Make your own DIY Sleep Mask with our free pattern. This is a perfect project to use up left over fabric and small pieces of batting. It’s a quick and easy project, perfect for beginners. Make a few for gifts – and for yourself! They are great for travelers for sleeping on the plane, or for those long summer days when the sun rises too early.
What fabrics are best for a DIY Sleep Mask?
For the outside fabrics, any light weight fabric works. It’s best to select something that is not scratchy or too thick. Upholstery weight fabrics are not suitable. Quilting cottons are perfect and come in a large selection of prints.
For the lining, use a soft fabric that you would like next to your face. Flannels, fleece and minky fabrics are perfect. Quilting cottons or lawn fabrics work well, too – they just aren’t quite as cozy and soft.
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For the batting, use a cotton or wool batting. The batting adds an extra layer of softness and helps block the light a bit more than just the two layers of fabrics.
How to Make a DIY Sleep Mask
DIY sleep masks are a simple project that use small pieces of fabric. In less than 30 minutes you can make a custom sleep mask for your or as a gift!
Materials
- 9" x 11" fabric for outer sleep mask*
- 9" x 11" fabric for lining*
- 9" x 11" piece of batting*
- 16-inch piece of elastic
- Thread for sewing
- *See above for tips on types of fabrics to use for sleep masks
Tools
- Fabric scissors
- Paper scissors to cut out pattern
- Sewing machine
- Iron
- Pressing surface
- Optional: Corner turner
Instructions
- Print the pattern. See link above.
Cut out one outer fabric, one lining and one batting. Cut elastic. NOTE: You might need more or less elastic depending on the circumference of the head of the person you are making it for.
- Layer your pieces with the batting on the bottom and the lining fabric right side up. Pin your elastic in place on both sides.
- Next, layer your outer fabric with right side down, towards the lining. Repin the elastic ends in place through all three layers.
- Here are all three layers pinned and ready for sewing.
- Using the guide on the pattern, begin sewing at the top of the sleep mask. Remember to leave an opening for turning the sleep mask right side out.
- Sew all around the outside edges, leaving the gap to turn. Check as you sew to make sure you catch just the ends of the elastic in the seam line.
- Turn the sleep mask right side out through the opening.
- Here is the sleep mask turned right side out.
- Use your fingers or a corner turner to push out all of the edges. Press. Fold in the seam allowance on the top of the sleep mask and pin. You can either slip stitch the opening closed like I did, or topstitch all around the sleep mask with your sewing machine to close the gap.
- Give the sleep mask one final press and sweet dreams! Here is the finished DIY sleep mask in solar system print fabric.
Notes
*If you use fleece or minky for your lining, it is easier to use a walking foot to sew the seam since both fabrics have a tendency to stretch.
Recommended Products
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Here is a sleep mask made with a calming floral fabric with a minky fabric lining.
Have fun with the lining fabrics, one of these has super soft minky fabric and the other a fleece.
Many travelers use sleep masks to keep light distractions at bay. Chardel made her “Why-Not-Keep-Everyone-Else-Awake” Sleep Mask.
And, Comfortably.Nerdy made a Star Wars mask with scraps of glow-in-the-dark Star Wars fabric lined with navy blue flannel.
Note: Some patterns call for fusible interfacing to help block the light. Using fusible interfacing can make your sleep mask stiffer and not as comfortable. I suggest sticking with a soft cotton batting.
Browse through more sewing projects and diy gift ideas on Create Whimsy.
