Tag Archive | quick sewing project

How to Sew Bean Bags

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.

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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.SONY DSC

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.

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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.

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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.

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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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