Mask Ear Protectors: How To DIY This Unusual Accessory?

Obviously, the viral pandemic that swept through humanity almost a year ago has impacted movement and physical potential, but not fantasy and creativity. These have been unleashed to popularize ideas and tutorials to make your own anti-virus mask. Securing the protective mask and making it bearable during the day means that we have to look for ways to do it. For example, creating a chain for a mask and neck strap or a mask ear protector, all of these accessories have one goal: to provoke you to engage in activities that boost your morale during a period of confinement.

Ear protector mask or strap ear protector for mask: advice and tutorials

If you've mastered the DIY face shield scarf, you've learned which fabric to use. The material is also important for the manufacture of the mask earmuffs from the reliability and solidity side. You can either cut it yourself or download it in a cuttable version.

It is possible to consider two sizes: a long one is ideal to be worn over a ponytail or a bun while the shorter is to be worn closer to the neck.

The difficulty in cutting the mask earmuff is that you need a material that is flexible, strong enough to withstand the pull on the elastic, and that can be cut with any machine or blade.

Two popular options with artisans are plastic placemats and plastic folders which can be purchased at the dollar store.

Why make this mask supplement?

Does your mask irritate your face and ears? You are certainly not alone. Although health officials have recommended that everyone wear face masks in public to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, this method of prevention has its own problems. Of course, irritation is no reason to forgo wearing a mask during a global pandemic, but many people report rashes on the skin, ears and face, as well as a general disorder. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to make wearing a face mask more comfortable so that you can feel comfortable while protecting yourself and those around you from COVID-19.

Ear protection tape mask

Since all the supplies are easy to find and the DIY is not complicated, we are sharing this hassle-free mask ear protector.

If you know how to tie a knot, you can make earmuffs out of tape. Just sew buttons on each end of a piece of tape and you have a simple accessory for your face mask.

The parts needed to make elastic tape mask earmuffs are: grosgrain ribbon, buttons, embroidery thread, needle, glue gun, and glue sticks (optional).

How to proceed?

1. Cut the ribbon into strips of 15 cm each.
2. Sew a button on each end of the ribbon.
3. Use a glue gun to attach the ends of the ribbon to its back and glue the ends of the thread to the ribbon. This is optional just to make sure everything has been secure.

How to make an elastic tape mask earmuff

There is nothing special compared to the previous DIY except that this model is made from an elastic ribbon that is used to make hair accessories and headbands. Follow the same instructions above.

If you have a Cricut, let your awesome cutting machine do all of the work for you. After testing a few materials and finding that plastic placemats and plastic cutting mats from the euro store are best suited for plastic goggle ear straps, all that's left is to get down to business. You can also use plastic dividers, but this material is a bit thinner.

Materials needed for the manufacture of the plastic earmuffs and tutorial

• Cricut Explore Air 2 or Cricut Maker
• StrongGrip mat
• Placemats and / or plastic cutting mats

1. Add a placemat to the cutting mat and load it into your machine.
2. Download one of the free SVG cutting files listed and add it to Design Space. The 15 cm length is a good size for this accessory.
3. Duplicate the files to cut as many mask ear straps as you need.
4. Set your machine's dial to custom and select natural wood veneer.
5. Finally, just let your Cricut run.

How to use less pressure on the ears?

This is because wearing a mask with elastic straps for hours on end can cause extreme irritation behind the ears. As a result of this grueling experience, three solutions were found to avoid squeezing and rubbing the tender skin: a handful of buttons and cloth.

Ear protector variant for mask with buttons

This is probably the easiest DIY to make. Simply wrap the elastic strap around the button and place it at the base of your neck to secure your mask without any ear irritation. The supplies needed are: a quilted cotton fabric, scissors, sewing pins, a sewing machine, an iron, an ironing mat, buttons, a needle, sewing thread. Although you have made a protective mask out of colorful fabric, learn how to DIY ear protectors so as not to irritate the skin behind.

