Ninja Mask Tutorial

For Will's Ninjago birthday party last week, I made some really simple ninja masks for all of the kids.  Once I had the measurements and pattern created, they only took about 10 minutes to make.  So, I thought I'd share a tutorial in case anyone out there is looking for a ninja Halloween costume or wants to make it for a ninja or Ninjago party.  These masks fit all of the kids at our party, whose ages ranged from 2-8.  This is largely due to the type of fabric I chose to use, which was a stretchy, two-way stretch knit, nylon I think, like you would find in dance costumes.  And because it is a knit fabric, I didn't even need to finish any of the edges, making it that much more simple!  All this pattern takes is one seam and it's done!

Here's what you need:

-Two-way stretch knit fabric (cotton, nylon, or spandex types will work best)

-Matching thread

-Scissors

-Sewing machine

Take your fabric and fold it in half (in case your fabric only has a 1-way stretch, make sure that the biggest stretch is stretching horizontally so that it can be stretched over the child's head).  Place your pattern on the fabric, lining the side along the fold.  

My pattern is 14" from the highest point on the top of the head to the bottom, 10" across the bottom under the eye hole, from the edge to the eye hole is 7", and the height of the eye hole is about 1/2".  Cut out your fabric, making sure to not cut the section labeled "fold", under the eye hole.  Cut from above the eye hole, all the way around the rest of the pattern.  Once your fabric is cut out, it should all be one piece, connected under the eye hole.  

Put right sides together and sew the edges together (I just used a zig zag stitch and a regular needle) from the bottom around to the top of the eye hole and you're finished!  Turn it right side out and try it on your little ninja!