How to make an eye mask with our free eye mask pattern - Maven Sewing Patterns & Sustainable Haberdashery

Learn How to make an eye mask with our free PDF eye mask sewing pattern. It’s super easy and makes a lovey gift!

I do love a handmade gift, don’t you? The fact someone has chosen to spend their time on making something special for you is just such a wonderful feeling isn’t it? And to make something special for a friend who will appreciate it always makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. Before I started Maven Patterns, I used to make these little eye masks and other fabric based gifts a lot for friends and family at Christmas (look out for the free peg bag pattern I’ll be sharing with you soon) and while I was moving some stuff around in the loft the other day I found my old patterns. Things being what they are in the world at the moment, environmentally and economically, it seemed like a really good time to share them.

You can download your FREE eye mask pattern HERE and learn how to make an eye mask or sleep mask with this free sewing tutorial. An Eye Mask or Sleep Mask could be that perfect little gift. Not only are they an easy make, making it a great beginner sewing project, but they are also really quick to make, 30-60 minutes depending on how quick you sew. And not forgetting, they a perfect scrap busting project for using up those left over bits and pieces. You could even join smaller pieces together creating a patchwork of your favourite scraps. I’ve included how to cover the elastic with a scrap of fabric which looks lovely, but it’s an even speedier make if you skip that step.

The Eye Mask would be a great addition to The Simone Set, I’ve used an old scrap so mine co-ordinates with our sample. For the younger (or older!) family members … why not adapt the pattern slightly to create a superhero eye mask!

How to Make an Eye Mask with our Free PDF Eye Mask Pattern

Tools

Eye Mask pattern – download your FREE PDF here. (See our Printing Tutorial here)
You will need all the usual sewing stuff…a sewing machine, iron, decent scissors, pins, tape measure etc.
safety pin or loop turner

Suitable fabrics

MAIN FABRIC Silks, satins, cotton lawn, double gauze, soft jersey knits – any soft woven or knitted fabric in your stash will be fine but keep in mind it will need to be comfortable without irritating the delicate face and eye area. TIP: Slippy fabrics such as silk can be block fused with some interfacing to make them easier to manage.

BATTING FABRIC to help block out the light we will add an inner layer – again, if you’ve been sewing a while, try to use what you have. I’ve used some quilting batting that was hanging around, but alternatives could be wadding, felt, fleece, you could even try a remnant of sweatshirting (I’m now fondly remembering an old Ikea fleece blanket that would have done nicely!)

Fabric Requirements & Haberdashery

MAIN FABRIC (Outer layer that faces the world): 1 piece x 22cm long x 11cm wide (9″ x 4.25″) – I’ve used a scrap of Mind The Maker viscose left over from The Simone Set.

CONTRAST FABRIC (Inner layer that faces your face): 1 piece x 22cm long x 11cm wide (9″ x 4.25″) -I’ve used a scrap of cotton lawn left over from The Wendy Smock.

BATTING: 1 piece x 22cm long x 11cm wide (9″ x 4.25″) – I’ve used a scrap of bamboo batting.

*OPTIONAL FABRIC COVERED ELASTIC: Cut a strip of fabric 60cm (24″) long x 4cm (1.5″) wide

NARROW ELASTIC: A soft narrow elastic 6mm (1/4”), if you have 1cm (3/8″) elastic that’ll work just fine. As a guide you’ll need between 34cm – 40cm (13-16”). I’ve used 38cm (15”) of our 6mm organic elastic, but all elastics and comfort levels are different so we’ll fit as we go!

BIAS BINDING: 60cm length of binding. I’ve used our cotton pre-made neon binding (HERE) for ease and speed but if you fancy making your own we have a Binding Tutorial.

MATCHING SEWING THREAD

01.

Cut 1 in main fabric

Cut 1 in contrast fabric

Cut 1 in batting (or similar)

Remember to make a small snip in the fabric at each notch to mark the elastic placement.

Optional – Cut the strip of fabric to cover elastic.

02.

Place the 3 pieces together, with the batting layer sandwiched in the middle and the outer fabrics with their right sides (RS) facing outward. Pin to hold.

03. STAYSTITCH

Stay stitch close to the raw edge to hold the 3 layers together.

04. FITTING THE ELASTIC

As a guide you’ll need between 34cm – 40cm (13-16”). I’ve used 38cm (15”). All elastics behave differently so you may need to adjust the measurements for differing elastics and your personal preference.

Cut the elastic a bit longer than you need and safety pin in place to try on and see how comfortable it is, with the aim to hold your mask securely in place but not be too tight on your head. Then make a note of it for next time!

PLAIN ELASTIC OPTION- With inner side of you mask facing you, place your elastic at each notch and stitch securely in place. You can now skip ahead to binding your mask.

05. COVERED ELASTIC

Take the strip of fabric to cover the elastic. With Right Sides Together, align the raw edges and fold the casing in half lengthwise.

Stitch with a 6mm (1/4”) Seam Allowance.

Press seam flat.

06.

Use a loop turner or attach a safety pin to one end and turn the strap through to Right Side and press flat.

Attach the safety pin to the elastic and insert into the fabric tube. Pull through the tube so the elastic is enclosed, being careful to hold onto the free end so you don’t loose it in side the tube. Stitch through all the layers at each end to hold the elastic inside the fabric tube.

07.

Place your elastic to the inner side of you mask at each notch and stitch securely in place.

08. Attach the binding

Unfold the binding.

Fold one end of the binding back on itself to create a finished edge.

On the front of the mask and with Right Sides Together align the raw edge of mask and the binding and pin into place all the way around the outside edge of the mask.

09.

Overlap the binding to finish and trim off the excess.

10.

Stitch in the fold of the binding to attach. Be careful not to catch the elastic as you stitch the binding.

Gently press the stitch line.

11.

Fold the binding over the of mask, enclosing the raw edge and covering the stitch line with the binding.

Use small stitches and slipstitch by hand to hold the binding into place. Be careful to make sure your stitches do not show through to the front of your mask and that you keep the elastic out of the way.

TIP: you could stitch the binding in place using a sewing machine, if you prefer, but I found it very pleasant to slow down and stitch by hand and it was just easier to keep the binding neat and tidy on the curved sections.

Give your Eye Mask a final press and Voila! You’ve made a beautiful gift for a special person!