Thank you for purchasing the
Clever Octopus ❤️s Make Salt Lake mask maker kit!
Help keep our community healthy and support our ongoing efforts for mask donations! Clever Octopus has partnered with Make Salt Lake to provide materials for thousands of masks for community distribution. Your purchase of this item helps us continue this project and support more community-wide mask donation requests that keep coming in, so pick up your very own Clever Octopus <3's Make Salt Lake mask maker kit with the acrylic template.
Each kit has supplies for 3 masks, and replenishment kits are available, too. See "+3 mask maker kit" for additional materials. As always, the treasures in our kits are assorted colors, and these mystery bags were hand-selected by our artists for making stylish masks.
Meet your kit!
Full kit and +3 kit each contain:
- Cotton fabric for mask liner
- Upholstery fabric for mask exterior and stability
- 3 paper clips
- 3 elastic pairs
Full kit also contains the Acrylic Template
Cut the liner
Fold the fabric to cut through multiple layers with your rotary cutter. You’ll easily get six pieces from this fabric, which is enough for three masks.
Cut the outer fabric
Be sure to cut this fabric folded so you get left and right side pieces! You’ll easily get at least six pieces - enough for three masks - (maybe more) depending on the outer fabric you received.
Sew your mask together
STEP 1) Match each set of 2 matching fabric pieces inside out and sew along the curved edge of each pair
From Make Salt Lake’s great tutorial and video!
Sew your mask together
STEP 2) Match the nose seam of your cotton pair up to the inside of the seam on your canvas pair. Open both pairs together and sew along the top and bottom edges
Sew your mask together
STEP 3) Flip the sandwich/tube right side out and iron flat (Yes, we know ironing sucks, but we promise it’s important this time)
Form nose wires
Straighten your paper clips and bend a small loop on each end using pliers.
Sew nose wire pockets
Before you sew the sides shut, sew a line across the top edge of the mask about 1/2" away from the seam, starting about 2" before the center and ending 2" past it on the other side. Stitch one end of this slot closed, insert the wire, and stitch the other end closed.
Cut your elastic loops
Your kit contains super soft earloops. Each loop is enough elastic for both ears. Cut it in two. You’ll attach one on each side when you sew it shut in step 4.
Sew your mask together
STEP 4) Tuck the loose end inside itself - insert one end of your elastic piece and sew over it until secure. Tuck the other end of the same elastic into the seam before finishing.
Repeat on the other side with your second piece of elastic.
Sew your mask together
STEP 5) With both ear loops installed and the mask right side out - sew once more around the edges. This important “cover stitch” will help your mask hold its shape in the washer/dryer
(Pro tip - for an extra secure cover stitch, you can use a zigzag stitch. If you’re a beginner, sticking to your straight stitch settings works fine too!)
CARE SUGGESTIONS:
Carefully machine wash masks with warm or hot water as often as possible. (Use the delicates cycle or wash inside of a pillowcase or a mesh lingerie bag if you can)
Consider using safety pins to secure the mask folded in half in the wash to help it keep its shape
Use a high-temperature steam iron to press flat and sanitize