Skip to Content

How to Make Easy Felt Ear Savers for Face Masks – Free Pattern

This post may contain affiliate links.

Learn how to make Ear Savers with this easy pattern, some felt, and a couple of buttons. These Ear Savers (also called mask extenders) will help prevent ear soreness that comes from wearing medical face masks with elastic loops. Many crafters are making ear savers to donate to healthcare professionals, too!

felt ear saver or mask extender

Anyone who wears a face mask for extended periods of time will tell you that they come with an unfortunate side effect: sore ears. The elastic ear loops that hold the mask in place can chafe the backs of your ears, leading to skin irritation and discomfort.

Thankfully, there are easy steps you can take to prevent ear soreness. Here are a few simple solutions to make wearing masks more comfortable.

  • Choose a mask pattern with fabric ties that go behind the head.
  • Attach the ear loops to buttons sewed onto the side of a headband.
  • Use an “ear saver” strap placed around the back of your head to hold the elastic ear loops.

Easy Ear Saver Pattern

It’s easy to make your own DIY ear saver at home. You can make them in a variety of materials, like sewn fabric or crochet.

But one of the simplest ways I know to make an ear saver is with durable felt and buttons. You can even make one without sewing machine! All you need is a simple needle and thread.

free printable patter for felt ear savers

Supplies

Here is what you’ll need for this project.

  • 2mm thick felt
  • two buttons (larger than 1/2″, if you have them)
  • needle and thread
  • scissors or rotary cutter
  • free pattern template

I choose a thicker craft felt for this project so it would be more durable and less likely to stretch with use. If you can only find 1mm felt, you can use two layers stitched together.

sewing on a button onto a felt ear saver for face masks

Step 1: Using the free printable template, cut out your felt. I’ve included three sizes for you to choose from.

Here’s a tip: You can cut out the paper templates first and hold them up to the back of your head to find your perfect size. If you find that you are in-between sizes, you can make a fold in the middle of one of the template pieces to make a custom-sized pattern.

Step 2: Use a needle and thread to sew on the buttons to each end of the felt ear saver. Ta-da, you’re done!

Care tips: You can wash durable acrylic felt in the washing machine. I like to wash both my masks and ear savers in a mesh bag (meant for lingerie and other delicates) so they don’t get tangled up with the rest of my laundry.

three types of face mask ear savers

Other Ways to Make Ear Savers

For even more patterns, check out my other articles:

Plus, don’t miss my free Face Mask Pattern, with over 1200+ reviews!

What’s Next?

Pin this post: Save this tutorial to your Pinterest boards so that you can come back to it later.

Leave a comment: We love to hear your feedback. Tell me in the comments below!

Share on Instagram or Facebook: When you make this project, share it on social media and tag me @sarahmaker_. We love to see what you make!

How to make ear savers for face masks out of felt
Easy Felt Ear Savers

Easy Felt Ear Savers

Yield: 1
Active Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Difficulty: Easy

Learn how to make Ear Savers with this easy pattern, some felt, and a couple of buttons. These Ear Savers (also called mask extenders) will help prevent ear soreness that comes from wearing medical face masks with elastic loops.

Materials

  • 2mm thick felt
  • two buttons (larger than 1/2", if you have them)

Tools

Instructions

  1. Using the free printable template, cut out your felt.
  2. Use a needle and thread to sew on the buttons to each end of the felt ear saver.

Did you make this project?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

Robin

Thursday 13th of August 2020

Maybe this is only obvious to me.... But how about you make different sizes is not through the patten but by simply putting more buttons on the longer shape.... Duh?

Sarah

Friday 14th of August 2020

Sure, if you don't mind using extra material and extra buttons.

How to Make Ear Savers with Free Cricut SVG Template - Sarah Maker

Sunday 26th of July 2020

[…] Easy Felt Ear Saver (You can use grosgrain ribbon too!) […]

How To Make Fabric Face Masks Fit Better - Sarah Maker

Monday 20th of July 2020

[…] DIY Felt Ear Savers (no sewing machine required) […]

How to Crochet Ear Savers for Face Masks - Free Pattern - Sarah Maker

Monday 13th of July 2020

[…] Easy Felt Ear Savers Pattern […]

How to Sew Ear Savers for Face Masks – Free Pattern - Sarah Maker

Monday 13th of July 2020

[…] You can make ear savers in a variety of ways. If you know how to crochet, try this free pattern for crochet ear savers. If you can hand sew, but don’t have a sewing machine, try this pattern for easy felt ear savers. […]

Skip to Instructions