Written by Kumiko Toya
After we shared a tutorial on how to make a pleated face mask with handkerchief and hair ties on March 23, the post has been visited by over four million people and we have had many readers email us and post feedback. Among those comments, one of the common topics people shared with us was the ear pain. Unfortunately, even the best fitting mask sometimes rubs the back of our ears.
We are sharing two tips on how to save our ears!
TIP 1. Headband With Buttons
1 Put a headband on your head along with your face mask. Mark the position on the headband with a pencil that seems the most comfortable for you to have buttons.
đŸ’¡ Find Very-Easy-To-Make Headband tutorial after TIPS!
2 Sew a button on each side and done!
No more sore ears!
Cap with buttons. 
Bandanna with buttons
đŸ’¡She is wearing A Simple Fabric Face Mask from our previous post.
TIP 2. Blazer Buttons (updated on 10/04/20)
Materials
- Elastic band ( Hair tie is used in this tutorial but you can use any types of elastic band available. )
- Two blazer buttons ( I took them from my old coat in my closet. )
1 Cut the loop .
3 Insert the buttons.
Tie a knot and done!
Wear it with the mask on the back of your neck.
Or on your pony tail.
When not in use, put it in your hair so that you won't lose it!
Or on your wrist!
Watch tutorial on YouTube!
TIP 3 Elastics Made From Tights
They are very stretchy and super comfy on the ears! 
1 Cut off a piece of fabric (approximately 1.5" or 4 cm wide ) from a pair of tights. You can cut off either a loop or a longer piece when you cut the tights vertically.
2. The tights will curl into themselves that nobody would notice you were wearing old tights on your face!
3 Very soft and stretchy, they are much more comfortable than regular elastics.
Very-Easy-To-Make Headband Tutorial
Materials:
- 8 inch x 18 inch ( 20 cm x 45 cm ) fabric
- 3 inch x 16 inch ( 7 cm x 40 cm ) fabric
- 6 inch ( 15 cm ) elastic band. I prefer 3/4 inches (2 cm ) width.
1. Fold the larger piece of fabric in half, face to face. Sew the long side with 1/2" ( 1 cm ) seam allowance.
2 Open the seam and press, making sure the stitched seam comes to the center.
3 Turn over and press.
4 Fold both of short sides of the smaller piece of fabric 1/2 inch (1 cm) to the wrong side.
5 Fold in half, face to face. Sew the long side with 1/2" ( 1 cm ) seam allowance. Open the seam and press, making sure the stitched seam comes to the center.
6 Turn over and press.
7 Thread the elastic band through the smaller piece ( using a bodkin or a safety pin. )
8 Fold over the fabric on the edges of the larger piece in the middle to make a small pleat. Pin the layers in place. Pin the other side in the same way.
10 Stitch the elastic band on the larger piece through all layers of fabric.
11 Repeat the process on the other side.
12 Tuck one end of the larger piece into the smaller piece and whip stitch to secure. Repeat the process on the other side.
Wear it and love it!
I am going to make more and donate them to my neighbor who works at a hospital.
