Sewing machine Sewing thread which matches your design Ruler Pencil Scissors and/or rotary blade Dried beans, corn, peas, beads, or pebbles found in bags at your local grocery store.
If you use a rotary blade, make sure you are cutting on a safe surface like a cutting board.
Make sure you are ironing on a safe surface such as an ironing board. Keep the iron away from children.
As you are sewing around the edge, hold the pieces of fabric tightly together with your hands. However, make sure to keep your fingers away from the needle. When you get to the corners you can either reposition your fabric 90 degrees and begin stitching again, or make a diagonal stitch before you begin stitching the next side. Stitch all the way around until you are about 3 inches away from where you started. Stop there, as you will use this “pocket” in later steps.
Slowly pour in either dried beans, corn, or peas. You can tilt the bag, grab some with your hands, or pour them through the funnel. You do not want to pack them tight. The beanbags are meant to be grabbed and handled, so it still needs to be slightly loose. Try to leave at least a 1/2 inch of fabric empty on the inside.
42 inches wide will get you a large beanbag chair, while 56-70 inches will produce an extra large beanbag chair. You may want to visit stores which sell beanbag chairs to measure each size of beanbag chair and see how they feel. Because this project is relatively easy, you can afford to make a mistake, and restart with a different size.
You need two pieces of fabric to form the top and bottom of your chair. Don’t worry if you buy one continuous piece of fabric. All you have to do is cut it in half using scissors when you get it home so that you have two even squares. If the fabric is available directly off the bar, you can get it cut exactly the size you need. If however it is only available prepackaged, make sure you buy a piece of fabric that is larger than what you will need.
If you need help drawing circles, please visit: How to Draw a Circle. Once you have made a circle on each piece of fabric, cut them out with a pair of scissors.
You will first make a 1/2 inch inseam around to stitch your circles together. Leave a hole at the end so that you can get your hand in between the circles. You will then go back in the opposite direction, this time sewing a 3/4 inch inseam. Once more, do not sew over the hole you will need to put your hand through. After you have stitched your circles together, remove them safely from the sewing machine. Take a pair of scissors and trim off the excess fabric, about 1/4 inch close to the 1/2 inch inseam.
Fill your beanbag chair with whatever you like. You can use standard stuffing material. You can use real beans,or plastic chips. Polyester pellets are also a very popular item to use. All of these can be found at your local arts and crafts store. Finally, sew the hole by hand. You will need a small, sharp needle and some embroidery floss which matches your other thread. For more information about how to stitch, visit: How to Sew
