Bean Bag Tutorial

11/06/2014

Bean Bag Tutorial

Making your own bean bags is super easy and fun, we use them for math games and the girls find all sorts of other uses for them.

What you'll need:

Fat squares or you can re-purpose cotton clothes

Needle or sewing machine

Cotton thread

Lentils or aduki beans

Scissors

Tape measure

Pins

Step one.

Measure and cut out a 11" x 7" rectangle, I fold the fabric to reduce sewing to just 3 sides.

Step two.

With the wrong side facing you (pattern on the inside) pin two edges together leaving a 1/4" seam allowance.

Step three.

Sew two sides together with a simple running stitch leaving a 1/4" of fabric for the seam. You need to leave about a 2" gap as you come to the end of the third side for putting the beans in (see photo below.)

Step four.

Turn your bean bag to the right side by pulling it through the hole you left. You can use the blunt end of a small paint brush to get the corners out.

Step five.

Take a scrap piece of paper or card and make a simple funnel. Insert this into the hole. Here's the tricky part, pour your lentils or beans or buckwheat husks into the funnel slowly. You want it no more than 3/4 full. You can put the beans into a measuring jug to make pouring easier or have someone hod the bag for you.

Step six.

Turn about 1/4" of fabric from the hole inwards and pin. Keeping the beans away from the gap you want to sew with your hand, sew the gap closed. I found it easier to go from the inside to the outer edge.