Fortuny Masks
(2) 9” x 7” pieces of cotton
(2) 7 ½” pieces of elastic
(1) 6” piece of 20 gauge craft wire (make a small loop at each end with jewelry pliers)
Thread
Stitch Length: 2
Stitch Tension: 4
Place pieces of fabric together with the right sides facing each other. Use one pin near the long side to help keep fabric in place. Clip elastic in between fabric pieces at the corners of the short sides. Stitch starting near the bottom center of the mask and stitch ½” around all sides, but leave an opening at the bottom of the mask so that the fabric can be turned inside-out. Backstitch when starting and finishing, and backstitch over elastic at corners.
Check corners to ensure that elastic was stitched into place correctly. Snip off corners of fabric to reduce bulk. Turn mask inside-out and iron flat. Avoid the elastic as part of it may melt.
Fold mask in half lengthwise and press flat. Unfold and fold long edges towards the crease you just made and press the top and bottom. Unfold mask and inset wire. Move the wire to the top of the mask and center. Clip in place.
Pleat the fabric downwards following the creases that you made with the iron. Use clips to hold the pleats in place. Measure the left and right sides of the mask to make sure that each side is 3 ¼” W. Pin pleats in place and remove clips.
Sew 3/8” around the edge of the mask starting from the upper, right side. Be sure that the opening at the bottom of the mask has been stitched closed and that the nose wire is kept out of the way of the sewing needle. Stitch on either side of the wire to keep the wire from shifting if needed. Trim excess thread and press mask to finish.
