How to Make Cloth Face Coverings to Help Slow Spread

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

How to Make Cloth Face Coverings

CDC on Homemade Cloth Face Coverings

CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancingsocial distancing measures measures

are diﬃcult to maintain, like, grocery stores and pharmacies.are diﬃcult to maintain, like, grocery stores and pharmacies.

Simple cloth face coverings can be made at home and may help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Who should NOT use cloth face coveringsWho should NOT use cloth face coverings: children under age 2, or anyone who has trouble breathing, is

unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance

Cloth face coverings are NOT surgical masks or N-95 respirators. Cloth face coverings are NOT surgical masks or N-95 respirators. Surgical masks and N-95 respirators

must be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical ﬁrst responders, as recommended in CDC

guidance.

Sew and No Sew Instructions

Materials

Two 10”x6” rectangles of cotton fabric

Two 6” pieces of elastic (or rubber bands, string, cloth strips, or hair ties)

Needle and thread (or bobby pin)

Scissors

Sewing machine

Tutorial

Sewn Cloth Face Covering

1.1. Cut out two 10-by-6-inch rectangles of cotton fabric. Use

tightly woven cotton, such as quilting fabric or cotton

sheets. T-shirt fabric will work in a pinch. Stack the two

rectangles; you will sew the mask as if it was a single piece

of fabric.

2.2. Fold over the long sides ¼ inch and hem. Then fold the

double layer of fabric over ½ inch along the short sides

and stitch down.

3.3. Run a 6-inch length of 1/8-inch wide elastic through the

wider hem on each side of the mask. These will be the ear

loops. Use a large needle or a bobby pin to thread it

through. Tie the ends tight.

Don’t have elastic? Use hair ties or elastic head bands. If

you only have string, you can make the ties longer and tie

the mask behind your head.

4.4. Gently pull on the elastic so that the knots are tucked

inside the hem. Gather the sides of the mask on the elastic

and adjust so the mask ﬁts your face. Then securely stitch

the elastic in place to keep it from slipping.

Materials

Bandana, old t-shirt, or square cotton cloth (cut approximately 20”x20”)

Rubber bands (or hair ties)

Scissors (if you are cutting your own cloth)

Tutorial

Non-sewn Face Covering

Make sure your cloth face covering:

ﬁts snugly but comfortably against the side of the face

completely covers the nose and mouth

is secured with ties or ear loops

includes multiple layers of fabric

allows for breathing without restriction

can be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape

See more about how to wear and wash your cloth face covering.

More Information
Recommendation Regarding the Use of Cloth Face Coverings
About Cloth Face Coverings
How to Wear Your Cloth Face Covering
How to Wash Your Cloth Face Covering
Video: U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Jerome Adams- How to Make Your own Face Covering
Important Information About Your Cloth Face Coverings
ASL Video Series: Easy DIY Cloth Face Covering
How To Make Your Own Face Covering Video
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Page last reviewed: May 21, 2020
Content source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Division of Viral Diseases