How to Make Beanbags

Small, easy-to-make beanbags can help kids learn how to play catch. Plus, they put your scrap fabric to good use. Follow these steps to make 10 beanbags that are 4 inches square.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Yardstick Or Rulers
• Sewing Needles
• Dressmaker Pins
• Threads
• Plastic Pellets
• Fabric-marking Pens
• Scissors
• Scrap Fabrics
• Sewing Machine
• Fiberfill
• Heavy Paper Or Cardboard
• Fabric Chalks

1. Start with your own fabric scraps, or search through the remnant bins at fabric stores to find suitable material. Any sort of closely woven fabric will do. To make 10 beanbags 4 inches square, you'll need approximately 1/2 yard of 45-inch-wide fabric.
2. Purchase enough filling material for the desired number of bags. Use fiberfill or plastic pellets sold especially for beanbags. These items can be found at most fabric and craft stores.
3. Use a yardstick or ruler to draw a 4 1/2-inch square on heavy paper or cardboard (the extra 1/4 inch on each side is for stitching together the edges of the fabric). Cut out this square to use as your template.
4. Iron your fabric, if necessary, and lay it down on a flat surface, wrong side up.
5. Place your template on the fabric and use a fabric-marking pen or chalk to trace 20 squares. Use scissors to cut out the squares.
6. Pin two pieces of fabric together to make one beanbag, right sides together (inside out).
7. Use a sewing machine to stitch a 1/4-inch seam (i.e., 1/4 inch from the edge) around the edges of the fabric square, starting 1 inch from any corner. When you reach a corner, keep the needle inserted in the fabric, lift the presser foot of your sewing machine and swivel the fabric 90 degrees. Then release the presser foot and sew the next side. Stop sewing 2 inches short of where you began to allow an opening that will let you turn the bag right side out.
8. Turn your bag right side out at the 2-inch seam opening, and fill your bag with the fiberfill or pellets.
9. Use a needle and thread or a sewing machine to stitch up the opening.
10. Repeat step 6 through 9 to make the remaining beanbags.

Tips & Warnings

• Make your bags from a variety of fabrics. The total yardage needed does not have to come from just one piece of fabric.
• Make your beanbags any size you desire. Just be sure to make your template 1/4 inch larger all around - for the seam allowance.
• Avoid using beans, rice or bird-seed for bag filling. These items can work very well as filling but they have a tendency to attract insects.