With kids heading back to school, this over-the-shoulder DIY mask pouch will help to hold their face masks and other necessaities as they go throughout the day.
Over the Shoulder DIY Mask Pouch
The over the shoulder pouch design will keep their masks close by at all times while keeping their hands free to do other activities. Carrying the pouch over the shoulder will help distribute the weight so they feel comfortable the entire day. Other options such as pouches hooked on to lanyards around the neck are great too but can get heavy and cumbersome after a while.
Safety Component
Worn close to the body and underarm, these straps have velcro strips sewn on the ends so they have a break-away feature. The velcro should come apart when force applied. You can also sew a break-away clasp to the strap ends.
**The strap must detach for safety reasons. It cannot be kept as a single long loop as it poses an entrapment hazard and so was designed as a two piece strap.
Other Helpful Features
- Washable and Reusable: since these pouches are made using 100% cotton or polyester woven fabric, they can be easily and regularly washed.
- Size: although the pouch is one size, the strap pattern comes in differing lengths (S(4-7yrs), M(8-11yrs), L (12+)) depending on the intended child.
- Pouch is large enough to hold multiple masks for your child so if one mask gets dirty throughout the day, they can replace it with a clean one. Place a plastic ziplock baggie inside for them to use for dirty masks.
- Straps are only ¾” wide so a bottle of hand sanitizer can hook around the strap for easy access or simply keep the sanitizer inside the pouch.
Getting Kids Ready for School with these Other DIYs
- Kid’s Pleated Face Mask (with free pattern)
- Kid’s Fitted Face Mask with filter opening (with free pattern)
- Making Kid’s Face Masks Fun
- Back to School Crafts for Kids
- Personalized Binders for Kids
Personalized Binders 
Back to School Crafts for Kids 
Making Masks Fun 
Kids Fitted Face Mask with Filter Opening 
Kids Pleated Face Mask
Materials Needed for DIY Mask Pouch:
- Printable Mask Pouch Pattern
- Plain weave fabric, medium weight, 100% cotton or polyester
- Fabric scissors
- Sewing machine and matching thread color
- Hook and loop tape (velcro), ¾” wide
- Plastic break-away clasp to strap (optional for straps, can also use velcro)
How to Make an Over the Shoulder Mask Pouch:
Pre-wash and dry the fabric prior to sewing. Iron out all the creases before cutting and sewing.
Print off the pattern on 8.5×11 sheets of paper. Align the edges of the papers to form full pattern pieces and tape together. Cut around each individual pattern for cutting on fabric. The pouch is made up of four pattern pieces: main pouch (cut 2 pieces), flap (cut 2 pieces), long strap (cut one piece) and short strap (cut one piece).
Lay the fabric out on a flat surface and place the individual pattern pieces on top of the fabric aligning grainlines. Pin in place or use paper weights, then cut the pattern pieces out along the solid lines.
Sewing
With right sides together, fold the long strap in half lengthwise and sew the edge together with a ½” seam allowance. Sew the one short end as well. Repeat for the shorter strap length also.
Trim the corners and turn the straps so the right side of the fabric is facing out. Insert a pen to push out the corners if needed. Press the straps flat with an iron.
Position the unsewn short ends of the straps with the top edge of the pouch flap aligning notches. Sew them together.
Sew the pouch flap to the main pouch piece with right sides together aligning notches. Repeat for the lining pieces but leave a 2” gap opening in the middle.
Sew the bottom edges of the two main pouch pieces together.
Press all seams with iron so fabric lays flat. Lay the sewn piece down on a flat surface with the right side of fabric facing upwards.
Fold one short end over so that the join seams are aligned as shown.
Sew the sides of the pouch together with a ½” seam allowance (from flap join seam to bottom pouch fold).
Form a triangle at each corner and sew across about ½” from the tip.
Repeat with the other side of the pouch: lay the sewn piece down flat and fold the other side over aligning the join seams.
Sew the sides of the pouch together and also form triangles at each corner and sew across. This creates some speth to the pouch so it is not completely flat.
With right sides togther, sew the pocket flap pieces together with a 1/2″ seam allowance.
Turn the sewn pouch right side out through the small 2” opening at the flap join seam. Sew the opening closed and press all seams flat.
Attaching the Velcro
Sew a long piece of velcro across the length of the pocket flap and place another long piece on the pouch side.
Sew a piece of velcro to the ends of both straps as well. This gives the strap a break-away feature to prevent an entrapment hazard. You can also sew a plastic break-away clasp to the ends instead of the velcro.
**The strap must detach for safety reasons. It cannot be kept as a single long loop as it poses an entrapment hazard and so was designed as a two piece strap.
And that’s it, the mask pouch is complete! Have the kids fill them with their essential items for school.
Other project ideas with free sewing patterns:
Hanging Toy Storage 
Fabric Cubes 
Storage Ottoman
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