Professional Documents
Culture Documents
sign
up
More tie options that I have tried, including di erent kinds of elastics and fabric ties.
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!
It is curved to t the nose and mouth area, and there is a pocket on the inside to hold an additional lter (if
you want to use one).
Email *
Download the free (adult sized) Olson Mask PDF pattern here.
• Video Tutorial showing an even faster method for making this face mask pattern.
• How to Make a Soft and Stretchy Face Mask (easy to breathe through)
• How to use a Pipe Cleaner (or other wire) to Make Your Fabric Face Mask Fit Better
• How to make a wash bag for face masks (and more)
• How to make a face mask lter
• My recommendations for the best fabrics to use are found here.
• More tie options that I have tried, including di erent 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. 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 pattern templates to make child sized face masks in two di erent sizes. The
pattern templates for child sized masks include:
• the face, mouth, and cheek templates in size child’s small for ages 2-5 (page 1)
• 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 masks. Print the pages at 100% scale.
Cutting:
The Olson Mask Pattern has 6 pattern templates and speci es cutting one from each template. You may save time by
only using templates Mouth 1, Cheek 1, and Face 1.
When cutting, layer the fabric with wrong sides facing so you can cut the two pieces at once and they will be
reversed.
1. Press the longest straight 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.
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.
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 t in the next step.
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.
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 t nicely between the sides and the center seam.
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.
When you come to the place where you started sewing, continue sewing on top of your rst 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. :)
11. Place one side edge through a hair elastic and fold over by about 1/2’’.
Stitch the side edge down, backstitching at the beginning and end to secure well.
Of course, you may use other types of elastic or make drawstring ties, depending on the needs of the user and
the resources available.
Tip: if you cannot nd 1/4’’ elastic, try 1/2’’ fold over elastic (FOE). It’s soft and exible - maybe even better than
regular 1/4’’ elastic for making mask ties.
If your local medical providers are asking for homemade fabric face masks, they must really be in need. Let’s
help them! In addition, I have put together a list of U.S. hospitals and medical facilities asking for homemade
face masks. I also encourage you to check the website of your local hospital (or call them) because there is
probably a need right in your own community.
xoxo,
Just roll it up, secure the tie, and you’re ready for a party,
picnic, or to throw it in with your lunch!
Disclosure: some of my posts contain a liate 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. :)
Share 15 Likes
← Drawstring Ditty Bag - free sewing pattern Friday Spotlight: A Beautiful DIY Denim Rug! →
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.
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.
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!!
Thank you for the pattern. the instructions were clear and easy enough for me to follow. It was the rst
time I've successfully sewed on a curve. THANKS!!
Hi Thank you for this fantastic pattern. Do you have a size chart? I am always asked for what size ts
who? Here is hoping. Kathleen Moraghan @ Allotallove
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 co ee 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.
Filti.com has perfect fabric for making lters. Some HEPA lters from house AC and furnace systems
and vacuum cleaner bags contain spun glass bers. They are DANGEROUS to inhale as microscopic
berglass and can cause lung damage.
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!
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 con dence. The masks
tuned out great and my kids love them.
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
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.
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 t perfect! The adults size is really big for myself but t 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!
Thank you so much for sharing these! I have already made 3 and they are great! Do you happen to have
printable directions?
Thanks!
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! this is really good. I will be checking you website for more good things.
Hello Caroline, is there any chance you'll be posting a surgical scrub cap pattern or tutorial as well?
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). :)
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 uke and that it works for others!
Hello! Thank you for this pattern as well as your video dedicated to your sister 🥰. I am using the Filti
fabric to make lters 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 lter fabric? If using the mouthpiece pattern piece, since it
has a seam down the middle, would that compromise it’s e ectiveness? Thank you for your time. If
anyone else has suggestions for this please do not hesitate to answer. Thanks!
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 ddle 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.
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 o ? The mask is about
an inch too short on the nose, for example.
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!!
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!
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.
What would be the washing instructions for this mask since it has not been surged ?
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 lter openings, and I take them out with tweezers when washing
the mask.
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.
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 lter inserted, and not on
its own. Has this come up for anyone?
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!
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, rst 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.
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.
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 t 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!
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
I had printed the pattern from the hospital website but their instructions were confusing. I went
searching for a video for clari cation 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!
Use clips instead of pins. Otherwise, you have holes in your masks.
A "feeder" piece of fabric! Genius! Thank you for so many little tips and tricks for the novices among us
(that would be me).
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!
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. :)
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 t 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.
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 tting
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 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 t.
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.
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 owing freely out of the top, sides, and bottom. I
added a pipe cleaner at the top for a better t there and a tuck on each side helped, but didn't solve,
the air ow on bottom and sides.
I just made one of the adult size masks. It's so tiny it wouldn't t a child. I double check I didn't print the
wrong one. Where did I mess up???
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 t in the portrait mode.
Very happy now.
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 t 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. :)
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%.
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 t very well.
Loved your video. What type of machine do you have -- it sounds so lovely!
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 gure 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.
Many lter fabrics are not meant for faces like vacuum lters can have berglass 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 lter, it has not berglass and it’s a electrostatic lter.
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 lter fabric. I made a lter pattern by using
the mouth pattern and cutting it down a bit to t inside the mask. I then sewed the edges together and
trimmed to 1/8th inch and zigzagged around it. It ts pretty good. I have more orders to get done.
Finding the elastic has proven di cult, 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.
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.
The SewCanShe Privacy Policy and other disclosures can be found here.
SUPPORT