FREE pattern! 14" and 18" DOLL face mask playset pattern and tutorial

FITTED MASK W/ FILTER POCKET

FOR 14” and 18” DOLLS

**Note: These files are being made for free to help children cope with the trauma associated with the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic. You are free to use the files to make your own masks, but please do not sell masks made with this pattern. Consider donating them to bring a smile to a child's face during this scary time.  

Materials Needed:  
NOTE: SEAM ALLOWANCE IS 3/8”!

·         1/8 yard of fabric (in two contrasting colors if desired)

·         1/4” or 1/8" elastic

o   14” doll: 7” and 5” pieces (one each)

o   18” doll: 7.5” and 6” pieces (one each)

·         Optional: scrap pieces of flannel fabric for play filter pieces, cut with scissors or pinking shears

o   14” doll: 1” x 1.5” pieces 

o   18” doll: 1.5” x 2.5” pieces

PRINTING AND CUTTING:

FOR CRICUT USERS:

SVG files available for download here

**Important! For SVG file users, please use the following information to resize your cut files to the appropriate size. Failure to do so will result in a file that is imported extremely large!

While group is still selected, resize to the required dimensions (see below). Adjust x and y axis to "1" to move image into the viewing field. Ungroup and delete 1" square box.

• 14" dolls: 9.16" width (7.683" height)
• 18" dolls: 9.845" width (8.47" height)

FOR PRINT AND CUT USERS:

• Open file and click print
• Make sure your printer properties are set to “actual size” or “100% scale” and hit print
• Before cutting ensure that the 1” square box is correct
• Place pattern on top of fabric and cut 2 mirrored copies of the main piece, and 2 mirrored copies of the lining.

Completed Pieces

After cutting, you should end up with a pile of pieces similar to the photos below:

Assembly:

1. Finish opening of pocket piece by serging or turning in 1/4” and topstitching 1/8” from edge as shown
   
   
   
2. Place lining pieces RIGHT side together, and sew along the outside of the curve, pivoting 90° roughly 3/8” in from the edge that you just finished, and sewing straight up towards the raw edge. Repeat on the other side. The two pieces should now be sewn together with a hole in the middle that will become your pocket. Clip corners and trim 1/4” away from seam to reduce bulk. 
   
3. Take your main pieces and place them RIGHT sides together. Sew along the outer curve as shown. Clip curve and trim 1/4” away from seam.
   
4. Flip the main and lining pieces right side out and pin RIGHT sides together, matching center seams. Sew along the top and bottom edges, as shown. Be careful not to catch your pocket as you are sewing across the center seams. Clip curves and trim 1/4” away from seams.
   
5. Insert one end of your longest piece of elastic into the side against the top seam, leaving roughly ¼” sticking out, with the free end facing the middle of the mask. Repeat on the opposite end (of the shorter side) for the bottom seam with your shorter piece of elastic. Sew entire side, making sure to backstitch over elastic. Continue threading elastic through to the other short side, sewing both pieces of elastic in place. Your long and short pieces of elastic should now be straight across the long edges. Clip corners and trim 1/4” away from seams to reduce bulk.
   
   
   
   
6. Using the pocket hole, flip right side out then carefully topstitch 1/8” around the edges. You are done!
   
   
   
   

Pattern:

FREE children's face mask patterns

CHILDREN'S FACE MASK WITH FILTER POCKET PATTERN!

This post includes a pattern to make a free fitted face mask with filter pocket for children ages 3-10. To print, simply print this page or right-click and select "print". You may also save this pattern to your desktop for additional uses. PLEASE do NOT place a mask on a child below the age of 3- this can cause suffocation!

For instructions on putting this mask together, please click the link for the free adult face mask pattern and follow the instructions.

There are two sizes available: one for small children (roughly ages 3-5), and one for older children (ages 6-10). As there is so much variation in children's sizes, you may need to make both at first to find the perfect size for your child. The instructions are the same as for the adults with the exception of the following changes:

• Elastic length to cut (this is a rough estimate- test on your child first before top stitching): 12" (above ears), and 9" (below ears)
• Nose piece length: 4" long piece instead of 6 inches

When inserting the nose piece, for ages 3-5 measure in roughly 1.5" from each side and top stitch around to fully enclose into the mask. Have fun sewing!

