Making a simple mask

I have seen a few tutorials floating around but it seemed like they complicated things too much. This is a weird time, but I don't think we have to make fancy masks. Unless, of course, you really want to make a fancy mask. You do you. I adapted my pattern from this pattern. And my mom says this link is where the government says this is okay or something.

This one just requires a piece of 14 inch by 9 inch fabric and two pieces of 6 inch 1/8in elastic.** I'm told we are supposed to use tightly woven cotton. That is most of my stash so that's convenient.

**Edited since I've made over 200 masks: two 7 inch pieces of 1/8in elastic is much easier.

Edited to add further: if you can't find elastic, you can use t-shirts! Cut a 1/2in wide strip of a t-shirt to about 10 inches and pull it. Make 4 of these and sew them into the corners just like you do with the elastic. Then you have four ties so people can tie them!

Fold the fabric in half, hamburger style, wrong sides out. Sew the open top ends together.

Put one end of the elastic inside your pouch, about 1/2 inch from the line you just sewed. 

Sew about halfway down that side and be sure you sew back and forth over the elastic a few times so it doesn't go anywhere. 

Take the other end of the elastic and do the same thing. It might be a little tricky because you'll have to stretch the elastic a bit. It doesn't have to be perfect, though. You won't really see any of this.

You can see my lines are all crooked. It's okay! No one cares. Remember to sew over your elastic several times so it doesn't go anywhere. Sew all the way down this side.

Do the same thing on the other side (don't forget the elastic) EXCEPT leave a little hole in the middle so you can flip the mask inside out. 

It should look something like the picture below. 

Cut the two top corners if you want them to lay flatter.

Flip that baby inside out and admire. Ooo. Ahhhh.

Iron it and admire again.

Don't worry about that open edge, just iron it into the inside. We'll take care of it in a minute.

Fold three pleats into the mask lengthwise.

It's so pretty!

You can pin it if you want, but I couldn't get my pins in there 

so I just ironed it a lot so it would kind of stay.

Now you just sew up both sides. Start on the top layer to make it easier on yourself.

Admire again. Obviously.

Stay safe. Stay home. Flatten the curve.

I'm told these aren't as great at the medical-grade masks, but the CDC is saying that these will do if we run out of medical supplies. There are several articles roaming around about it. It won't protect you from a virus or probably any other disease, but it could keep your snot and spit off of someone. Plus you can look adorable.