In-the-hoop wearable masks use fabric to fill open areas and add a back to their designs. The result is a fun and friendly mask that is fabulous for dress up, birthday parties, Halloween, and more. Follow these tips and tricks to learn how to embroider an in-the-hoop mask.
Supplies
Project Needs & Notes
- Felt, flannel, or ultra suede
- Small piece of stiff felt (for added fabric pieces -- like the beak on the owl mask)
- Medium-weight (2.5 ounce) cutaway stabilizer
- Tear-away stabilizer
- Temporary spray adhesive (like Gunold KK100)
- 1/2" - 5/8" wide ribbon
- Large eye tapestry needle
- Small sharp scissors or craft knife and cutting pad
For this tutorial, I used the small size of the Woodland Fox Mask (In-the-Hoop) design.
Find even more in-the-hoop mask designs here.
Sizing Notes:
The masks are available in three different sizes: large, medium, and small. Use the chart below for choosing the appropriate size. Measure between the pupils of the eyes (this will ensure that the eye holes will sit properly when the mask is worn):
Large: 3 3/16"
Medium: 2 3/4"
Small: 2 3/8"
Cut ribbon ties according to mask size (see below):
Large: two 29" lengths
Medium: two 24 1/2" lengths
Small: two 20" lengths
This project was featured in the following:
12 Top-Trending Embroidery Styles Lookbook
Designs Used
In-the-hoop masks from Embroidery Library have dieline files.
Download the mask design and unzip it. Extract the files and look for those marked with the letters "DL". Those files are the dielines. Dielines are used to cut fabric to the right shape and size of the masks. Print the dielines; if you don't have embroidery software, Wilcom's TrueSizer is a free program that can print templates.
Note: Some of the mask designs will have three dieline files: "DLFront", "DLBack" and "DL". The "DL" file is an added fabric piece (like the beak on the owl mask).
To prepare the front fabric piece, spray a piece of medium-weight cutaway stabilizer with temporary adhesive and smooth the fabric on top. Spray the baskside of the front piece dieline printout with a quick shot of adhesive; smooth that on top of the fabric.
Cut out the shape. Also cut out the back fabric piece and any other added fabric pieces (I used stiff felt for the additional pieces).
Hoop a piece of tear-away stabilizer. Load the full embroidery file and attach the hoop to the machine. Embroider the design. The first thing to stitch is another dieline.
After the dieline has stitched, remove the hoop from the machine, but do not unhoop the stabilizer. Spray the backside of the front fabric piece with adhesive.
Place the fabric piece right inside the shape.
Attach the hoop back onto the machine and continue with the design. A tackdown stitch, also called a zigzag stitch, will sew next. This will bind the fabric to the stabilizer.
Other elements of the design will sew. Watch for a note on the color change sheet that says "back piece tackdown". When you reach this step, remove the hoop from the machine and turn it over to the backside.
Spray the backside of the back fabric piece with adhesive and place it right inside the shape on the backside of the embroidery.
Some masks will have additional fabric pieces (like the beak on the owl mask).
To add the beak, spray the top of one side of the yellow felt cutout with a bit of adhesive and place in the center bottom of the mask. There should be about 1/2" of the top of the beak overlapping the bottom edge of the front fabric piece. Then, add the back piece on top as instructed above.
Attach the hoop back onto the machine and continue sewing. Another tackdown will stitch. This binds the back piece (and any other additional pieces) to the front piece.
For the remaining steps, since both sides of the mask will be visible, I wound a bobbin (or bobbins if there are more than one color remaining) with the same color I am using in the needle.
Satin stitch borders will sew next to finish off the mask.
After the design has finished, tear away the stabilizer from inside the eye holes and around the outer edges of the mask.
Using a small sharp scissors or craft knife, lay the mask on top of a cutting pad and poke holes in the center of the ribbon holes on each side of the mask.
Thread one end of the ribbon through a large eye tapestry needle and work the ribbon through one of the ribbon holes. Tie that end of the ribbon in place with a knot and trim the ribbon.
Cut the ribbon to the desired length (see above) and repeat for the opposite side of the mask to finish.
These wearable masks are the perfect addition to your dress-up collection, Halloween costume, or birthday decorations. Kids and adults alike will love wearing the fun masks.
