that were wrong using this video – however when i got it right, it’s a great mask. but a lot of suffering
I can’t seem to open the adult pattern pdf even with updated adobe reader, but I’m able to open the children’s pattern. The adult pattern link goes to a 403 Forbidden error page. How much larger is the adult pattern in comparison to the children’s? Thanks.
Hi Faith – I updated the link above. Does it work for you now?
Thanks so much for providing the children’s pattern and the clear instructions, I got it right directly even though I don’t sew a whole lot. I made my 5 yo a mask 9 months ago but this one seems much better and being able to put in a surgical mask as a filter makes me feel much better.