
Make your own Pattern Weights
I am loving them so I have made some to match my other sewing supplies and some in other fabrics. I am definitely going to make more as they are so useful.
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Table of Contents
You will need:
Fabric – great project for fat quarters like these from Amazon
Template (or patchwork cutting shape) – Pattern Weights Template
Rice or beans to fill
Basic sewing equipment
Ribbon (optional)
Amazon links via pictures below
Step 1: Cut out fabric
Cut out the template, pin it to your fabric and cut around it. Note that it is an equilateral triangle so the shapes should tessellate perfectly allowing you to cut out many triangles from your fabric with minimal wastage.
Step 2: Sew first seam
Fold the triangle, right sides facing, so that two of the points meet. Pin along the short edge that you have made.
Sew it in place
Step 3: Sew second seam
Now fold the remaining point up to join the other two (that are now sewn together). Pin along one of the new seams. Sew the seam.
Step 4: Sew half of last seam
Now pin the remaining seam.
Sew the seam halfway to make sure you have a large enough hole to turn the weight out. Leave the hole at the top of the weight where the points meet.
Step 5: Turn right side out
Turn the weight the right way out and poke the corners out to form your tetrahedron shape.
Step 6: Fill the weight
Now fill your weight with rice or beans. I used a funnel to help get mine in through the small hole!
Step 7: Sew up hole
Now you just need to sew up the remaining hole to stop your filling escaping. If you want a ribbon hook on your weight like mine then now is the time to cut a length (I used 5cm (2″)) and insert it into the hole. Then slipstitch the seam incorporating the ribbon if you have one.
You are finished. Now, if it sounds complicated or fiddly let me assure you that it is not. These are harder to explain than to make! If you produce several at the same time it becomes like a little production line and you can make them up really quickly. Depending what you generally make when you are sewing you might need quite a few pattern weights but they are so quick and easy to make and they will last for years.
You can easily enlarge the template and make larger weights if they would help you with large pattern pieces.
Remember you can find the other sewing supplies tutorials at:
How to make a pincushion that sharpens your pins
Make your own simple needlebook
You can always pin this tutorial for later. If you follow me on Pinterest you will find lots of great ideas curated just for you crafters!
Good luck with your pattern weights and sewing projects!

