However, lately, I've been using fewer pins and adding in some form of weights to hold my patterns down. I need more weights. I know there are all different kinds out there and many tutorials on making your own.
My sewing buddy has some black ones that I refer to as her "earthworm weights" - long, skinny, wiggly. I decided to make some - no pattern, not hard, just some scraps and BBs from Walmart.
I've been sewing some community service dresses for the ladies at the State Hospital. I had some self bias left over from finishing necklines and some nice selvage strips left over. Both of these were perfect for the "earth worm" weights. Just sew the strips down the long edge and across one end. Using a small funnel from the kitchen drawer, after I turned the sewn strip right side out, I filled the strip with BBs until it was "almost" full. I left enough room at the open end to be able to get it under the pressure foot of the machine. I turned in the raw edges and simply top stitched closed. Easy!
Then I sewed some small (2"x 2" finished or 2"x 3" or close to those measurements) squares/rectangles, turned right side out and filled with BBs (again with the help of the funnel), sewed the ends closed and "poof!" I had more pattern weights.
And here they are in action holding down a pattern for a pair of shorts I muslined this afternoon. Pretty cool and useful! Now I have my own wiggly earthworm weights!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the responses to my last post regarding fabric/material terminology. Thanks for taking the time to leave me a note!
Interesting idea which appeals. What are BBs? I am sort of guessing a particular size of ball bearings, but something quite small. Could you elaborate?
ReplyDeleteHi Ruthie, BBs are are used as ammunition in what we call BB guns (air guns) similar to pellet guns. The BBs are very much like a ball bearing and generally around 4mm in size. The ones I used are 4.5mm. They have some weight and are very smooth perfectly round little balls. They are generally found in the sporting goods/hunting sections of stores here like Walmart.
DeleteHow neat! Had not thought of using BB's, now I'm inspired to make some. I've been using cans from the pantry :-)
ReplyDeletesuper interesting!!! i have the pattern weights from joann's that i use with my rotary cutter but the wiggly ones would be perfect!! Clever to use the BBs.
ReplyDeleteOh these are so cool! I've been using weights for a couple of years now. So much easier on arthritic hands.
ReplyDeleteOo I may copy this idea. I generally use tins as weight; baked beans, soup or tuna! But then I forget that I have those tins when cooking.
ReplyDeleteI don't know what BB's are but I love the idea of the long skinny 'worm'. This is a really great idea, I hate pinning things together.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the great weight idea. I have made several and they are great. I had previously made ribbon covered metal washers and loved them but the bb weights are better.
ReplyDeleteJerris
You are welcome, Jerris! Glad you like them and can use them!
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