One of my favourite brands to work with, Seasalt, recently asked me to create a mindful craft project for them. Given the fact we all need to try and switch off a little more than usual, I made this sleep mask sewing project.
It's a speedy sewing project, and suitable for anyone who has recently learned to sew. The bias binding can be a little bit fiddly, but I'm sure you will be ok. You can always ask if you need some guidance :)
You will need:
100% cotton or linen fabric
50cm bias binding (or fabric to make your own)
Wool felt / cotton interlining / cotton batting
Elastic – 40cm long and no wider than 1cm
Tape Measure
Safety pins x 2
Needle and thread
Sewing machine
Scissors
Iron and ironing Board
Eye Mask Pattern (click to download)
Pins
Make the front of your mask
1. Cut out the eye mask pattern sheet
2. Trace around the pattern sheet twice onto your fabric and once onto your felt layer. Cut out.
3. Place the three pieces on top of each other so the edges line up: The lining should be placed right side down, then the felt sandwiched in the middle, and finally the front fabric on top, right side up. Pin the three layers together.
4. Machine-stitch (on the longest stitch setting) around the outside to hold them together, roughly 2mm in from the edge.
Make the elasticated band
5. Cut a strip of fabric 6cm x 60cm
6. Fold over each of the long edges towards the wrong side by 1cm. Pin and iron in place. Then fold the strip of fabric in half lengthways, wrong sides facing. Pin and press.
7. Machine-stitch all the way along the long open edge with a 2mm seam allowance. Ensure you stitch through all layers of fabric. You should now have a long thin tube.
8. Secure a safety pin to each end of the elastic. Attach one end to the fabric and thread the other end through the fabric tube, using the safety pin as your grip. Once the elastic is threaded through, the fabric will become pleasingly ruched!
9. Carefully pin the ends of elastic in place at each end of the ruched tube – careful not to let the elastic ping back in! Ensure the fabric and elastic aren’t twisted. Machine a few stitches at each end of the strap, to secure the elastic to the fabric.
Attach the band to the mask
10. Transfer the pattern markings to the lining fabric using pins or a fabric pen. Pin each end of the headband in place on the lining side of the mask, in line with your markings. Make sure the raw edges are lined up. Check your mask for fit: You can reduce the length of elastic if it’s too loose. Make a couple of machine stitches close to the raw edges to hold in place.
The binding
11. If you’re making your own binding: Cut a strip of fabric 4cm x 70cm, cut on the bias / on the diagonal. Fold over each of the long edges towards the wrong side by 1cm. Pin and iron in place. Then fold the strip of fabric in half lengthways, wrong sides facing. Pin and press.
12. Open out the bias binding at one end and fold the short end over by 1cm towards the wrong side.
13 . Open the bias binding and place it on top of the right side of the mask, along the top straight edge: The right side of the bias should be facing the right side of the eye mask, with the raw edges lined up. Work your way around the outer edge of the mask, pinning it all the way around. You will need to carefully ease it around the corners for a neat finish. Because it’s stretchy, you can afford to pull it a little to minimise puckering.
14. Machine stitch in place, in the fold of the bias binding (so with a 1cm seam allowance). Stitch carefully around the curves – it can be a bit fiddly. When you get back to where you started, trim the excess bias binding so there’s a 1cm overlap.
15. Fold the bias over the raw edges of the eye mask towards the back to cover the edges and stitching, and then hand-stitch in place.
Happy making!
Kate xx