What child doesn’t LOVE to toss around squishy little bean bags!!  Here’s some quick tips on how to make these cute, fun bags.

I just use cotton fabric from my very large scrap bin but just about any type of fabric will work.  I personally like to mix solids with prints because it gives more options to vary up game ideas.

For my samples, I chose two solids that coordinated with two prints and stacked all four fabrics on top of each other.  Then I measured a 5 1/2″ square that I drew on the fabric and with the help of my ruler, I rotary cut out these squares in one quick motion.

Now simply put right sides together and sew in a 1/2″ seam allowance leaving one side partially unsewn for turning.  I like to sew about a 1″ seam on each side of the opening edge so I don’t have to mess with the corner.  When I make my 1/2″ seam allowances, I sew off the end of the fabric, lift my pressure foot and turn the fabric and continue sewing my seams.  Saves some time.  I will also back-stitch across the seam that I just made to give extra strength to the corners.

Once I have sewn around all the sides of the square, trim your seams and angle cut your corners.  Before I flip to the right side, I like to press down the opening edge to make the closing seam easier to stitch.  After I have ironed this edge, turn your square to the right side.  Fill it with about 3/4 cup of rice, dried beans or some type of bean bag filler and then sew your opening closed.  I like to stitch a second row on my opening edge for reinforcement since this is an item that gets a lot of use.

Now have fun tossing them into buckets, boxes, bags, etc. or just on the floor getting different points if your bean bag lands on a solid side or a print side.  Fun game ideas for parties like hot potato, balance on  your head walking across the finish line, tic tac toe style games, etc.

• TIP:  When using two different fabrics, I like to put a coordinating thread for one fabric in the bobbin and the other coordinating thread for the second fabric in the machine.

HAPPY CREATING!!

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