DIY Pattern Weights

As much as I love the old school way of pinning pattern pieces onto the fabric there are times I want to use pattern weights instead. My dilemma is, I just don’t want to buy pattern weights. They seem like a rip off; four, unattractive, little weights for $16. So I used books for the few occasions I needed them.

Books are okay. They are not made to be pattern weights though and I find that the flatter books are not heavy enough and the heavier books can get in the way. I have a friend who wrapped rectangles of scrap iron in cloth for weights she uses in bookmaking. I coveted them but not enough to figure out where to buy smooth squares of scrap iron. My thoughts were leaning toward bean bags, but I knew that wasn’t quite the answer. Fishing weights? Not an option, as I don’t like how they feel.

The ah-ha moment came from a quick Google search “DIY Pattern Weights”. I found weights filled with rice and weights with BBs. Rice is cheaper but I really want nothing near my fabric that may attract insects or rodents. I took a quick trip to the sporting goods store and found the BBs.

I sloppily cut out small squares and rectangles from scrap, heavy weight fabric. I folded the fabric pieces in half and sewed two sides together, leaving one of the shorter ends open. (I clipped off the corner seam allowance after I sewed) The tube is then turned right side out and stuffed with BBs.

Hand stitch the opening closed. I went back over this stitching another time because I do not want to spring a leak and have BBs all over the place. I don’t believe you can vacuum up BBs without messing up the vacuum cleaner.

That’s all there is to it. Very quick. Was it worth the time and effort to make my own pattern weights? Well, the BBs cost $10. I used scrap from an old project for the fabric so that’s free. It took me an hour from start to finish for three weights and that included my learning curve (Learning how to pour out the BBs with minimum spillage). I still have enough BBs for six or more weights. And I find these weights more attractive than the factory made pattern weights at the store. So yes, for me, I’m going to say this project was worth my time.

Credit is due to these two blogs for inspiring me and this post. Thank you very much.
Tea Rose Home  (Beautiful triangle weights which remind me of fancy tea bags)
Positively Splendid  (The BB solution!)

Both of the above blogs have beautiful pattern weights that they suggest giving away as gifts to fellow sewers. Mine are the quick and dirty version. Actually, I did think about using a glue gun to close up the weights but that was too quick and dirty.