How to Use Pattern Weights – Plus a Tutorial for Sewing Your Own with Scraps
If you don’t use pattern weights, let me tell you why you should! To be honest, the first time I used pattern weights was was one of those Aha! moments for me. Then I thought ‘yup, people are right about these, they fix so many cutting problems!’ You can use any small, smooth object that has a little bit of weight to it for a pattern weight, but if you want to sew your own, I’m sharing a tutorial for that too.
So these are my old pattern weights. I still love them even though I made some pretty new ones. My sister made the octagonal shaped weights… they are actually part of a checkers game she made for me with a patchwork board and ceramic pieces. She covered the ceramic pieces with fabric, ribbon, stickers, and modge-podge. Late one night I was about to cut out a pattern and the checkers game was sitting out so I grabbed some pieces to use as pattern weights. We haven’t played checkers since because I love them as pattern weights!
Here’s why you should use pattern weights:
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Pinning your pattern pieces to the fabric can cause the fabric to stretch, wrinkle, bulge, and otherwise not cut correctly (especially with knit fabric). It also tears your pattern pieces. And it is s-l-o-w.
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Using pattern weights is so much faster plus all your work smoothing out the fabric is not wasted. The weights will gently hold the pattern in place while you cut.
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Pins put holes in your fabric (obviously). That may be just fine for most fabrics, but on some fine fabrics pins could be damaging. Why take the chance?
How to sew pattern weights:
The handles on these pattern weights really make them fun and easy to use! I thought that I was adding the ribbon just for embellishment, but that little loop to help pick them up with turned out to be pure genius. I made 12 fun little pattern weights (with ribbon finger-handles) using three inch squares of cotton quilting fabric and some pretty Anna Maria Horner ribbon from Renaissance Ribbons. They are very easy to sew.
You will need:
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24 squares of fabric 3’’ x 3’’ (that’s less than a fat quarter or just a handful of fabrics from your scrap bin!)
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1 yard of ribbon, 1’’ wide
Prep work:
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Cut the ribbon into 12 three inch pieces. Decide which squares will be your tops and bottoms. Place a piece of ribbon (right side up) on top of each top piece (right side up).  Place a bottom square over, right side down.
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Pin. I used only one pin in the middle of each set to hold the ribbon in place. You may use more pins if you wish.
 Sewing steps:
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Sew around each fabric square, leaving a 1 1/2” opening for filling and turning. Sewing little outward ‘legs’ to the raw edge helps those raw edges turn inside later. Clip the corners to help them turn nicely.
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Turn each pattern weight right side out, placing ribbon right side up.
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Fill with rice, small beans, glass beads, or other material to add weight. Two tablespoons of rice in each one worked perfectly for me. Fold the raw edges to the inside and pin the opening closed.
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Sew the opening closed sewing close to the folded edges.
Have lots of fun with your new pattern weights. You will love the little ribbon handle!
Happy sewing,
Disclosure: some of my posts contain affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of those links I may receive a small commission, so thank you for supporting SewCanShe when you shop! All of the opinions are my own and I only suggest products that I actually use. 🙂
24 yards aftonwarrick@hotmail.com
28 yards
27 yards
25 yards louiseaforte@gmail.com
42 yards.
jklmengland at windstream dot net
72 yards.
cbrirish@hotmail.com
32 yards
quiltgal6@msn.com
54 yds
nufdoog (at) Hotmail (dot) com
26 yards
My guess is 37 yards of ribbon.
Such a fun contest and such pretty ribbon!
duchick@gmail.com
38 yards
jojo73@gmx.net
55 yards
42 yards lindsay.braud@gmail.com
34 yards lacetheface2@gmail.com
78 yards 🙂
37yds pcrafter34@aol.com
I say 53.
Pat
azzuri9@aol.com
23 yards
32 yards
Thanks for putting together this giveaway!
ddmjudd@aol.com
21 yard
drea1104@gmail.com
28 yards? Love the idea of these pattern weights. I have used tuna cans, or clementines, but sometimes I do not have enough cans on hand… and no clementines either.
So pretty in a jar. 53 yards.
27 yds! has to be! 🙂
49 yds of ribbon
bethbimber(at) gmail (dot) com
30 yards? sewingphd (at) yahoo (dot) com
34 yards. Sure a lot of pretty ribbons in there.
kbmuss@gmail.com
My guess is 36 yards.
91 yards
anne (dot) rimler (at) gmail (dot) com
28 yards tomigibson3@gmail.com
38 yds
24 yards 🙂 futurecrook@yahoo.com. What a cute idea for a giveaway!
33 yrds
mamart1_2000@yahoo.com
I am thinking perhaps 54 yrds. lastjaca@gmail.com
33 yards 🙂
23 yards!
78 yards of pretty
67 yards
32.5 yards
I’m guessing 67.
bethlpyle@gmail.com
I am guessing 48 yards of ribbon
graphicsbymk@aol.com
My guess is 48.
57 yards would be my guess
Thanks for the giveaway!
jennit22@gmail.com
30 yards BettySewsAlot@aol.com Thanks!
35.5 yards vandiest@cox.net
Well, I think I’m going to go big and guess 125 yards (c’mon little titchy ribbons, help me out!)
