Weighted vests are known to help kids, teens, and adults relax and focus. These sensory weighted vests can be pricey to buy, but when you make them yourself it will cost you a fraction of the price! In less than an hour from start to finish, you can customize the vest to your preferences and make it just the right size/style. Below are some tips and tricks followed by a video tutorial.
What you’ll need to make a weighted vest:
- A vest- You can choose any style, type, fabric. I opted for this fleece vest because it is soft and most kids like the feeling of fleece.
- Poly Pellets- You will need to order enough to get 5-10% of the person’s body weight. If it is for a 50 lb child, you’d need to buy at least 2.5 lbs or up to 5 lbs, depending on their weighted vest heaviness preference. If you’re making one for an adult that is 165 lbs, you will need around 8.25 lbs-16.5 lbs depending on your preference. Poly pellets come in all different shapes and colors. for this vest I use clear round pellets pictured below. The key factor when looking is to make sure they can handle high temps in the dryer, the color or shape doesn’t matter. There are several places to get them from:
- On Amazon with prime shipping-get the poly pellets fast and get started right away!
- On eBay, the poly pellets are cheaper but slower shipping.
- Alternatively, you can use fine glass beads for filler. I never have used these but have good things from readers of this blog. You can get them on Amazon or eBay
- Sticky back Velcro for fabric- This stuff is amazing! No more stitching squares of Velcro on fabric! Plus it is cheap! Its just a bit more than regular Velcro. I’m going to stock up on this sticky back Velcro made for fabrics!
- Batting- This is an optional item, but I recommend it to add softness and comfort.
- You can use sheet batting like I used in this vest here it is on Amazon or on eBay
- Or you can use polyfill or stuffing from an old stuffed animal or pillow.
- Fabric/Felt- Use whatever fabric/felt style and color you prefer! This is completely customizeable to your likes and preferences.
Sometimes, saving time is better than saving money-depending on where you are at in life. I totally get that! If you are wanting a weighted vest but don’t have the time, you can buy this weighted vest on Amazon.
How to make the sensory weighted vest video tutorial
Watch it here or hi-resolution on YouTube
I’d love to see if you make one! Be sure to post a picture on our Facebook page.
Weighted Vest Notes:
If I would have done this while the kiddos were sleeping, I probably could have finished it in about 30 minutes. I had to stop to feed my sweet 2 month old, stop again to put her to sleep. Stopped to put black olives on every finger of my 4 year old, stopped to fix my 7 year old’s teddy bears mouth (twice). I had to stop to see the Lego creation of my 10 year old spent 7 hours building, stop to look at a fruity dino-bite under the magnification of a microscope with my 12 year old. That is actually quite fascinating, so I took a picture of it-check it out!
A Fruity dino bite under a microscope
To make the weighted bags, use scrap fabric if you have it! That made this project even more budget friendly. Or you can make the fabric bags out of a plastic shower curtain and make them waterproof if desired. I had the fabric, batting, poly pellets and felt all left over from other projects, so the cost of this vest was seriously only the cost of the vest itself! Cheap!
Chances are if you are making a weighted vest, you may also like a weighted blanket. Check out my tutorial for that! When you are buying your poly pellets, you may want to buy in bulk so you can make a blanket and a vest! You can get smaller packs of poly pellets in 2 lb packages, but the prices are so high compared to when buying in bulk. These weighted vest make a great gift for teachers! I can’t wait to give this to our kindergarten teacher at the school! I also made one for a classmate of one of my kids and it made a huge difference in the classroom for all the students as there were less disruptions from this student.
Know someone that could use this tutorial! Please share it with them or pin it for later!
Let me know if you have any questions and I will try to answer them! Have fun sewing!
FTC: This video or post is NOT sponsored in any way or form. Affiliate links are present.
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Great tutorial… easy to follow… seems not that hard.. I’m going to make it thank you
You’re welcome! Good luck and we would love to see your photos how yours came out
Why not use aquarium rock? Its less than $1 a pound.
Hi from the U.K,
You guys are a total life saver, thank-you so so so much for this tutorial, I have been hunting high and low for a weighted vest tutorial that was easy to follow and the finished item doesn’t scream “I’m a special needs kid” and the fact it is cheap is a godsend..!
My son has SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder) as do several other’s in his class/school and the school cannot afford to purchase the weighted vests due to cuts in the schools budget. Some of the special needs mums are getting together to see if we can find ways of helping our kids and others that will be using the vests, weighted blankets and lap pads. I got a sewing machine for Christmas for this reason, I haven’t sewed for over 35yrs but your idea and tutorial have inspired me and you have allowed me to be able to help my son and many others..!!! Thanks again and much love and hugs from a very grateful mum in the UK .x. Emma .x.
This makes me so happy Emma! Keep me posted!
I have trouble hearing and could not figure out all of your video. Is there a written pattern anywhere?? I have an Autistic grandson and he would benefit greatly from the weighted vest. I sew, but I need a pattern or instructions.
Thanks