Last week I happened to see a new sewing book at my library, Me & My Sewing Adventure by Kate Haxell. Being a sucker for sewing books, of course this one (and five others) came home with me. Along with very useful information on sewing different seams, finishes and trims, there are instructions on how to make your own fabric weights.
I have heard over and over again that using weights to hold down your pattern is better than using pins, since pins can distort the pattern somewhat. But finding pattern weights is another story. The only ones I have been able to find were made by Dritz, and were $13.99 for 4!! I bought them grudgingly, even with my 50% off coupon I thought they were expensive. I tried to think of how to make them myself, but couldn't come up with any great ideas. When four weights didn't prove to be enough while cutting out a pair of pants, tomato sauce and salmon cans had to step in but were awkward to cut around.
So, then I find this sewing book, with the suggestion to use a stack of 3 large washers wrapped in fabric to make your own fabric weights. While I do have lots of scrap fabric, I have even more teeny tiny balls of yarn that I just don't have the heard to throw out. Perfect project for only a few yards of yarn!
I have heard over and over again that using weights to hold down your pattern is better than using pins, since pins can distort the pattern somewhat. But finding pattern weights is another story. The only ones I have been able to find were made by Dritz, and were $13.99 for 4!! I bought them grudgingly, even with my 50% off coupon I thought they were expensive. I tried to think of how to make them myself, but couldn't come up with any great ideas. When four weights didn't prove to be enough while cutting out a pair of pants, tomato sauce and salmon cans had to step in but were awkward to cut around.
So, then I find this sewing book, with the suggestion to use a stack of 3 large washers wrapped in fabric to make your own fabric weights. While I do have lots of scrap fabric, I have even more teeny tiny balls of yarn that I just don't have the heard to throw out. Perfect project for only a few yards of yarn!
Luckily, my husband was already on his way to the hardware store, so I asked him to buy me the biggest washers he could find. He came home with these-- the box says 5/8", but they were huge so I'm guessing the 5/8" is the size of the hole in the middle. Can you tell I'm completely hopeless with tools?
I made the light pink weight first, and using only one strand of yarn seemed to take forever to wrap. So I started to use two and three strands together and it went much faster, and also turned out much more colorful!
The box of washers was somewhere between $6-7, and I already had the yarn, so I think that is a pretty good deal for 9 fabric weights. I can't wait to use them! I'm off now to cut out my first knit t-shirt...
I made the light pink weight first, and using only one strand of yarn seemed to take forever to wrap. So I started to use two and three strands together and it went much faster, and also turned out much more colorful!
The box of washers was somewhere between $6-7, and I already had the yarn, so I think that is a pretty good deal for 9 fabric weights. I can't wait to use them! I'm off now to cut out my first knit t-shirt...
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