CHILDREN'S FACE MASK PATTERN

©Lindsey Krstic

AGES 3-5

AGES 6-10

If you have any suggestions or tweaks, I'd love to hear them! Please let me know how this turned out in the comments section. Thank you so much. Keep safe!

What are the best materials for cloth mask filters? A microscopic study

WHAT ARE THE BEST MATERIALS FOR CLOTH MASK FILTERS?

A Microscopic Study

By: Lindsey Krstic, B.A., R.N.

On the heels of my previous post are the results of the various filter materials that I looked at under my humble microscope. I have heard of a LOT of unusual things being used for filters (ahem- panty liners??) so I wanted to locate a few of those things around my house and check them out myself. I am also lucky enough to have an N95 respirator, a standard hospital-grade face mask AND surgical drape fabric that I can use to make a comparison from.

According to my research, both surgical masks and N95's are composed of 2-3 layers of 100% polypropylene, with the N95's having an additional cellulose-type layer- presumably, to be able to collect extremely tiny particles such as viruses. So, when you are viewing these fabrics as a single layer, keep in mind that the field isn't technically level. I would need at least 3 layers of filter material to be able to adequately compare them under the microscope which isn't really possible as by the time 3 layers are added there is not much to photograph.

To start with, I will show that hospital-grade materials look like under the microscope, and then will follow with the various home-based filter materials. 

HOSPITAL-GRADE MATERIALS

Surgical drape fabric

Hospital mask

N95 respirator

Not so bad, right? The N95 and standard hospital mask appear to block out everything. The surgical drape fabric is difficult to tell, as this is only a single layer (and there are two). But overall, it seems alright- definitely better than fabric. Next is the fun part!

Dried baby wipe

Scotts brand blue shop towel

Embroidery stabilizer

Toilet paper

HEPA vacuum bag (this one appears to be 3 layers- 2 of a polypropylene-type material, and a third of a thick-tissue consistency in the middle)

Lightweight fusible interfacing

Paper towel

PM 2.5 disposable charcoal filter

Polypropylene

DISCUSSION OF RESULTS:

Overall, if I had to pick a material to use as a filter I would choose embroidery stabilizer as it is relatively inexpensive, easy to find online and have shipped, and can be washed along with the garment. The shop towels would be my next choice as they are fairly easy to find, inexpensive, and can be thrown away after each use. The HEPA vacuum bags don't appear to show any black background, but I would feel extremely uncomortable using these, as rumor has it that some of them contain fiberglass- and I don't know about you but I would NOT want that in my lungs. The baby wipes and lightweight interfacing in my opinion were the worst option, but if I had nothing else I'd still use them. While the polypropylene appears to show quite a bit of black background, I really can't say with certainty that it doesn't act as a good filter, because I cannot truly equate seeing more background with being less effective (perhaps the fibers themselves are transparent and therefore more background is shown). However, I do feel pretty safe in saying that the ones that are almost completely opaque would be a better option as an additive than fabric alone. I'm surprised by the toilet paper- it actually seems to be pretty decent. Although you'll probably find it easier to obtain any of the other materials these days. 

Next, I want to look closer and layer up some of the filter materials to see if adding an additional layer would make a difference:

FILTER MATERIALS (TWO-LAYER)

Embroidery stabilizer (medium weight)

Toilet paper

Halyard (I added a second because it typically comes in 2 layers)

Scotts brand blue shop towel

Paper Towel

Polypropylene

 Again, I would go with the embroidery stabilizer as my first choice because I could sew it directly into the mask and wash it at the same time but I'm also quite surprised by the toilet paper and would almost say that it is my second choice because it is cheap and most of the population has access to it, but I think the blue shop towels are still my solid second. Again, it would be wrong to assume that seeing more of the background means that it is less effective so I can't say that any of the materials are bad. But overall, I think either of these filter materials would be an important addition to your cloth mask and you just need to find the one that speaks to you. 

That's it! I will try and update with more test materials as they become available to me. Hope you've enjoyed this little experiment!

What are the best fabrics for cloth masks? A microscopic study

WHAT ARE THE BEST FABRIC MATERIALS FOR CLOTH MASKS?

