Once I’d cut out the pieces for my outside cushions I was left with a strip of fabric that I knew I wouldn’t use in future cushions, and I wondered if it might work for some chunky pattern weights which I’d had my eye on making since that bag making course I went on in May. I have some smaller pattern weights which I use, but I used some of these on the course, and they were really good at holding the fabric in place on the table, which if you only have a small space to work in is a life saver.

Clearly I could just have easily added the leftover fabric to my stash, but I thought I’d strike while the iron was hot and so I looked out the pattern that the tutor had shared on the course, and worked out with some small adjustments I could make it work. And they’re really easy to make, trust me.

All you need is a rectangle of material, mine was a bit smaller than the suggested 11cm x 21cm, a piece of ribbon for the finger loop, plus something relatively heavy to fill them with. I used rice for these, but would consider adding some dried lavender along with the rice to any future ones I make - as rice alone doesn’t have the greatest smell. I wouldn’t use too much lavender, or lavender on its own as I’d be concerned that the oils might seep through the fabric and onto the fabric I was cutting out.

You simply fold the fabric in half to form a square, insert your ribbon at the fold and then sew along the top and side open edge, leaving the bottom edge unsewn. Then open the bag so the seam is now in the centre, and sew but remember to leave a gap so you can add the filling.

Turn it through, push the corners out and fill with rice (it’s definitely worth putting it into a tray to catch the spilled rice - trust me) and then sew the gap closed.

Simples. And really useful too.

There’s plenty of free patterns for these kind of fabric weights online - if you want more detailed instructions try googling ‘triangular fabric weight patterns’ or ‘pyramid fabric weight patterns’ and you’ll be able to choose from written or video examples.

And of course using the outdoor fabric means that mine will be handy for outside sewing, or cutting out - though not that I’m actually planning any of that!