Georgina's 10 steps to make a football face mask
If you’ve been wondering how to put your old football kits to good use while self-isolating, make a face mask! With NHS staff running low on PPE (personal protective equipment) and football still suspended, they are a great, non-medical alternative to help lessen the high demand, and you can rep your team(s) on your daily walk or shopping trip. Quick and easy to make (I’m putting some on Depop soon), for the best results I’d recommend using a sewing machine for this but you can, of course, sew up your mask by hand.
Time: 30-45 minutes depending on whether you sew by hand or machine.
Materials:
Fabric
Scissors
Pins
Elastic
Thread
Tape measure or ruler
*Disclaimer: These masks aren’t medical grade, they cover your nose and mouth, show your support and can offer peace of mind.
Method:
Source your fabric: you can use old football kits or sportswear will also work well. Anything with a good stretch will be good.
Cut your unused shirts. The goal is to end up with a 20 centimetre by 20 centimetres square. This measurement should fit most faces due to the fabric having stretch.
Either stitch strips together as I’ve done in the picture, you can use different shirts or different parts of a single shirt or just cut one square from your shirt of choice.
Add your pleats by eye or follow these steps to create three pleats on the left and right side edge of the mask. Fold the square in half horizontally making sure the right side of fabric is facing up. Pin 1.5 centimetres down from the fold edge on each side.
Then measure three centimetres down from the pin point and create a pleat that’s 1.2 centimetres deep. You do this by simply pinching the fabric and measuring your pinch with a tape measure or ruler. Flip your mask over and repeat this on the other side. See image for more clarity.
You should end up with three pleats on the right and left side of the square which you can secure with pins. Edge-stitch them with a needle and thread or on your machine to secure. Try and make all the pleats sit flatly in the same direction on both sides.
Cut two pieces of elastic that are 18 centimetres long. Fold in the sides of the elastic by 1 centimetre, then fold the top and bottom edge of the pleated fabric square by 1cm, trapping the elastic in the corners of the mask by inserting around 1 centimetre on each corner. Pin to secure.
Topstitch all the way around the pleated fabric square using a zig-zag stitch with your machine or a simple running stitch by hand to secure the elastic loops and to give the mask a nice clean finish.
Test that your elastic is secure in place by pulling the loops. If not, go back with your topstitch until secure.
Congratulations your mask is complete!
Words, photography and video: Georgina Hunt