For the past month, I have felt like I am racing against time to determine the best possible materials for making masks for the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic. The CDC's somewhat vague recommendations to wear a bandana or scarf when you have nothing else, coupled with the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommendation for everyone to wear masks while in public is frankly terrifying to both those in and outside of the medical community. Did I ever think healthcare professionals would be forced to use the same mask throughout their whole shift in our cushy first-world country? No. Did I ever think that I would be spending the majority of my day frantically DIY'ing face masks for everyone I know out of fabric, embroidery stabilizer, and a pipe cleaner like a modern-day MacGuyver? Absolutely not. But that is the reality that we are faced with at this point in time and there really are no other options other than do what we can and hope for the best. 

Because I have an extensive background in microscopy (I even coauthored a book!), am a nurse by trade (though off-duty at the moment to raise my family), an avid sewer, and an all-around nerd I was inspired to try my own little science experiment, using things that are readily accessible to the public. 

Enter the USB microscope. It is cheap, easily accessible, has free 2-day shipping (thanks, Amazon!) and can help users make a visual determination in what fabrics might and might not allow stray particulates through by allowing them to see how much light passes through the microscopic holes in an average sample of fabric. This is clearly not as good of a microscope as I have used in the past but it does the job as well as it possibly can. Clearly, if you have access to fancy equipment by all means! test away! But until then I have to rely on materials that I have at home to make the best judgment that I can so that I feel safe with the material that will hopefully prevent me from passing on (and hopefully catching as well) a virus.

$20 USB microscope

I wish I had a single color of each fabric tested, but sadly, because I cannot go to the store right now I have to use what I have at home, which is somewhat varied. However, I tried to choose fabrics that are neither white nor black but somewhere in between in order to more clearly show the fibers. For most of the filter material, because the fabrics were white or mostly-white, I chose black cardstock with the fabrics lit by the microscope itself. For dark-colored fabrics, it was easier to visualize by using a white lit background. Therefore, I selected my Cricut (TM) BrightPad to really make the fibers stand out. 

Because the general population is now being encouraged to wear a mask while in public I decided to use a variety of commonly-available fabrics that I have seen masks being made from, as well as a selection of filter material (available in the next post!)- both readily-accessible to the public and those that are strictly for healthcare institutions. I believe that this might help those that do not have access to medical-grade materials decide for themselves which materials would make a good substitute. Also, because the CDC is recommending healthcare providers wear a bandana and scarf if there is nothing else, I wanted to include those as well. Because, science!

Below you will find the results. I used the same magnification (the microscope claims to be 50x and 1000x and I chose 50x to be able to see more of the fibers) and ambient lighting. The camera automatically adjusts white balance (something I cannot turn off), so sometimes the lit background appears overexposed if it is covered with a mostly-dark fabric. I took images of both a single layer and a double layer of the fabric, to get an idea how much light would be blocked by the fabric itself and your average 2-layer mask. I will write my impressions last, but I want to present the images first so that you can be your own judge. I also need to state that these opinions are my own and absolutely do not constitute medical advice, so use this visual data as a reference to make your own decisions. Here goes!

FABRICS (50x magnification):

Single-Layer

Bandana (100% cotton)

Cotton Batik

Cotton flannel

Broadcloth (35% cotton, 65% polyester)

Double-brushed polyester knit (unstretched)

Duck fabric

Fleece

Outdoor (UV-treated) fabric

Scarf

100% Cotton

Double-Layer

Bandana (100% cotton)

Batik (100% cotton)

Broadcloth (35% cotton, 65% polyester)

Double-brushed polyester knit (unstretched)

Double-brushed polyester (stretched)

Duck fabric

Fleece

Outdoor fabric

Scarf

Cotton flannel

ANALYSIS OF FABRICS:

100% Cotton:

• PROS:
• Holes appear small, however they do not appear to be as small as some of the other samples.
• Breathability is decent- one could wear a mask with 2-3 layers comfortably
• Easy to find, cheap, and available in a wide selection of colors and patterns
• Can be washed on high heat 
• CONS:
• Not considered an antimicrobial fabric- thus, if it is exposed to moisture and heat for a prolonged amount of time it has the potential for bacterial growth.
• Shrinks after washing, wrinkles easily, and can be uncomfortable on skin

Broadcloth (35% cotton, 65% polyester)

• PROS:
• Holes appear small and rectangular-shaped, potentially blocking particles that have a diameter larger than the shortest edge
• Does not wrinkle as easily, feels soft on the skin, and is affordable
• Because it contains a synthetic material, the fabric could be argued to more antimicrobial than 100% cotton
• CONS:
• Slightly less breathable than 100% cotton
• Available in a limited selection of colors, some stores do not carry blends so it is not as accessible as cotton

Flannel

• PROS:
• Holes are not uniform in size but the largest hole appears to be smaller than both the cotton and cotton/poly blend
• Inexpensive and comes in a wide range of colors and patterns
• Feels soft
• CONS:
• Warm against the skin- wearing 1 layer of flannel would not offer enough protection, yet any more than 2 layers would be uncomfortable.

