Featured Fabric: The Blank Quilting Corp. Celestial Galaxy by Color Pop Studio

Pattern Design by: Madeline Begari

Sewn by: Madeline Begari

For years in my sewing practice, I’ve exclusively used pins for cutting out my patterns. It always felt the most natural to me and pattern weights always seemed like a waste of my time and money. Plus, the one time I did try them, they tore the delicate pattern issue. That was until I discovered making these little fabric pattern weights.

These weights are super easy to sew up and are incredibly satisfying! The best part about them is that when you use them to cut out fabric and are using tissue patterns, they won’t rip the pattern. I think you’ll also enjoy how accessible they are to make – almost any sewist has some scrap fabrics lying around they need to burn through!

Skills Learned: Basic cutting & how to fill abnormal shapes

Skill Level: Beginner

Finished Size: 3” (7.62cm) tall

Fabric Requirements:
For each pattern weight, you will need less than 1/8 yd (.11m) of quilting cotton. This kind of fabric is recommended as it does not stretch which is important when making these pattern weights. Here’s what I used:

• SKU: 3288-44
  • Name: Yellow ||Celestial Galaxy – moon phases
• SKU: 3283-95
  • Name: Charcoal ||Celestial Galaxy – crescent moons and stars
• SKU: 3281-44
  • Name Yellow ||Celestial Galaxy – sun faces

Equipment needed:
Fabric marker or chalk, clear ruler, sewing scissors, thread, rice, funnel

Cutting:
For each pattern weight, cut fabric into rectangles 4” x 8” on grain with the fabric.

Instructions: 

Note: Seam allowance is 1/2" throughout.

Step 1: Fold over the fabric so that your short sides match like shown. Pin along two sides and sew these sides pivoting at the corner and backstitching at the beginning and end of the seam.

Step 2: Cut a slit along the fold line of the fabric ¼” down. Match this slit up with the seam you created.

Step 3: Pin and sew on either side of the seam leaving about a 1.5” gap to turn the whole thing right side out.

Step 4: Trim the corner at an angle using fabric scissors. Don’t cut too close to the sewing. Turn everything right sides out using a blunt yet sharp object to push the corners out.

Step 5: Using a funnel, fill the pattern weight until you reach the top. Don’t overfill, just make it tight enough.

Step 6: Pin the gap closed and hand sew it up using a whip stitch or slip stitch. You’re all done!

I really hope you enjoy using your new pattern weights. If you feel like using rice is wasteful or may attract pests (someone on my Instagram expressed concern for this one), consider using plastic pellets. It just needs to be something with some weight – although I wouldn’t suggest using anything smaller than rice like sand as this will come through the seams. These make a great gift for any sewist in your life, so be sure to save this tutorial for gift-giving season as well.

Happy sewing!

Fabric Details:

To view the complete The Blank Quilting Corp. Celestial Galaxy by Color Pop Studio click here.

To find a retailer near you click here.

Learn more about Madeline here.

Instagram: @seam_ingly