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In an era of high-tech gadgets, the humble bean bag is making a massive comeback. DIY bean bag crafts are no longer just about lumpy floor seating; they are about sensory play, ergonomic home office solutions, and sustainable upcycling.
Whether you’re looking to sew a giant lounge chair or a set of hand-held juggling bags for a backyard toss game, this guide provides useful information that you need to create durable, high-quality bean bags that rival retail brands.
Why Make Bean Bag Crafts
The Soft Home movement has prioritized comfort and versatility. Bean bags are the ultimate shapeshifters of interior design. They provide:
- Ergonomic Support: They mold to the body’s unique shape, reducing pressure points.
- Educational Value: Small bean bags are essential tools for developing hand-eye coordination in children.
- Sustainability: You can fill them with upcycled materials like old fabric scraps or shredded memory foam.
How to Make a Durable DIY Bean Bag (Hand-Held Size)
This basic bean bag is the foundation for dozens of games, including Cornhole and Tic-Tac-Toss.
Materials Needed
- Fabric: 100% Cotton Duck or Canvas (sturdy and non-slip).
- Thread: Heavy-duty polyester thread.
- Fill: Dried beans, rice, plastic pellets (washable), polystyrene beans, aquarium gravel, or cherry pits.
- Tools: Sewing machine (or needle and thread), fabric scissors, and a funnel.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Cut the Squares: Cut two 5×5 inches squares of fabric.
- The Strong Seam Stitch: Place the squares right sides together. Sew around the perimeter with a 0.5-inch seam allowance, leaving a 1.5-inch gap on one side. You can also use sewing tape for no-sew option.
- Pro Tip: For extra durability, use a triple stitch or sew over your lines twice.
- Clip the Corners: Trim the excess fabric at the corners (being careful not to cut the stitches). This allows the corners to be sharp and square when turned.
- Turn and Fill: Turn the bag right side out through the gap. Use a funnel to fill the bag about 2/3 full. Do not overfill, or the bag won’t flop correctly.
- The Invisible Close: Fold the raw edges of the gap inward and top-stitch the opening shut.
Thermo web
Creative Variations for Extraordinary Bean Bag Projects
1. The Sensory Weighted Tripod Stand
For students or office workers, a long, rectangular bean bag filled with glass beads acts as a weighted lap pad. It provides calming sensory input during long focus sessions.
2. The Pyramid Phone Stand
Sew a small pyramid-shaped bean bag filled with rice. It acts as a perfect, adjustable bean bag chair for your smartphone or e-reader, allowing for hands-free viewing on any surface.
My Patch Work
3. The Animal-Shaped Hand Warmers
Use fleece fabric to sew small owl or chick shapes. Fill them with dried rice or flaxseed. These can be microwaved for 30 seconds to serve as reusable hand warmers during winter months.
Martha Stewart
Bean Bag Chairs And Ottomans
4. DIY Kids Bean Bag Chair
This tutorial gives you a hassle free, under the budget way to make a bean bag. It uses a stitching method with 2 pieces of fabric and zipper. It is filled with 100 litres of bean bag filling.
Project nursery
5. DIY Coffee Bean Bag Ottoman
Use a single coffee bag to solve your storage problems and bring a rustic touch with this bean bag ottoman at home. The tutorial has minimal stitching and lots of space for creativity from your side.
a piece of rainbow
Easy Bean Bag Craft Uses
6. Simple Bean Bags
Angela Muir stitched these bean bags with oly-fun fabric and poly-fil stuffing beads for a star wars themed toss game. An easy project for party games that can be customized to your theme.
fair field world
7. Bean bag toy
This bean bag toy for teething babies with loops is perfect for little ones to chew on and play. Best thing about these is they are washable.
sew like my mom
How to make bean bag games?
8. DIY Bean Bag Launcher
Use this DIY wooden launcher to make your bean bag tossing game a tad bit more fun to play in your back yard. You can improvise by painting the launchers with different colors and patterns.
preschool inspirations
9. DIY Corn Hole Board
If you are going to make a bean bag launcher then the bean bag also needs a surface to land on. Here’s a step by step tutorial on how to make a Corn hole board with the exact measurements and picture tutorial.
Alayna’s creation
10. Old Sock bean Bag Game
Recycle lost pair socks into bean bags and let the game begin.
A little tipsy
11. Back Yard Bean Bag Toss Game
Make an instant fun game with a piece of plywood, a few buckets and colored bean bags. Screw the buckets into the wood and viola!
Craftster
12. Sensory Bean Bag
A cool activity for your preschoolers to learn and have fun at the same time. These sensory bean bags are made using Ziploc bags and duct tape. As well as rice and letters for filling.
mericherry
13. Alphabet Bean Bag Toss Game
The sensory bean bag you just made awhile ago can be used for this awesome toss game for kindergartners. All you have to do is cut card board cutouts with letters similar to the ones in the sensory bean bags.
mericherry
Themed Bean Bag Toss Games
14. DIY Easter Bunny Bean Bag Toss
A complete dose of Easter bunny bean bag toss game with a cardboard cutout Bunny and carrot shaped cute little bean bags.
pink stripey socks
15. Shelved Bean Bag Toss Game
A simple use of cardboard box and little bean bags can be a fun activity for almost all age groups from toddlers to teenagers. Anyone can have fun with it.
make baby stuff
Frequently Asked Bean Bag Questions
1. What is the best filling for a bean bag?
- Furniture: Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) beads are lightweight and bouncy.
- Game Bags: Plastic pellets are best because they are moisture-resistant and washable.
- Eco-Friendly DIY: Dried buckwheat hulls or shredded textile waste.
2. How do you make your bean bag waterproof?
Use Outdoor Polyester (like Sunbrella fabric) or laminated cotton. These fabrics prevent the filling from getting moldy if left outside during a game of Cornhole.
3. Can you wash a bean bag?
If you used plastic pellets, you can wash the whole bag on a delicate cycle. If you used beans or rice, do not wash it, as the organic filler will rot. In that case, sew a liner for the filling and a removable outer cover.
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