All kids deserve a snuggly spot to call their own. Whether it’s for lounging, movie nights or just curling up with a good book, a pint-sized bean bag chair fits the bill. And while there are many of these available in stores, wouldn’t you rather make one as unique as your child? Complicated bean bag tutorials can be intimidating with all their sections and circle-ness. But what if I told you that with two pieces of fabric, one zipper and a straight stitch you could have an adorable kids bean bag chair in 30 minutes—would you believe me? Materials: two pieces of fabric (upholstery weight fabric is preferable), one 22″ zipper, 3.5 cubic feet of bean bag filling In the following directions, all seam allowances are 5/8″. 1. Cut two fabric pieces to 45″ x 32″. The fabrics can be identical or you can choose coordinating patterns for a two-toned look. 2. Turn right sides together. On the long raw edges, use a zigzag stitch to prevent fraying. Then straight stitch the same edges.
Due to the amount of abuse these seams will endure, I highly recommend using a small stitch length for durability. 3. Fold the fabric in half like a hot dog bun, matching up the sewn edges. 4. Starting from the folded side, round one end, removing approximately 6″ of material from the corner. 5. Open the fabric back up, and you should have a nice symmetrical curve on one side. Zigzag the raw edge, and again use your straight stitch to close. 6. Open the remaining unsewn edge. Keeping right sides together, fold in half the opposite way as shown below. 7. Sew your 22″ zipper into the center of this opening. I used an invisible zipper so it would be less noticeable when completed. 8. Finish your zipper installation by closing the zipper edge with a straight stitch on either side. 9. Turn the bean bag chair right side out and fill with beans! This kid-size chair takes exactly one bag of bean bag filling (3.5 cubic feet or 100 liters) to create the perfect plump.
There’s really no easy way to get those static cling-crazy little pellets inside without spilling a few. My best advice is to have two people holding the zipper open and a third person to pour—oh, and have your vacuum on standby! If this chair doesn’t beckon “come, relax,” I don’t know what does! Choosing to use two different fabrics means the bean bag chair is reversible too. Just flip it, and you’re rockin’ a whole new vibe—it’s two chairs in one! Whether you make one for your own child or give it as a gift, I guarantee this kids bean bag chair will become the new favorite snuggle spot. Keep in mind that bean bag filling pellets are a choking hazard! Because the zipper is accessible, please make these only for kids who are old enough to know better than to eat them. Editor’s Note: If you have any concerns about your child opening the zipper or you’re making for a young child, consider sewing the bag shut (knowing you will have to rip open the seam if you ever want to refill the “beans” and sew shut again).
It is never safe for a child to open the zipper or attempt to climb inside.Start SewingSewing FunCrafts SewingSewing ProjectSewing IdeasSewing PatternsSailrite SewingSewing HardwareBeginner BagForwardLearn to Sew Your First Market Tote Bag - with SailriteShow All ItemsHere's a blast from the past you Don't have to stand for!! (yeah, I went there)For as long as I can remember, a large bean bag chair has always been on my list of "must haves" for bedroom furniture (just above a futon and below a hammock on my list) But with the prices these days, it's hard to find one and still afford other living room furniture.I finally broke down and made one for my friends, mostly because their couches weren't long enough for me. I'll tell you now, this project screams comfort so long as you learn to sleep on your back. Best night of sleep I've had in weeks, and all my back pain was gone! (I guess that's what I get for sleeping on a futon since high school)The total project costs around $120 to $150, but depending on what materials you want to use, it can be significantly cheaper.
