Concrete: Pattern weights

The more I sew, the more I realise that the small steps and details make all the difference in the final product. One of these small steps is making sure the paper pattern is weighed down before cutting. So what better way to inspire me not to skip this step than to make some aesthetically pleasing concrete sewing pattern weights. If you want to make some too, follow along below.

YOU NEED 
Materials 

  • Concrete mix (I used this concrete sand mix from Bunnings) 
  • Water
  • A flexible mould, you can use plastic cups or cupcake trays. I used these ice cube trays from Kmart that I had lying around 
  • Oil (any cooking oil will do the trick) 

Tools

  • Container to mix concrete in 
  • Mixing spoon
  • Sand paper or block
  • Gloves
  • Safety glasses 

HOW TO

STEP 1 Oil the mould Pour some oil on a paper towel and coat your mould surface in a thin coat of oil. This will help de-moulding once the concrete has set.

STEP 2 Mix concrete with water Add some concrete-sand mix to your container and slowly add water until you get a smooth easy to mix consistency. The more water you add the easier the concrete will be to pour but the less strength the concrete will have. Considering these weights are not structural, I add a little bit more water to make it easy to spoon into the mould.

An optional step is to mix some colour pigment or paint into half of the concrete mix.

Note: If you run out of concrete don’t worry, you have a bit of time so just mix some more!

STEP 3 Place or pour the concrete Spoon your concrete mixtures into the mould. If you have more than one concrete colour, interchange colours between each spoon to create a random colour variation.

Don’t forget to give your mould a bit of a shake and a tap to help the air bubbles rise to the top. This will give you a better finish.

STEP 4 De-mould Wait at least 24 hours and then remove your blocks out of the mould.

STEP 5 Sand and Finish Sand the bottom of the mould to remove any sharp bits.

STEP 6 Start sewing Now to test them out and use them! What to sew next!

Ikea Hack: PAX wardrobe Doors

I am a huge fan of IKEA furniture, its simple and affordable design works in almost every space. I also love designer furniture, the details and the quality can really add to a space. So can you make Ikea furniture a little more designer. To attempt ‘affordable designer looking’ furniture I created PAX wardrobe doors using materials you can get from a hardware store. Below is the instructions if you feel you want to give it a go to yourself. 

YOU NEED 
Materials

  • Marine plywood 2240 x 1220 x 12mm (I used this)  
  • Trim 30mm (I used this) 
  • Wood glue (any wood glue will do but I used these) 
  • Hinges (You can use any hinges but I stuck to the Ikea ones here) 

Tools 

  • Saw 
  • hammer 
  • Drill and circular bit 
  • Clamps or heavy weights

STEP 1 Cut timber to required door size Measure out the door size. Mark and cut. For these doors I used the following dimensions 495mm wide x 2350mm long which is about 50mm longer than the IKEA bought doors. I like the look of the overhang as it gives it a more inbuilt look

STEP 2 Measure out distance between hinges Needed to do a little math’s for this one. I found the best way was to work from the centre line

Step 3 Cut out hinge inserts Once you know the location for each of your hinges, mark them out and use a circular drill bit to cut them out 


Step 4 Lay out and glue the trim detail Lay out enough trim pieces to cover the area of the door. I have used 14 30mm wide trim pieces to cover my 495mm wide door leaving small (nearly even) gaps between each trim piece. I applied a generous amount of glue to each piece and then clamped them down for two hours until the were dry 


Step 5 Trim to length Once the wood is dry. Trim the end pieces to match the final length of your door. 


Step 6 Install hinges and hang door  Screw in the hinges and hang door on wardrobe frame 


Step 7 Fill holes with timber putty and coat with clear stain This is optional but makes a huge difference in the end. Patch all the small gaps and holes in the timber and then give it a coat or two of stain 


Step 8 Install door knobs of choice Choose any door handles and drill them in. The one I opted for are these ones from H&M (link here)