12 Months of Holiday Gifts: ZZZ Eye Mask

Hi, quilters! It’s Jen Strauser from Dizzy Quilter, back for another project in my 12 Months of Holiday Gifts series. I’m working on a small project every month, with the goal of having a Santa Stocking full of small gifts this year. 

 

This month I am making an eye mask using the AccuQuilt GO! Eye Mask Die. I’m embellishing mine with some wool applique using the GO! Classic Alphabet 2" Alphabet Uppercase Set Die, but you can do any applique technique you like, or just find a festive fabric. I personally love wool applique and can’t get enough of it, especially when I just use a little bit on a small project.

 

You can follow the instructions I have below or the instructions for any of these free, downloadable GO! Eye Mask patterns. Also, if you don't want to have the "ZZZ" like I have, you can personalize your GO! Eye Mask by adding any other letters, such as the gift recipient's initials. 

 

 

Supplies Needed for Jen's GO! Eye Mask

 

 

 

GO! Dies Needed

 

 

Materials Needed

  • Two 6” x 10” rectangles of fabric for the front and back of the eye mask
  • One 3” x 18” rectangle of fabric for the strap
  • One 6” x 10” of rectangle batting
  • 16” elastic (I used 1/4” foldable elastic)
  • Three 3” squares wool felt
  • Machine thread to match
  • Perle cotton thread to contrast

 

 

Cutting Instructions

1. Layer the fabric and batting 6” x 10” rectangles over the blades of the GO! Eye Mask Die.

 

2. Cut two Eye Mask shapes from fabric and one from batting. 

 

3. Fold the 3” x 18” rectangle lengthwise and place over the blades of the GO! Strip Cutter-2 1/2" (2" Finished) 3 Strips Die so that you will get a single long strip.

 

4. Cut the long strip. 

 

5. Layer the 3” squares of wool felt over the "Z" on the GO! Classic 2" Alphabet Uppercase Set Die.

 

6. Cut three letter "Z" shapes.

 

 

Cut Pieces for Jen's GO! Eye Mask

 

 

Assembly Instructions

1. Fold the 2 1/2" x 18” rectangle in half width wise, right sides together, and stitch, making a long tube. 

 

2. Turn the tube and press, keeping the seam line in the center of the tube. 

 

3. Using a safety pin or bodkin, thread the elastic into the tube.

 

 

Pinned Eye Mask Strap with Other Supplies Ready

 

 

4. Secure the elastic at one end by stitching the tube shut, with the elastic catching in the stitches.

 

 

 Tacking the Eye Mask Strap

 

 

5. Set aside. 

 

 

 Turned and Tacked Eye Mask Strap

 

 

6. Layer one Eye Mask shape over the batting, position the letters of your choosing and pin in place.

 

 

Letters Pinned to Jen's GO! Eye Mask

 

 

7. Using your sewing machine, stitch just inside the edge of the wool, fastening the letters in place. This step can also be done by hand if you prefer.

 

 

 Topstitching the Letters

 

 

8. Using your Perle cotton and an embroidery needle, stitch a row of running stitches inside each letter.

 

 

 Stitched Letters on Jen's GO! Eye Mask

 

 

9. Pin the ends of the strap in position. Be careful to gather the strap in the middle of the Eye Mask to keep it safely away from the seam allowance. 

 

 

 Eye Mask Strap Placement

 

 

10. Layer the Eye Mask back on top of this, right side down.

 

 

Jen's GO! Eye Mask Ready to Stitch

 

 

11. Stitch around the perimeter of the mask, leaving a 2” opening to turn the Eye Mask. I use purple pins to indicate start and stop positions.

 

12. Turn the Eye Mask right side out. 

 

 

Jen's GO! Eye Mask Turned Over to Finish

 

 

13. Gently use a chopstick or pointed tool to press the seams out fully. 

 

13. Press with a hot iron. 

 

14. Turn the edges of the opening in and pin everything in place. 

 

15. Top stitch all the way around, securing the opening shut.  

 

 

Jen's Finished GO! Eye Mask

 

 

Now that it's completed, you can stash your Eye Mask in your completed Santa Stocking and relax. Ten more months until the holidays! 

 

 

Jen's GO! Eye Mask on Her GO! Santa Stocking

 

 

If you make your own version of the GO! Eye Mask, please share the photo on social media using the hashtag #AccuQuiltBuilt and don't forget to tag @jenstrauser and @AccuQuilt so that we can see your fun creation!