Fleece

• PROS:
• Synthetic fabric, so potentially resistant to growth
• Inexpensive, easy to find, and soft
• Appears to block light very well, with only very small holes present
• CONS:
• VERY warm against the skin- while using 2 layers appeared to block out all light it would be extremely uncomfortable for an individual to wear this over their mouth.
• Thick fabric- could potentially limit pleating due to bulk

Bandana

• PROS:
• Easy to find in many commercial stores, inexpensive, and already cut to size
• Can be washed on high heat
• Most people can tie a bandana around their face without having to use a tailor for a custom fit
• CONS:
• Holes appear much larger than 100% cotton found in fabric stores
• Natural material, which means there is the potential for microbial growth with prolonged wear

Scarf

• PROS:
• 100% synthetic material, so potentially resistant to growth
• CONS:
• Holes appear extremely large in comparison to the other fabric choices

Duck

• PROS:
• Holes appear rectangular in shape, potentially limiting particles with diameters greater than the shortest side from passing through. The fibers also appear to have smaller fibers that are tangled inside the holes, which may also act as a barrier
• Rugged material that can be found at most fabric stores, fairly inexpensive
• CONS:
• Although the shortest side of the holes appear to be roughly the same size as the cotton, the longest side is several times the length.
• Thicker fabric that is more difficult to breath through compared to cotton
• Natural material- which means a potential for microbial growth

Outdoor fabric

• PROS:
• Rectangular holes in which the shortest side is roughly the same size as the cotton fabric
• Treated for outdoor use, so potentially resistant to splashes
• CONS:
• Expensive compared to cotton, and is not as easily found in large stores
• Not the smallest holes out of the fabrics sampled

Double-brushed polyester knit

• PROS:
• When in unstretched state, holes appear very small.
• Soft on the skin, and breathable
• CONS:
• Expensive compared to cotton
• When stretched, numerous large holes appear

FINAL IMPRESSIONS ON FABRICS:

Who is the winner in my opinion?:

First Place: Cotton batik

Second Place: Cotton/polyester blend

Third Place: 100% Cotton fabric 

Overall, the cotton fabrics (100% cotton, batik, and cotton/poly blend) kind of have it all. They are breathable, can be found in many stores, are inexpensive, and appear to have uniformly small holes. The batik is overall more expensive, but the holes appear closer together so one can assume more particles can be blocked. I love that batik is naturally resistant to droplets due to the wax used in creating the beautiful patterns, but this could potentially fade with high heat use. I like cotton/poly because it is more resistant to growth and is soft, but not many stores carry a good selection. And 100% cotton can be found even in big-box stores. And all three of these can be washed on high heat if needed.

While the flannel and fleece I felt blocked out quite a bit of light, they are quite warm against the skin and would make breathing uncomfortable, potentially forcing the wearer to remove the mask which would then expose them to any airborne particles. I would, however, potentially add flannel as an inner layer along with a cotton as I think one layer wouldn't be too much of a nuisance for the average wearer. 

The bandana I thought performed poorly. Although it can be bought in big-box stores, the better-quality 100% cotton fabric appeared to block more light- and it can be found just as easily- if not more easily- than bandanas. 

The scarf- No, just no. 

I wasn't really impressed with the duck or outdoor fabric. It isn't as easily found as cottons, is typically more expensive, and doesn't really appear to offer any other benefit.

The knit fabric appeared to block out quite a bit of light, but I would still stay away from it because the holes increased in size depending on stretch, and it would be next to impossible to keep a knit from stretching. Plus, it is generally much more expensive than cotton.

Finally, while 2 layers seemed to block out quite a bit of light I believe it is STILL not efficient at blocking smaller particles, and most definitely not viruses, which are extremely tiny. Therefore, in addition to a minimum of 2 layers of fabric I believe a filter is needed, either sewn into the mask itself or placed in a pocket as a disposable insert. To view my post on filter fabrics, click here. 

I hope you enjoyed this little experiment on fabrics. Thank you for reading, and keep safe!