There’s something so indulgent about slipping on an eye mask to help you get enough beauty sleep during light Summer nights… particularly when it matches your frillies! We couldn’t resist making an eye mask to go with the Fifi camisole and shorts set – and we’re sharing the pattern with you for free so you can make one too. Yay! This is a lovely speedy make, and a perfect project for using up leftover fabric. Ooh and it makes a great gift!
Check out our video sew-along below:
You will need:
Cut out your fabric:
Fold and press the strip in half lengthways, right sides together. Cut a piece of string slightly longer than the strip. Slip it inside the folded strip and stitch it close to one end, back tacking over it a few times so it’s nice and secure. We’ll use the string to pull the strip right sides out once we’ve sewn it…
Stitch together the long raw edges of the strip using a 7mm (2/8in) seam allowance, enclosing the string next to the fabric fold. It helps to pull the string taught as you go, so you don’t sew over it.
You should now have a tube. Take hold of the loose end of the string and pull it out of the tube, turning the tube right sides out over it as you go. This can take a bit of time so go slowly! It can help to use then end of a pen or pin to push the fabric inside itself. Once it has turned all the way out, trim off the end with the string attached and give it a good press to neaten it up.
Attach a safety pin to one end of the elastic, and pin the other end to one end of the tube temporarily. Insert the safety pin into this end of the tube and feed it through, distributing the fabric evenly as it starts to gather up.
When the safety pin emerges at the other end, pin it to this end of the tube. With each end of elastic lined up with the opening of each end of the tube, stitch across each tube opening using a 10mm (3/8in) seam allowance to secure the elastic in place.
Tack (baste) one end of the elastic tube to each side notch on the eye mask piece, right sides together, using a 10mm (3/8in) seam allowance. Make sure the tube isn’t twisted.
Lay the facing piece on top of the eye mask piece, right sides together. Pin them together around the outside edge, matching the notches - since you trimmed the facing, you'll need to stretch it ever so slightly. The elastic tube will be sandwiched in the middle – take care not to catch it in the pins. We need to leave an opening between the two notches on the top edge of the eye mask – you can mark each side of the opening with two pins to remind you to stop sewing here.
Stitch around the outside of the eye mask, using a 15mm (5/8in) seam allowance - remember to leave an opening between the two pairs of pins. Trim the seam allowances and notch small triangles around the seam allowance every 2.5cm (1in) or so, being careful not to snip through the stitching. Press the seam allowances open (test the iron setting on your fabric first).
Turn the eye mask right side out through the opening. Press again, rolling the seam slightly under towards the facing so it’s not visible from the right side of the mask. Slip the wadding into the eye mask through the opening and smooth it out. Press the seam allowances on the opening to the inside of the mask and pin the opening closed. To close up the opening, you can slipstitch it by hand, or take a short cut and edgestitch it (topstitch close to the edge) on your machine (we won’t tell!).
Admire your completed eye mask, and have a very stylish night’s sleep!
You will need:
- Fifi eye mask pattern – download the free pattern
- 15cm (1/5yd) light- to medium-weight cotton for the main fabric (we used Cloud9 Escapade organic cotton voile courtesy of Hantex)
- 15cm (1/5yd) fabric for facing (we used a silky satin for the backing – choose something that will feel nice on your delicate eyelids)
- Matching thread
- 10cm (1/8yd) wadding
- 38cm (15in) x 9-12mm (1/2in) wide elastic (a bit more or less if you think your head is particularly large or small!)
- 1m (40in) string or cord
- Sewing machine and basic tools
Cut out your fabric:
- Cut 1 eye mask pattern piece in your main fabric, snipping the notches.
- Cut 1 eye mask pattern piece in facing fabric, snipping the notches, then trim it down by 2-3mm (1/8in) all the way around – this will help the seam roll to the back so it’s not visible when you wear the mask.
- Cut 1 eye mask pattern piece in wadding, then trim it down by 15mm (5/8in) so it will fit inside the other pieces comfortably.
- Cut a rectangular strip in your main fabric for the elastic strap, 90cm (35½in) x 4cm (1 5/8in).
Fold and press the strip in half lengthways, right sides together. Cut a piece of string slightly longer than the strip. Slip it inside the folded strip and stitch it close to one end, back tacking over it a few times so it’s nice and secure. We’ll use the string to pull the strip right sides out once we’ve sewn it…
Stitch together the long raw edges of the strip using a 7mm (2/8in) seam allowance, enclosing the string next to the fabric fold. It helps to pull the string taught as you go, so you don’t sew over it.
You should now have a tube. Take hold of the loose end of the string and pull it out of the tube, turning the tube right sides out over it as you go. This can take a bit of time so go slowly! It can help to use then end of a pen or pin to push the fabric inside itself. Once it has turned all the way out, trim off the end with the string attached and give it a good press to neaten it up.
Attach a safety pin to one end of the elastic, and pin the other end to one end of the tube temporarily. Insert the safety pin into this end of the tube and feed it through, distributing the fabric evenly as it starts to gather up.
When the safety pin emerges at the other end, pin it to this end of the tube. With each end of elastic lined up with the opening of each end of the tube, stitch across each tube opening using a 10mm (3/8in) seam allowance to secure the elastic in place.
Tack (baste) one end of the elastic tube to each side notch on the eye mask piece, right sides together, using a 10mm (3/8in) seam allowance. Make sure the tube isn’t twisted.
Lay the facing piece on top of the eye mask piece, right sides together. Pin them together around the outside edge, matching the notches - since you trimmed the facing, you'll need to stretch it ever so slightly. The elastic tube will be sandwiched in the middle – take care not to catch it in the pins. We need to leave an opening between the two notches on the top edge of the eye mask – you can mark each side of the opening with two pins to remind you to stop sewing here.
Stitch around the outside of the eye mask, using a 15mm (5/8in) seam allowance - remember to leave an opening between the two pairs of pins. Trim the seam allowances and notch small triangles around the seam allowance every 2.5cm (1in) or so, being careful not to snip through the stitching. Press the seam allowances open (test the iron setting on your fabric first).
Turn the eye mask right side out through the opening. Press again, rolling the seam slightly under towards the facing so it’s not visible from the right side of the mask. Slip the wadding into the eye mask through the opening and smooth it out. Press the seam allowances on the opening to the inside of the mask and pin the opening closed. To close up the opening, you can slipstitch it by hand, or take a short cut and edgestitch it (topstitch close to the edge) on your machine (we won’t tell!).
This mask would be perfect paired with our Fifi set or Jaimie pyjama bottoms.