Step 1: MaterialsShow All ItemsHere's a handy list of everything you'll need:Interior fabric I used Muslin. It's strong, durable, and cheap at .50-$2 a yardExterior Fabric (optional)If you hate the look of muslin and can afford it, snag some extra fabric for a cover. I used costume suedeFillerThis can be many things, from packing peanuts to old T-shirts. I chose shredded foam. You'll need a lot of thisVelcro (optional) if you would like a coverplenty of thread« PreviousNext »View All Steps Download i started out thinking about building a beanbag, but being the prototypically exuberant man's man that i am i thought: 'i am going to go huge! why make a beanbag just like everyone else? i'll make the biggest, baddest beanbag evah!!!' Well in the end i did make the biggest baddest beanbag evah, but i think any practical assessment would say that it is too large to be convenient (eg: hard to get through doorways and tends to fill all available floor area in room). But I learned enough through this effort that I can advise you, dear reader, how to build a most useful and practical beanbag sofa should you want to do so.
summary: looking for that plush bean-bag chair comfort, but in a sofa size? bean-bags are easy and inexpensive to make (as furniture goes). the bean-bag sofa can be easily formed into a form-ftting bed as well.This project is brought to you by MonkeyLectric and the Monkey Light bike lightStep 1: materials & tools« PreviousNext »View All Steps DownloadBeanbag chairs make suitable seats for lounging, reading, playing video games or taking a nap. Beanbag chairs consist of a fabric cover stuffed with a packing material such as polystyrene or polyester pellets. These soft cushions rest on the floor, providing extra seating in any room. Depending upon the materials used, the cost of a commercially manufactured beanbag chair may overreach your budget. It costs less to make your own beanbag chair than to buy one, plus you get to determine the color and size of the finished product so it fits perfectly within your homes decor and space. Beanbag construction methods exist for those with sewing skills and those without.
Pull on the cord of the drawstring laundry bag to close its opening. Insert the pointed end of a funnel into the center of the cinched opening. Tie the cord into a knot near the fabric to secure the opening around the funnel. Pour packing peanuts or beanbag filling into the funnel. Shake the funnel back and forth or up and down as needed to cause the filling to drain into the bag's interior. Continue to pour the filling material into the funnel, allowing it to drain into the bag. Stop when the bag reaches three-quarters full. Pull the funnel out of the opening. Untie the knot in the cord. Sew a straight seam across the bag's opening with a sewing machine, positioning it 1/2 inch below the puckered edges. Cut the cord and remove it from the bag. Load your sewing machine with a 16-gauge denim needle and set the machine to make a zig-zag stitch and to have the appropriate tension for the heavy fabric. Spread out 6 yards of medium-to-heavy weight fabric on a flat work surface with its wrong side facing up.
Measure and mark out a 16-inch by 98-inch rectangle on the fabric with the tape measure and pencil or chalk. Measure and mark a circle with a diameter of 30 inches on the remaining fabric using a tape measure and a fabric pencil or chalk. Draw a second circle on the fabric, equal in diameter to the first. Cut around the markings for the two circles and the rectangle with a pair of scissors. Discard the extra fabric. Fold the rectangle in half with its patterned sides together, creating a 16-inch by 49-inch rectangle. Pin the short edges together with straight pins, perpendicular to the edge. Sew a 1/2-inch seam across the pinned edges of the rectangle using a sewing machine threaded with nylon or polyester thread. Spread open the un-sewn edges of the fabric rectangle to fashion a 16-inch tall fabric cylinder. Place one of the fabric circles on the work surface with its patterned side facing upward. Match up one of the fabric cylinder's open ends with the outer edge of the fabric circle, positioning the patterned side of each fabric piece together.
Pin the matched edges together with straight pins. Sew a 1/2-inch seam around the pinned edges with the sewing machine. Place the second fabric circle flat on the work surface with its patterned side facing up. Match up the remaining open end of the cylinder with the outer edge of the second fabric circle with their patterned sides together. Pin the edges together with straight pins. Sew a 1/2-inch seam around the pinned edges, leaving the last 5 inches open. Turn the resulting fabric bag right side out through the opening in the seam. Insert the pointed end of a funnel into the 5-inch opening. Pour packing peanuts or beanbag filling into the funnel, allowing it to drain into the fabric bag's interior. Continue to pour filling through the funnel until the bag reaches the desired level of fullness. Cut a 24-inch length of nylon or polyester thread with scissors. Push one end of the thread through the eye of a sewing needle. Pull the two ends of the thread together below the needle and tie them into a knot.