I prefer using pattern weights to pins when cutting out my garments. I’ve been known to use soup cans, but small little weights that you can toss onto your pattern are so easy.

I’ve bought some in the past, but they are pretty expensive for what you get. I decided to make some myself.

Five (5) Pattern Weights

DIY Pattern Weights

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Active Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Difficulty: Beginner

DIY pattern weights are easy to make with small pieces of fabric and some dried beans. For heavier weights, use some lead or steel shot to fill your little bags.

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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

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.

Cut ten (10) 5" squares of fabric.
Put two squares together and sew three (3) sides right sides together. Turn right sides out.
Turn in the open 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. This gives it a different shape that stands up well to hold down your pattern. Topstitch closed on your sewing machine.
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 know another little projects to do with my scraps.

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.

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.

Everything that comes in one of the pattern weight 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 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.