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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

What is heavy but small and preferably has a hole in the middle?

136 replies

5foot5 · 10/10/2025 23:35

No, it isn't a riddle. I have a slight problem with a craft project and I was hoping the Mumsnet hive mind might have a genius solution.

I have started to crochet a Nativity scene. Tonight I completed the sheep. He looks great, but unfortunately his head is a bit too heavy so when I try to stand him up he just topples forwards. I really don't think there is any way I can dismantle him enough to lighten his head or put anything large and heavy in his back legs, so I am looking for a solution where I can attach something small and heavy to his tail or back feet that I can then cover or disguise with yarn.

I found that if I sellotaped a pound coin to his tail that was enough to keep him stable. Apparently a pound coin weighs 9g. So one solution is to find 9g worth of something I can thread on to the tail. My best thought so far is to dig out the Meccano and attach little nuts to the tail.

Initially I thought I could make and attach some additional back feet and weigh them down, but found that it will take more weight to work at the back feet than at the tail.

The other thought is to find something I can weave through the fleece at the back but it would need to be small.

Can anyone suggest a readily available substance to insert in to or attach to the back end of my sheep?

I won't be trying anything until tomorrow because it's late be and I have had a little wine.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
11
Neighboursnumber1fan · 10/10/2025 23:36

Small fishing weight?

Neighboursnumber1fan · 10/10/2025 23:37

Add the fishing weight to a tail

5foot5 · 10/10/2025 23:38

Fishing weight? Oh interesting, how big are they?

OP posts:
PickAChew · 10/10/2025 23:39

A washer might do the trick. Or you could stick a couple of nails up its bum 😳

A lot of stuffies have poly beads in the base for weight.

Rainallnight · 10/10/2025 23:39

Couple of polo mints?

TomatoSandwiches · 10/10/2025 23:40

Curtain weights? Or any metal buttons you have spare?

What is heavy but small and preferably has a hole in the middle?
JBJ · 10/10/2025 23:40

A metal washer of some description? My dogs tag would do the job perfectly, as it’s pound coin sized with a hole in the middle!

PickAChew · 10/10/2025 23:40

Mmm. Lamb and polo mint.

TomatoSandwiches · 10/10/2025 23:41

PickAChew · 10/10/2025 23:40

Mmm. Lamb and polo mint.

😋 😂😂

SallyDraperGetInHere · 10/10/2025 23:41

Circular magnets?

UniversityofWarwick · 10/10/2025 23:41

Or a metal washer (? - the thin things you put on screws sometime).

Somanylemons · 10/10/2025 23:41

A nut - as in a nut and bolt ? Regular size - rather than meccano or cashew

ErrolTheDragon · 10/10/2025 23:41

How big is he? (He? Most sheep in a flock will be ewes.) I think we need a photo of this woolly beast.

TomatoSandwiches · 10/10/2025 23:42

Another option, small padlock like you get on a diary?

cornbunting · 10/10/2025 23:42

To solve a similar problem I've used tyre weights that DH had lying around after working on the car. They're small, flat, and heavy - perfect to sit at the bottom of an amigurumi piece.

Edit: this sort of thing
https://www.tyrebaydirect.com/product-category/tyre-consumables/wheel-balance-weights/self-adhesive-weights/

TomatoSandwiches · 10/10/2025 23:45

A toggle from a coat?
Any spare heavy, gaudy earrings?
A mini screwdriver?
A small paintbrush or make up Brush?

5foot5 · 10/10/2025 23:45

Somanylemons · 10/10/2025 23:41

A nut - as in a nut and bolt ? Regular size - rather than meccano or cashew

Edited

Yeah, the and bolt sort.

Actually a washer or curtain weights might work if I crocheted two discs to go over the back feet and put the weights inside

OP posts:
5foot5 · 10/10/2025 23:49

cornbunting · 10/10/2025 23:42

To solve a similar problem I've used tyre weights that DH had lying around after working on the car. They're small, flat, and heavy - perfect to sit at the bottom of an amigurumi piece.

Edit: this sort of thing
https://www.tyrebaydirect.com/product-category/tyre-consumables/wheel-balance-weights/self-adhesive-weights/

Edited

If I had known this would be a problem at the start I could have put them on the legs. I don't think I could do it now without destroying the sheep

OP posts:
5foot5 · 10/10/2025 23:51

ErrolTheDragon · 10/10/2025 23:41

How big is he? (He? Most sheep in a flock will be ewes.) I think we need a photo of this woolly beast.

Here he/she is propped up on my glass to stop him pitching forwards.

What is heavy but small and preferably has a hole in the middle?
OP posts:
cornbunting · 10/10/2025 23:51

Yes, sorry, in my enthusiasm to share my solution I missed what the actual problem was 🙈 Could be useful for your second sheep/donkey/wise man though!

Clarinet1 · 10/10/2025 23:53

Could you add some crocheted grass or straw for him to stand on and put a round weight in that?

AltitudeCheck · 10/10/2025 23:54

What about those trolley tokens that are pound coin sized but have a hole to thread onto a key ring?

You can buy clear plastic thread, could you attach the tail to the weight or to the base of the scene or to another, more stable element?

Glue/ double sided tape / velcro his back feet to the ground?

Somanylemons · 10/10/2025 23:55

What about those magnetic ball bearings - passed individually through the crochet weave but the sticking together internally so hopefully wouldn’t fall out.

added bonus that he could then stick to the fridge.

Redheadedstepchild · 10/10/2025 23:57

Does he have to be standing up? Maybe he would be tired after his long journey with the shepherds and you could arrange his legs to be semi lying down better to be on a level with the infant Jesus and be looking at him in his crib?

I think that would be very touching.

Stagecraft is everything x

Merry Christmas!