Those pattern weights work SO WELL with the fabric choices. I really like the idea. Do you have any issues with the rice attracting any unsavory critters?
Thanks for the offer! elizabeth.waligora@gmail.com
I’ll say 50 yards.
Here’s my email marypichotta@yahoo.com
My guess is 45
50
72 3/4 lonandmic@gmail.com
These are so cute and a great idea! I would love for you to post them in my Craft Room Tips, so I can feature them! Every week I feature a craft room idea and would love to feature these. 🙂
You can submit them here at this link…..https://sewlicioushomedecor.com/sew-organized/ so I can feature it.
Marti
Sewlicious Home Decor
how about 120 yards.
45 yards
I’ll say 23 yards
collier76058@yahoo.com
I’m going to say 48 yds
I say 24 yards!
ma_brein@hotmail.com
i’m guessing at 125 and 1/2.
51 yards! Love the pattern weights! pizmopam@sbcglobal.net
201 yards for Sewing 201 tutorial 🙂
I’ll say 63~
erinwil82
at
gmail.com
Is it 52 yards?
I’ll guess 50 yards.
cwayons(at)yahoo(dot)com
My guess is 75 yds. Thanks for the tute – I’ll be making some for sure!
gussek at Hotmail dot com
I’m going with 150 yards 🙂
94 yards
55 yards of Ribbon-my email is gardenchic@hotmail.com
I will guess you have 48 yards of ribbon in the jar 🙂
HeidiRider@aol.com
Let’s say… 58 yards?
Those weights you made are really cute, they probably make you smile every time you’re tracing. I was thinking about something like this, but just can’t find time in between my projects to squeeze in a project like this. So I went to Home Depot and picked up 10 hex nuts, each 1/2" in diameter. They aren’t cute, but at 50c each, they fit the bill. Their size and weight is perfect for my needs 🙂 And before I picked those up, I just used dining utensils (knives). They are heavy enough, but could be awkward due to their length/shape (depends on what you’re tracing).
I’m guessing 73 yards! Love those pattern weights.
jbechosend at sbcglobal dot net
My guess is 112 yards
44 yards of ribbon! I love the pattern weights idea!! I think i would actually use these weights.
85 yards give or take a few, LOL thanks for the tute and giveaway!!
kittyklaws13411@yahoo.com
My guess is 59 yards.
What a great idea I must giveback them a try. My guess is 65 yards
madeleinestocks@hotmail.com
Hi I think there are 35 yards in the jar suemurphy2@gmail.com
I love the pattern weights!
I guess 62 yards! mj_klapperich@yahoo.com
My guess is 58 yards, lulling@aol.com
My guess is 58 yards. lulling@aol.com
58 yards
28 yards
barthbearsop@yahoo.com
I say 47!
I’ll guess 44 yards and I’d love to use the ribbon. How very colorful!!
clara-chandler@att.net
56 yards
Such pretty ribbon.
Thanks for the cute tutorial… Going to cut some squares from my scraps for this one!
DianaHinds (at) gmail.com
i guess 132 yards….and i am jealous at how awesome it all is!
22 yards.
My guess is 62 yards. Thank you for the tutorial. I’m definitely making these.
kwitt22@gmail.com
My guess is 30.
I’d say 85 yards. Thanks for the tute!
Sally king
Stking49@hotmail.com
I’m gonna go with 72 yards. 🙂
email is prplechelle@yahoo.com
I’ll guess 56 yards
25 yards
26 yards
42 yards
37 yards
32 yards
21 yards
I think 120 yards. My email is lydiaquillin@yahoo.com.
50 yards
I would guess 62 yards .. magsiesss at gmail.com
35 yards. jhstoddard1953@yahoo.com
21 yards!
kendalnicole@gmail.com
66 yards of beautiful ribbon!
My guess is 23 yards
My guess 102 yards
mlindauer78@gmail.com
I’d never heard of pattern weights but I’m new to patterns, more used to quilting.
Hmmmm, I’m not good at these games but let’s say 40 yards. Thanks!
lovemy_qtkids@yahoo.com
107 yards. I love your pattern weights, but I have no idea about how many yards of ribbon.
41 Yards? I really hope I am right.
Ann M Hoping you have 66 yards.
124 yards! stefanieware@yahoo.com
48 yards
76 yards.
I think there is 68 yards. joannedrewery@live.co.uk
I think there is 54 yards of ribbon in your beautiful jar.
Maybe 87 yards?
73 yards! majorgensen@gmail.com
47 yards.
My guess is 27 yards. I love this idea!
36
I think there are 26 yards of ribbon in your jar.
Sandy at ghanke@netnet.net
I would say there are 33 yards of ribbon. You have some awesome ribbons in there for sure!
My guess is 52 yards! Love the colors you chose for the pattern weights! So cheerful!
64 yards of beautiful ribbon (spea46@yahoo.com)
Neat idea! My guess is 36 yards!
I really hope there are 43 yards of ribbon in that jar!
67 yards
Must be 60 yards total…..
196 yards dianewhite630@yahoo.com
My guess is 9 yards
I will say 46 yards 😀
I will say 85 yards