There has been a lot of uncertainty, and I might also say, a lot of conflicting information as of late. As we start to see the weeks pass, and more doors open up as life starts to resume a new normal, more and more businesses and even airlines are requiring customers to wear a face mask. The supplies are in great demand, the shelves are often more empty than the toilet paper aisle and many people are struggling to find face masks they can wear. I decided to see if I could make a face mask {a no-sew face mask as well as a mask that is sewn} using supplies from the Dollar Tree. I was able to make both for you guessed it, under $1 and I'm sharing how you can make a DIY homemade face mask using Dollar Tree supplies.
$1 Homemade DIY Face Mask Using Dollar Store Supplies
Where to Buy a Face Mask
This has been the million-dollar question for the past few weeks has it not. Face masks are in short supply and should be saved for those on the front lines of healthcare, however, for those of us making quick runs into the grocery store, a fabric mask offers the protection you need. However, finding the supplies to make your own fabric mask are in short supply. The fabric store is closed and elastic seems to be out everywhere.
If you just want to buy a cloth face mask, etsy has plenty of small businesses offering handsewn masks. Support small, and buy a mask or two from one of those businesses, but if you want to sew your own, I've got the a few tips I learned from using Dollar Store supplies.
How to Make Your Own Face Mask
There are plenty of tutorials out there for DIY face masks. I used the pattern from Cricut {it's free!}, but you can do a quick search for "free DIY face mask patterns".
Most of the patterns are simple and require cotton fabric and elastic and basic sewing skills. If you don't sew, keep reading, I have an easy no-sew version you can easily make that does the trick too!
How to Make a Face Mask When you Can't Find Elastic
Can't find elastic? Use elastic hair ties from the Dollar Store instead. It's an easy fix and hair elastics are offered in various sizes.
My Dollar Tree never has a shortage of cotton t-shirts, so I picked up one of those {get the largest size possible for the most fabric}.
Looking for fabric and sewing supplies? You can always check Fabric.com to see if they have what you need!
What Fabric to Use From the Dollar Store to Make a Face Mask
If your Dollar Store doesn't have cotton t-shirts, most will have the following items that can be used to create your face mask. You might have to think outside of the box a bit!
- handkerchief
- fabric shopping bag
- scarf
- washcloth
- hand towel
Use Hair Ties Instead of Elastic
There are plenty of tutorials out there on how to sew a face mask. I'm not going to add to them, but I will tell you, that when you come to the part where they want you to attach the elastic, simply pivot a bit and add your elastic hair ties instead.
As you can see in the picture above, I hadn't sewn in my elastic just yet but was preparing to fold the fabric on the edges to encase the elastic hair bands.
No-Sew Mask Tutorial Using Dollar Store Supplies
There was plenty of fabric left in my Dollar Store t-shirt to use the sewing pattern to create at least 3 if not more masks.
It also had room to just cut out several wide pieces of fabric {cut down to 13x14} to use in a no-sew mask using the elastic hair ties to secure the ends.
This looks fancy since I used my rotary cutter, but you can just use scissors to cut out your fabric piece.
This easy video will show you how you fold the mask to wear it.
It's really very easy!
One t-shirt from the Dollar store will have enough material for you to make at least two no-sew face masks.
No matter how you make it, sewing or no-sew, you can use supplies you find at the Dollar Store to help keep you covered!
If you are feeling extra creative, you can use vinyl to personalize your face mask.
I'd love to know if you make a face mask using supplies from the dollar store. Tag me @msrachelteodoro.
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