I prefer using pattern weights to pins when cutting out my garments. I’ve been known to use soup cans, but small weights that you can toss onto your pattern are so easy. Yes, you can buy a sewing brand set of weights, or go to your local hardware store and pick up some big (and heavy) metal washers, but it is fun to make your own sewing weights! All you need are some scraps of fabric and something heavy to fill them, like pebbles, shot, pellets or beans. NOTE: Don’t use beans in a humid climate that might attract insects.
I’ve bought some in the past, but they are pretty expensive for what you get. I decided to make my own set of pattern weights. Here is our easy tutorial:
DIY Pattern Weights
DIY pattern weights are easy to make with small pieces of fabric and some dried beans or poly pellets. For heavier weights, use some lead or steel shot to fill your little bags.
This quick and easy tutorial makes triangular pyramid pattern weights. They are easy to place and pick up on your pattern.
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Materials
- Ten (10) 5-inch squares of fabric, or you could use ten (10) charm cuts
- One (1) 1-pound package dried beans or poly weight pellets NOTE: In some climates the beans might attract insects
- Thread
Tools
- Sewing machine
- Pins
- Scissors or rotary cutting tools if not using pre-cut squares
- Optional: Funnel to fill the weights
Instructions
- I found a stack of 5" x 5" precut squares in these cotton plaids at an estate sale. I'm sure they were ready for a planned project, I don't know the project, but figured they belonged in my home.
If you don't have pre-cut fabric squares, cut ten (10) 5" squares of fabric.
- Put two squares together with right sides together. Sew three (3) sides with a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Turn right sides out.
- Turn in the open raw edge about 1".
- Place the open pouch with the turned in open edge in a small bowl. (Ask me how I came up with that idea - I had beans everywhere on my sewing room floor!) and fill the soon-to-be-pattern weight about 3/4 full with beans.
- Bring the original side seams together in the middle and pin the top folded edges together with the wrong sides together. This gives it a different shape that stands up well to hold down your pattern. Topstitch closed on your sewing machine.
If you'd like you can hand stitch the opening closed with either a ladder stitch, slip stitch or whip stitch.
- And, here are the finished pattern weights. One pound of navy beans made five (5) pattern weights. This was a super quick project to make - it took me less than 30 minutes to make these -- not sure why it took me so long to get started! Now I have another little projects to do with my scraps. These make great gifts for your sewing friends.
Notes
How to Use Pattern Weights:
Pattern weights make it quicker to cut out your patterns. Lay out your fabric, lay the pattern weights on the major corners or sections of the pattern and cut. No need to take the time to pin, which sometimes can distort the fabric. Quick and easy way to cut out your fabric for your next sewing project.
How Many Pattern Weights Do I need?
I like to have about 5 - 10 patterns weights available when I'm cutting out a garment. Sleeves and other pattern pieces have a lot edges and curves that I want to get cut out correctly, and not have the pattern shift.
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Here is another way to make pattern weights
Love these pattern weight kits made by Sue Pelton! She started making them as a fundraiser for a creative group of women that I am happy to call my ‘tribe’, the Off Grain Stitchers. I was so excited to receive a full set of her kits in the mail, and couldn’t wait to make them up!
Sue designed the fabric herself, and admits the first pattern weight kits she made were printed on fabric from her home computer, but wanted better quality prints. So she began printing her fabric on Spoonflower for the kits.
The kits come with the basics: front and back fabrics, in addition to the all-important weight pellets. You’ll need thread (you can hand sew or machine sew these) and a little piece of heavy paper or a small funnel so you can add the weights without spilling.
Begin by sewing around the circle, with wrong sides together, and leave about a 1″ opening. This is where you’ll pour the weighted filling material into the pattern weight.
Take your piece of heavy paper and make a little funnel to fit into the opening you left. Then fill with the weights provided.
You can see the weights are all in! Carefully go back to the sewing machine (or hand sew) the opening closed. Make sure to not spill the weights — they go everywhere! Want to ask me how I know? 🙂
Sew around the edges about three times, so the seam is nice and secure. You don’t want your seams to burst while you’re laying out and cutting a pattern.
Here are all the weights, ready to be trimmed and then use as pattern or paper weights!
The finished Pattern (or paper) Weights for SEWers! I love the designs and they are just the perfect size!
Tips and ideas for making your own fabric weights
- Make pretty pattern weights by using some of your pretty fabric from your stash!
- Freshen up your sewing space by making fabric weights that coordinate with your decor!
- Cute pattern weights are a fun project and a great way to use your fabric scraps! And, make fun gifts!
- The triangle shape sewing pattern weights are easy to use and handle.
- A great alternative is to use metal washers from a hardware store. But, this easy sewing project is super quick, too.
- Have a charm pack with different fabrics that all work together? Make them into weights – a terrific gift!
Go ahead! Make yourself new pattern weights soon!
Browse through more sewing projects and ideas on Create Whimsy!
