These little weights are so handy when cutting out patterns. They hold the paper pattern in place on the fabric and I use them often instead of pins. They’re especially handy when I’m working with my rotary cutter and cutting mat.
I’ve designed a set of ten sewing pattern weights using five basic shapes — square, small/large rectangle, circle and dome. The templates for these are included here.
I used these five shapes to cut pieces of fabric that had pretty prints on them. A set of ten similar prints are available here from my fabric collection on a fat quarter that’s part of the sewing machine and draught excluder yard of fabric. All the ten sewing pattern weight designs are included on the fat quarter and only need a backing fabric to complete them.
You can also use the templates here to make an appliqué to decorate each of the weights, or you can use any fabric pieces that you have.
How to make the Sewing Pattern Weights
You will need:
10 basic shapes cut from fabric (squares, rectangles, circles and domes). Templates are included here. Each piece needs to be about 4 inches (10cm) square. The weights are small and measure on average 3 inches (8cm).
10 decorative shapes cut from fabric (templates are included here).
10 pieces of backing fabric for the underside of the weights. Use a matching fabric or contrasting fabric. This is handy for using up spare little scraps of fabric.
Dried rice (uncooked) for filling the weights.
Method:
Sew the decorative shapes on to each of the basic shapes. For example sew the bee on to a circle shape.
Sew the main fabric to the backing fabric with right sides together leaving a gap for turning. Turn right sides out. (It’s like making the casing for a pincushion).
Fill them with the dried rice.
Sew the gap shut using a slip stitch or ladder stitch.
And that’s it. Your weights are ready to use.
The designs I made include a sewing machine (large rectangle), tea rose cake (large rectangle), strawberry (large rectangle), bunting (small rectangle), butterfly (small rectangle), bee (circle), beehive (dome), flower on lilac (circle), blue flower (dome) and teacup (square).