Instructions for manufacture

1. Cut a piece of cotton fabric 12.50 cm wide x 10 cm high.
2. Fold the fabric in half, bringing the bottom of the rectangle closer to the top.
3. Place a few pins along the top raw edges to secure them together.
4. Sew along all three raw edges using a 1cm seam allowance and leaving an opening of 2.5cm for turning.
5. Cut the corners of the rectangle to reduce the bulk of the fabric. This will help you get sharper turns once it is turned on the correct side.
6. Turn the right side of the rectangle through the 2.5 cm opening. Use a screwdriver to gently push the corners.
7. Press the fabric with an iron and plenty of steam.
8. Topstitch the entire rectangle using a 6mm seam allowance.
9. Thread a needle with approximately 50 cm of thread length. Pull the thread to have an equal length on both sides and tie the end in a double knot.
10. Position the button on the fabric, push the needle from the back of the fabric up through a hole in the button, pulling up until the knot is flush with the fabric. Pull the thread down through the opposite hole and repeat this process about 6 times.
11. On the back of the button, slide the needle under the tightly woven thread and pull gently until you have created a small loop. Thread the needle through the loop and pull firmly. Repeat this process several times. Cut the threads and place a small amount of fabric glue on the threads.

A bandana option with buttons

Having learned how to make a protective mask from a bandana, you need to think about an ear protection. The option below is ideal for healthcare professionals who like to wear a headband. It is easy to make and can stretch to accommodate a variety of different sized heads. The buttons are placed near the ears where the elastic can easily catch.

Headband ear protection supplies needed

• Knitted fabric 46cm x 15cm (cut 48 x 15 for a larger head size)
• Scissors
• Sewing pins
• Sewing machine
• Iron
• Ironing mat
• Buttons
• Needle
• Wire

When looking for the fabric for this project, be aware that you will need a stretch fabric that is capable of stretching by at least 50%. This means that a 10cm piece of fabric should be able to be stretched to 15cm.

DIY tutorial

1. Cut your knitting into a 46cm x 15cm piece (if your head is slightly larger than average, cut a longer length). The greatest amount of stretch should be running with the length of the fabric.
2. Place the fabric on a flat surface in front of you. Fold it in half (hot spot style) so that the raw edges are aligned.
3. Pin the fabric in place.
4. On your sewing machine, select a stitch suitable for knitting. Look for an option that looks like a lightning bolt, or select a zig-zag stitch and reduce the stitch width if you have the choice.

Using this type of stitch will allow the headband to stretch to fit the wearer's head without the stitches breaking.

1. Place the fabric under the sewing presser foot and use a 10cm seam allowance to sew the entire length of the fabric leaving the short ends unstitched. Remember to stitch back at the start and end of the seam.
2. Starting with the open end of the fabric, push it inward so that the right sides of the fabric are facing each other. Continue turning the fabric until you line up the two open ends of the tunnel.
3. Line up the seam allowances and pin them together. Place a few more pins around the opening.
4. Place the fabric under the presser foot. Sew, leaving an opening of 2 to 5 cm to turn.
5. Pull the fabric through the opening to turn it right side up, roll the seams back and forth between your fingers to unmold them completely, and press the fabric flat.

Close the opening

1. Place the headband in front of you with the center seam against the table. Place the button near the folded edge.
2. Thread a needle and sew the buttons to the knit headband, securing the button at least 6 times per set of holes. Make sure you don't catch the back of the headband.
3. Once you have attached the button to the headband, flip it back and follow the instructions below.
4. Cut off the excess thread. Secure the back of the knot with a little fabric glue for extra strength.

If you like to knit, it is a good option to make earmuffs for your face shield.

For knitters

When we have a bun or a tail

Sources:

seekatesew.com

www.thecraftpatchblog.com

sweetredpoppy.com

www.silhouetteschoolblog.com