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Sleep Mask with Sheep in Hand Embroidery

 

 

My easy-to-sew sleep mask makes a little gift for someone special OR yourself.  I added a hand embroidered sheep for a little bit of whimsy and fun. 

I love linen, so I used linen for the front and back of the mask.  Unfortunately though, linen isn't tightly woven so it isn't very good for blocking light.  I added an inside layer of fabric to block light.  I used a light weight (but densely woven) polyester to provide the light blocking that I wanted. 

The little sheep is about 2.5 inches wide (just the right size for the mask).  Here is the link for the sheep pattern...

Sheep Hand Embroidery Pattern

Stitch the sheep first before you sew the mask pieces together.  I used a simple back stitch for the sheep.

Since I worked this sheep on dark brown linen, I couldn't trace the pattern onto the linen.  I usually use a water soluble marker and a bright window.  On dark fabric, I like to use tracing paper.  I trace the design onto the tracing paper (using ink), then use large stitches to sew the tracing paper to the linen.  I stitch through the tracing paper on the lines of the design, then carefully remove the paper a little bit at a time.

I used DMC colors for my sheep - 712 for the body, 435 for the legs and 353 for the face.

 

 

Here is a link to the pattern for the sleep mask. 

 

Sleep Mask Pattern

 

I cut two pieces of brown linen for the front and back of the mask and a dark blue polyester for my light-blocking liner.  I used two pieces of ribbon (about 20 inches long each) for the ties.

 

 

Using the pattern, cut out the sleep mask pieces.  Cut the ribbon ties.

 

 

 

 

Next, I stitched the ribbon ties to the right side of the front of the mask.  I have marked where I placed the ties on the pattern.  Be sure to test if this spot is best for you.  Move them if you need to make the mask comfortable for you.  Since the seam allowance for putting the sleep mask pieces together is .25 inches, I sewed the ribbon ties with a little less that a .25 seam allowance so the stitching wouldn't show on the finished mask.  After I stitched the ribbons, I pinned them to the front of the mask so they wouldn't get in the way when I stitched the mask pieces together.

 

 





 

 



Next, I put the mask pieces together for stitching.  I put the lining on the bottom, the front next with the right side facing up, and the back of the mask on top.  I pinned and stitched the pieces together with a .25 inch seam allowance.  I left a small opening at the top of the mask for turning and I snipped the seam edges at the curves before turning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

After turning, I hand stitched the opening closed and then machine stitched (top stitched) all around the mask near the edge to give it a nice, finished look.

 

 



 





 

 

I hope you enjoy this little project :)  Thanks for your visit!