Adjustable Face Mask Earloops Tutorial – No Beads

For those of you who are STILL MAKING FACE MASKS, I am going to show you how to make adjustable face mask earloops that are comfortable and don’t require any beads or other hardware. This simple slip knot technique is easy to do and makes adjusting your mask a snap. You can sew these earloops into any of your favorite mask designs.

The secret for comfort is the stretchy fabric strips. You can make your own using upcycled t-shirts, tights, leggings (watch the tutorial HERE) and read this post for some great face mask tie ideas and tips. Or you can simply buy the fabric already cut, stretched, and rolled onto a bolt.

I love this product from FARMYARN. It’s 100% recycled selvage edges from stretchy lycra fabric, and it’s very reasonably priced.

So if you’re making a lot of masks, this is the route I recommend! This stuff can also be used for so many other things and it’s much more comfortable than scratchy elastic! You can purchase it from several places. Here are a few. AmazonEtsy, and ebay.

Do you have a bunch of tie face masks that you want to convert over to earloops? I have that covered. This post and video tutorial will show you just how to do that. 

ITEMS AND MATERIALS NEEDED

 

I have a Youtube video that you can watch and it really helps if you’re a visual person (like me). You can access the video at the end of the post.

FACE MASK EARLOOPS INSTRUCTIONS

1-Take the small strip and make a small loop at the bottom of the strip.

2-Wrap the long end around the loop and poke through the loop.

3-Pull it through while you’re holding onto the two ends to tighten. (Don’t tighten all the way at this point).

4-Take the long strip and make a knot at one end. (This will keep the strip from pulling through the loop when washing your mask). Thread the other end through the loop you just made and cinch it up by pulling the strip that slides to tighten. (You want it to be able to slide, but also be able to hold in place).

5-Hold the two slip knot ends and cut to even length. 

6-Do the same thing to make a set.

HOW TO SEW FACE MASK EARLOOPS INTO MASK

1-Insert the end of the strip without the knot, into the top side of the mask. (Just below the top seam allowance) Allow the strip to overhang the mask by about 1/2 inch. 

2-Place the two slip knot strips at the bottom side of the mask, just above the seam allowance, and sticking out 1/2 past the edge of the fabric. TIP: Take a strip of masking tape and tape the knotted end the sliding stip to the inside and out of the way, so it won’t get sewn into the seam.

3-Do the same thing for the other earloop set.

4-Proceed with your face mask directions sewing the earloops into the side seams of the mask. Make sure to leave an opening for turning the mask inside out. 

5- Turn inside out, remove the tape, clip seams, and proceed with your face mask instructions.

Play Video Play Video

I hope this was helpful. Let me know if you have any questions.

My other FACE MASK VIDEOS

Happy face mask making!

Share:

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest

Connect:

OVERLOCK STITCH | No Serger Needed

over lock sewing machine

Do you want a finished overlock stitch for your seams but don’t have a serger? NO WORRIES! I am going to show you how to finish your seams using four different methods and there is NO SERGER NEEDED!

 

Ideally, it would be nice to have a serger in your sewing tool kit, however, not everyone can afford one or has access to one. Maybe you’re just getting into sewing and haven’t ventured into the serger world yet.

 

There are still several ways to get a nice finished edge without using a serger. I did it for years and these few stitches I’m going to show you work really well.

Why do you need to finish seam edges?

If you are sewing on a woven fabric, the seams WILL eventually fray, especially after washing. You don’t want your seam to come undone after all the work you put into a project.

Depending on what you are sewing, you can use different methods. I will show you several different ways to finish the seam edges.

Even the most basic sewing machines will have these stitches.

Sewing Machine Overlock Stitch Alternatives

ZIGZAG STITCH

This is a stitch when sewn along the edge of the fabric will keep it from fraying.
SEWING MACHINE SETTINGS: Width 4-5, Length 1-2

You can either open up the seam and sew each side of the seam allowance separately or sew them together. This depends on the project you are sewing.

If the pattern has you open up the seam and press, sew separately. This is good for light to medium weight fabrics. (cotton prints, linen, etc.)

ZIGZAG STITCH with ADDED STRAIGHT STITCH

SEWING MACHINE SETTINGS: Width 0, Length 2.5
For added strength and a more finished look, you can sew down along the inside edge of the zigzag stitch.

You will see this type of seam used on jeans, and projects that with heavier weight fabrics and seams that need more stability.

OVERLOCK STITCH

This is an actual stitch option on your machine. It looks like a zigzag with a straight stitch on the side. It will obviously take a bit longer than it would with a serger, but it does the job.

