Ruffled Sleep Mask - A Free Tutorial

I'm back home with my sewing machine after a long summer in Sweden. It's so nice to be back to blogging and instagramming (which I honestly do more these days, yes I've gotten lazy). The long and very bright summer nights in Sweden made me start using a sleep mask during the nights. However, all those I found where either all in synthetic materials and didn't breathe at all, they where really uncomfortable in fit or from binding around the edges which left ugly marks on my face, or they were just plain ugly.

So I decided to make my own, cute Tula Pink one now when I'm finally back home with my sewing machine <3 I thought it really cute and slightly clever to use raccoon fabric for a sleep mask, on account of them having masks themselves ;) And as @sewperfectlyimperfect commented on Instagram, as they're nocturnal, it makes it even more perfect!

Materials Needed:

(1) 5x9" scrap of cotton exterior fabric.
(1) 5x9" scrap of cotton lining fabric.
(1) 5x9" scrap of cotton blackout fabric (if using light exterior and lining fabric you need this extra layer of a dark cotton fabric).
(1) 5x9" scrap of cotton or bamboo soft batting.
18" x 3/4" wide elastic  (or any elastic you have at home that is long enough to get it around your head, minus the mask).
30" x 1" wide silk ribbon for ruffle (or 2" wide strip of fabric) .
Template: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bw7OhV89tK5aOE9RX0hGVF8wRW8

Step 1 - Preparations

Print your template, just make sure your printer is set to not scale the document, but to print at 100% so that the template will be the correct size. Test by measuring the 1” line. 

Cut out all your 4 layers of fabric and batting from the template, seam allowance is included in the template. Make sure to center any design you want centered on your exterior piece.

Step 2 - Make the ruffle

Take your silk ribbon (or fold your cotton fabric in half wrong sides together and press) and set up your ruffler foot if you have one. I use the Janome Ultimate Ruffler foot so my settings are based on that, if you have a different one, try out your settings on scrap fabric or ribbon first. It might be safest to do so any way as each machine is a little different. 

I chose to have 1 ruffle with each stitch so as you can see in the pink circle, the selection is on 1. My stitch length was 4.0. I wanted semi deep ruffles so my depth screw is on the 4 as can be seen in the blue circle. Run through your ribbon with the needle hitting a scant 1/4" from one edge (or in the case of folded fabric, a scant 1/4" from the raw edges).

If you don't have a ruffle foot, use your favourite ruffle method, one excellent tutorial is available here if you're new to ruffles: http://www.seasonedhomemaker.com/how-to-gather-fabric-and-make-ruffles/

Step 3 - Attach ruffle

Fold your exterior fabric piece in half to get the center and use it to center your ruffle on the right side of your exterior fabric.  Place a ruler on top of your fabric and use it to make sure your ruffle extends equally far on both sides and"exits" your piece evenly. Pin or clip in place. Don't let your ruffles extend too far down, as then they could become uncomfortable when sleeping on your side. 

Sew in place with your walking foot, a scant 1/4" from edge and trim off any excess ruffle. 

Step 4 - Attach elastic

Place your elastic on the right side of your exterior piece, measure 1 1/2" (this measurement will vary depending on the width of your elastic, find one that looks pleasing and centered for you if using a different width of elastic) from the bottom of the piece and place it there, sew in place on one side on the cyan mark 1/8" from the edge. 

Place mask over your eyes and measure out how long your elastic needs to be for the mask to sit comfortably on your head (for me this was an exactly 15" long piece, including the seam allowance). Cut it off at desired length with a 1/4" seam allowance and sew in place on the other side too. 

Step 5 - Sew layers together

Layer your pieces as below. The reason we keep the layers in this apparently strange order is because we want the seam allowances gathered on the front of the piece so we don't get any uncomfortable bumps towards our face when we sleep.

Exterior fabric right side up 

Lining fabric wrong side up 

Blackout fabric 

Batting 

Sew together with a 1/4" seam allowance (making sure to keep your elastic out of the way when sewing, leaving about 1 1/2" opening where there's no ruffles or elastic for turning, the pink line in the photo below.

Cut little "V" shapes in the seam allowances along all curves to make turning smooth and easy. 

Step 6 - Finishing touches

Turn your mask through the opening (pull on the elastic, makes it easier) and sew the opening closed by hand using a ladder stitch.

Voila! All done! You have a beautiful, ruffled sleep mask! Sleep well.

If you make one, I'd love if you'd share it on social media using the #pinkponydesign and #ruffledsleepmask hashtags! And feel free to tag me on instagram @pink_pony_design and to share on Facebook <3