Plate Weights: How to Keep Pottery Plates from Warping Mascha Lange

It can be a challenge to keep plates flat, but there are things you can do to help minimize warping. Controlled drying and compression go a long way in preventing warpage, but in today's post, an excerpt from the March 2026 issue of Ceramics Monthly, we show you another tool you can add to your anti-warping arsenal.

Mascha Lange shares how she keeps pottery plates from warping with her simple (and colorful!) hand-sewn plate weights. These sewn plate weights are simple to make, customizable, and made from upcycled/recycled materials. –Jennifer Poellot Harnetty, editor

PS. Don't miss a tip—view all the articles in the March 2026 issue of Ceramics Monthly! For new tips from potters from all over the world delivered to right to your door, subscribe to Ceramics Monthly today!

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Plates are always tricky to make. They crack, they warp, they do everything they are not supposed to do! In order to prevent plates from warping, I have started using self-made weight bags. In addition to tricks such as evenly rolling out the clay, compressing it, and letting it dry slowly, plate weights have worked wonders for my slab-built plates. They compress the plate during the drying process, keeping it flat and further preventing cracks. 

Creating Your Own Weights 

Moreover, you can make your own weight bags using recycled materials. Mine, for example, were sewn from a cast-off cotton duvet cover. Simply cut out two circles in the desired size and sew them together (1), leaving an opening of roughly 2 inches (5 cm). Turn the piece right side out (2) and fill it with sand (3). They can also be filled with rice, beans, or clean cat litter. Lastly, close the opening by hand using a ladder stitch (which will be invisible) (4), or use a sewing machine for an easy (but visible) closing (5). Lay the weight on plates as they dry (6). 

Tips: Use a straight stitch setting with very short stitches, so that no sand trickles through. Also, make sure your fabric is tightly woven—I first used a rather cheap fabric, which let the fine sand seep through. Of course, your plate weights don’t have to be round in shape but could be oval, square, triangular, you name it! 

the author Mascha Lange is a ceramic artist and educator based in Leipzig, Germany. Under her label mala, she creates slab-built functional pottery finished in vibrant, expressive glazes. To see more of her work, including behind-the-scenes process posts and new pieces, visit Instagram @malapottery.