THIS STITCH WORKS REALLY WELL ON STRETCHY FABRIC! When using this stitch on stretch fabric seams, the seams won’t pop open when pulled.

A narrow and short zigzag stitch will also do the same thing. LOVE IT!

You can use this as your seam stitch and the overlock seam. However, since the seam is small, your seam allowance will be very small. You’ll have to take that into consideration and trim the seam allowance first.

Most machines will come with a special OVERLOCK FOOT. You can see what it looks like in the photo above.

This foot will help guide the fabric so you are sewing right along the edge where you’re supposed to. It works really well.

SEWING MACHINE SETTINGS: Width 4-5, Length 1-2

SLANTED LADDER STITCH

This is another sewing stitch option that most machines will have. It is also good for stretchy fabrics.
SEWING MACHINE SETTINGS: Width 4-5, Length 1-2
You can play with the length and width to get the stitch you want.

I recommend getting some scrap fabric and practicing with these stitches. You’re going to love it.

Please send me a note if you have any questions.

Have fun sewing!

Other posts you may find helpful:

Sewing By Hand, Most Important Stitches to Know

DIY Bias Tape

Have fun sewing and remember to keep it SIMPLE!

Share:

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest

Connect:

Jan Howell

Jan Howell

Whether it’s a new recipe, a fun craft, or some handy tips for your garden and home, I hope to empower and inspire you with skills that you can use to create joy, improved health, and to do it in a simple way.

Read More

Rosemary Garlic Fries – Crispy and Baked to Perfection

rosemary garlic fries

Who doesn’t love a good crispy french fry?  When you add a sprinkle of rosemary and some garlic, oh baby, these rosemary garlic fries are seriously the BEST! No more wimpy, flimsy, and tasteless potatoes. These crispy fries are baked to PERFECTION!

Many of you know, I have a deep love for ROSEMARY and I use this herb frequently in my cooking and enjoy its beauty in my garden. If you don’t have a rosemary plant in your garden, I highly recommend you get one and get it planted. You can read more about it HERE.

The SECRET in getting a crisp fry is soaking the potatoes in water and cooking at a high temperature. Potatoes have a lot of starch and for extra crispy french fries, you need to remove some of that starch. You can do so by soaking the cut potatoes in water.

Ingredients

  • 6 medium russet potatoes, peeled and sliced into ½ inch sticks
  • 4 tablespoons olive/avocado oil
  • 4 teaspoons sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon of black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, chopped fine
  • 2-3 garlic cloves, minced

Want some tips on chopping and mincing rosemary? 

Play Video

I have to share with you my latest favorite KITCHEN-GADGET-GOTO. This garlic press has made mincing garlic so much easier. I love that it is so easy to clean and that there is no wasted garlic.

ROSEMARY GARLIC FRIES INSTRUCTIONS

Peel and wash potatoes. Let me tell you, having a decent vegetable peeler makes the world of difference in your peeling experience! I love this peeler.

Slice the potatoes into ½ inch sticks.

ROSEMARY GARLIC FRIES – CRISPY AND BAKED TO PERFECTION

rosemary garlic fries

Who doesn’t love a good crispy french fry?  When you add a sprinkle of rosemary and some garlic, oh baby, these rosemary garlic fries are seriously the BEST! No more wimpy, flimsy, and tasteless potatoes. These crispy fries are baked to PERFECTION!

  • Prep Time15 min
  • Cook Time25 min
  • Total Time40 min
  • Yield6 Servings
  • Energy199 cal
  • Additional Time1 Hour

INGREDIENTS

  • 6 medium russet potatoes, peeled and sliced into ½ inch sticks
  • 4 tablespoons olive/avocado oil
  • 4 teaspoons sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon of black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, chopped fine
  • 2-3 garlic cloves, minced

INSTRUCTIONS

1

Peel and wash potatoes. Let me tell you, having a decent vegetable peeler makes the world of difference in your peeling experience! I love this peeler.

2

Slice the potatoes into ½ inch sticks.

3

Soak the sliced potatoes in a large bowl of cold water 30-60 minutes,
whatever you have time for, the longer the better.

4

Preheat the oven to 475 °( 246 C)

5

Strain the potatoes and pat dry with a paper towel or tea towel. Dry the
bowl they were in and place them back in the bowl.

6

Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and drizzle with half the
oil. Spread the oil evenly on the pan.

