Pattern Weights
Pattern cutting · Dressmaking · Sewing
Hold steady. Cut accurately.
Shop pattern weights in New Zealand to help keep paper patterns and fabric in place while tracing or cutting. Compare small and large handled weights, Sew Easy fabric weight sets and Prym mini weights for your sewing room or cutting table.
Check the base: the Sew Easy ER903 set has gripping pins underneath. Choose a smooth or soft-surfaced option for fabrics that could snag or show puncture marks.
Choosing and using pattern weights
What are pattern weights used for?
Pattern weights hold a paper pattern against fabric while you trace its outline or cut around it. They are easy to reposition as you work across a cutting table and can reduce the need to pin through the pattern. They are useful for garment making, alterations and preparing repeated pattern pieces.
Handled weights, flat discs or soft mini weights?
Handled pattern weights: the small 350g weight measures 9 × 5cm and is listed as made in New Zealand. It is useful around smaller pattern pieces and corners. The large rectangular version gives you a longer footprint for bigger paper sections. Handles make these workroom-style weights easy to lift and reposition.
Flat fabric-weight sets: Sew Easy’s Notions, Bee and Bird designs each contain two 75g weights. Their low-profile discs give you several points to hold a pattern down while leaving room around the cutting line. The separate ER903 set is stackable and has gripping pins beneath it; it is not the same smooth-disc design.
Soft mini weights: Prym’s blue and pink four-piece sets contain compact, 30mm fabric-covered weights filled with metal balls. Their small footprint is useful around fine paper patterns and smaller areas. Check the fabric surface and weight placement before cutting.
How many pattern weights do I need?
There is no single number for every project. Use enough to keep the pattern flat without covering the line you need to follow. Spread them around corners, curves and longer edges, then check for movement before you start. Larger pieces and slippery fabrics may need additional weights.
Can I use pattern weights instead of pins?
Often, yes—provided the fabric and pattern remain stable. Smooth or soft weights can be helpful when pinholes are undesirable, but check the underside of the specific product rather than assuming every weight is pin-free. Arrange the fabric flat without stretching it, position the weights, and test gently for movement. When using a rotary cutter, work on a suitable cutting mat and keep your hands and weights clear of the blade.
Choose your pattern ruler for accurate layout and tailor’s chalk for marking, or explore our scissors and cutting tools to complete your cutting kit.
