Sleep Masks for Everyone: A Free Eye Mask Pattern!

Whether you're looking for a quick project for yourself or a thoughtful gift for someone you love, nothing beats sewing up a custom eye mask for instant sewing gratification! Using our free eye mask pattern and scraps from your fabric stash, you can easily whip up one (or many!) of these in a jiff.  Our eye mask design is a bit different than the typical ones that secure around your head with elastic. Instead, it wraps all the way around your head and secures with velcro, which means it totally blocks light and also helps to muffle sound. Once you try it we think you'll be a total convert!

Download Your Free Eye Mask Pattern

Fabric Suggestions for Your Eye Masks

This pattern works with just about all light to midweight wovens, and it's a great scrap-busting project! You need very little yardage, and it's a fab way to use those precious bits of silk or linen we always feel so bad about throwing away and can never find a use for. We would also encourage you to experiment with fabric combinations, like silk or satin on the inside, and something fun or graphic on the outside. You can also choose to add a layer of quilt batting for padding and ultimate comfort!

For the version in this tutorial,  I am using two different fabrics. The outer fabric is a flannel from Core Fabrics, and on the inside I'm using a piece of sandwashed cupro. Cupro is a great silk alternative and feels so lovely on your face! Luxury darlings, luxury!

HOW TO SEW OUR EYE MASK 

Cut your pattern pieces out - note we have a separate piece for the padding since you don't need it to extend all the way around your face.

Once you cut out your pattern pieces, it should look like this:

Place the batting on the wrong side of the front pattern piece. Line up the edges and pin to the back piece, right sides together. 

Starting at one end of the mask, stitch through all layers, around the edge at 3/8" seam allowance. Backstitch at the beginning and end. Leave both ends of the mask open, as you will be turning it inside out through these openings.

Trim the batting all the way to the stitch line, being careful not to snip stitches. Use duckbill scissors if you have them to make this step easier. Trim or grade the other seam allowances depending on the thickness of the fabrics used. In this case I only trimmed the flannel. The cupro can be a bit unravelly so I didn't want to clip it too close to the stitch line and the fabric will sit smoothly inside.

Turn the mask right side out and press well. If using a delicate fabric like silk or cupro, make sure to use a press cloth.

Lay your mask back onto the pattern and mark with a removable pen where the topstitching for the batting will go as well as the notches on either end where you will fold the unfinished edges in. Topstitch a straight line between these markings on the four locations of your mask. Press either end in 3/8" wrong sides together. Fold these edges in again, using the topstitched lines as a guide and press well. Topstitch down those edges at 1/8".

Pin each side of the velcro on the places marked on the pattern. The hooked side of the tape goes on the left (as worn) outside of the mask and the loops go on the inside of the right side. This way when you close your mask, you won't accidentally catch your hair with the little barbed wires. Topstitch the velcro down as close to the edge as you can. I use the hooks as a guide trying to not sew through them but still catching the tape.

Trim your threads, spray with a little lavender oil and get ready to have the best nap of your life!

These are a really easy project to batch sew if you want to make them as gifts, and if you are making pajamas for yourself or others (like our Carolyn Pajamas) don't forget to scrap bust a matching mask!

Happy Sewing!