7

Add the remaining oil, rosemary, salt, pepper, and garlic to the bowl of
potatoes. Toss well to evenly coat the potatoes.

8

Transfer the coated potato slices onto the baking sheet and arrange them in
a single layer.

9

Cover with a sheet of foil and bake for 5 minutes. Remove the foil and bake
for another 15 minutes. Take the pan out of the oven and turn the fries over
with a spatula, keeping them in a single layer.

10

Place back into the oven and cook for another 3-5 minutes. Flip the fries
one more time and cook for another few minutes until golden brown and crispy.

11

Remove fries from the oven, add additional salt if desired, and serve with
your favorite dipping sauce.

  • 1 servings per container
  • Amount per serving
  • Calories199
  • % Daily Value*Standard DV
  • Total Fat3 g78 g3.85%
  • Saturated Fat0 g20 g0%
  • Trans Fat0 g
  • Cholesterol0 mg300 mg0%
  • Sodium1476 mg2300 mg64.17%
  • Total Carbohydrate38 g275 g13.82%
  • Dietary Fiber4 g28 g14.29%
  • Total Sugars2 g
  • Protein5 g50 g10%
  • Unsaturated Fat 3

Share:

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest

Connect:

DIY Earphone Holder – It’s A Snap

I’m sure you know the scenario, of tangled earphone cords, right? Well, have I got the perfect solution for you. A DIY earphone cord holder made from upcycled materials, of course. It really is a SNAP! (pun intended).

Here is a SIMPLE, quick method for keeping your earphone cords organized and TANGLE FREE!. The great thing about this little project is there is no sewing involved and they take only minutes to make. The key INGREDIENT in this project is a SNAP.

The new craft gadget that I am totally in love with is this KAM Snap System. I love the simplicity of it, the bright-colored plastic snaps that are available, and the efficiency of this tool. I have had a box full of mismatched snaps and a variety of snap application tools that just sit there because there are missing parts and so many different sizes of parts. It’s overwhelming.

I got this new system, (which is VERY reasonably priced), and pitched all the other stuff. AHHHHHHH, that felt good. Now I have just one snap applicator and a bunch of cute happy colored snaps.

You can make these earphone cord holders using a few different materials, but the ones I found most durable and effective are upcycled yoga mats and upcycled wool sweater fabric. A thick, dense, good quality wool felt piece will work as well.

There are two different styles of holders: Rectangle shape and heart shape. 

Find out more about HOW TO FELT A WOOL SWEATER here.

EARPHONE CORD HOLDER MATERIALS & SUPPLIES

  • Free PDF Pattern (heart and rectangle style available)
  • Yoga Mat Scrap (Cut 3.5 inches x 1.25 inches) (8.5 x 3 cm)
  • Scissors
  • Snaps (Kam snap system) optional
  • Other snaps will work as well.
  • Snap Applicator
  • Awl

INSTRUCTIONS

CUTTING OUT: Using the pattern, cut out one piece. HEART DESIGN, fold the fabric in half and place the pattern on the fold where indicated.

If using a yoga mat, you’ll need to trim the mat using little snips to get a rounded edge.

SNAP APPLICATION: Follow the directions that come with your applicator.

Fold the fabric in half and line up edges. Using the awl, poke a hole through both layers where indicated on the pattern. (Wiggle the awl around a bit while inside to make the hole visible and easy to find).

SNAPS: You’ll need

  • 2 pieces that look like tacks (snap back piece)
  • 1 male snap
  • 1 female snap

Open the fabric up and poke the snap back piece through the hole. Apply either the male or female snap on top of that. (Look for the little ridges of the snap, that is the side that goes towards the fabric).

Grab the snap applicator and place the SNAP BACK onto the applicator tray. (This should match the size of your snaps). It should fit snuggly to the snap. You’ll know when it snaps in place.

Make sure the snap front is aligned in the applicator before SQUEEZING. Give it a tight squeeze to clamp the snaps together. Bam, that’s it!

Repeat the process for the other snap.

Wind up your earphone cord and place it inside the holder. Snap is place. You’re good to go!

VIDEO TUTORIAL

Play Video

TIP: If you use your earphones a lot during the day at work or on-the-go, you can slip the holder around a belt buckle on your pants. It will hold your earphones right there in place.

You’re going to love the simplicity of this thing. I hope it comes in handy for you as much as it has for me.

HERE are SOME OTHER POSTS YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN CHECKING OUT.

Carabiner Keychain Tutorial 

Coupon Organizer 

Have a fabulous day and remember to keep it simple!

Share:

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest

Connect: