How to Sew Easy-Breezy Bean Bags

If you thought last week’s headband sewing project was super simple, then have I got another treat for you today!

Many children are unexpectedly at home lately. Parents and teachers alike are doing their best to ensure our kids are being entertained, educated and well-cared for.

What do your kids enjoy doing in their spare time lately? Mine? Reading, reading and more reading. I had published 2 posts a while back with book recommendations for girls (co-written by my daughters 😉) which you can check out here and here if you need some new children’s book recommendations.

My children don’t need any more book recommendations for now, say I. Some days my kids just need pretty strong encouragement to get outside and moving in the fresh air. Which is why I was so happy when the high school sports teacher started sharing basic sports activities online and delivered a pair of bean bags to my eldest daughter to get her equipped.

Looking at those bean bags, I thought to myself “I can make them too!”. Voila! New sewing project undertaken and several other children made happy.

And now I am sharing with you this easy sewing project. No, not easy. Easier than easy. Beginners can make these. Experienced sewers can make these. Kids can make these.

Ready to get your fun on? Let’s get sewing! And sporty 😉!

How to Make the Best Bean Bags for Play

What You’ll Need

Fabric: Whatever scraps you have lying around. A woven cotton is ideal!

Filling: rice, dried peas, lentils, popping corn, beads… (You’re guaranteed to find something in your house to use!

Usual sewing supplies: measuring tape, pins, thread, fabric scissors, sewing machine

Step by Step Instructions

Step 1

Measure and cut out your piece of fabric; 18cm x 11cm is a good size to make a bean bag for little hands. (You’ll notice I’m making 2 bean bags😉 .)

Step 2

Fold the long sides of the rectangle in half with the right sides together. Pin together 2 of the open sides, leaving one of the shorter sides open (for stuffing in a few moments 😉).

Step 3

Using a 1cm seam allowance, sew around the 3 sides. Don’t forget to leave that one side open!

Tip! Use short stitches (I used setting #2) to ensure none of the goodies stuffed inside can slip through gaps in the stitching 😉.

Tip! For less bulk after turning the bean bag out the right way, snip the corners off. Just be careful to not cut into your stitches!

Step 4

Turn the bag out the right way.

Now fill using your choice of filling. I have used rice, and found 2-3 tablespoons full was a good amount. You want the bag to have some weight, but also still be floppy and moveable rather than solid and hard.

Time to close the bag now and keep that precious filling on the inside 😊.

Step 5

Tuck approximately the top 1cm of the raw edge inwards as the final seam allowance and pin to hold in place.

Here you have 2 options how to pin (and sew) the open edge:

Option 1: Simply pin across the top edge so that it is parallel to the already-sewn bottom edge of the bean bag. This will create a flat, rectangular bean bag.

Option 2: Grasp the top edge and pull gently forwards and backwards (rather than flat out to the sides like in Option 1), then pin closed. This will create an almost upright, pyramid-shaped bean bag.

I am sharing photos of Option 2 with you, as describing it is a little trickier. The technique is no more difficult than Option 1, you just have to concentrate more for a couple of seconds 😉.

Step 6

Again using a short stitch length, sew the opening closed, trying to sew very close along the fabric edge.

Bravo! Bean bag finished!

Of course I made 2 bean bags with this fabric, because, hey!, you can’t juggle with just 1!

Psst! I’ll let you in on a secret: I’ve actually already made about 10 with more on the way. Yikes!

Tip! One final piece of important advice: Keep thee bags dry. They are not designed for washing or playing with in the rain. Imagine a bag full of rice getting soaking wet… hmm, totally not delicious.

And another tip! ✨ If you’d like an even EASIER bean bag sewing tutorial, you can grab the free printable instructions HERE!

Bonus! 3 Great Game Ideas for Bean Bags

You probably already can think of activities to do with these bean bags. And any old online search will probably deliver you with a handful more.

So many of these games are great for hand-eye (and foot!) coordination and balance skills, as well as patience and practice. Many can be played alone, or in small groups. And of course, not forgetting, they are FUN!

Here are my 3 fast and easy suggestions:

1. Hopscotch > do you remember hopscotch from your own childhood? Grab some chalk, draw up your hopscotch game (outside), and get hopping.
2. Hacky sack > I think Hacky Sack was an official trademarked term back in the ‘70s. Nowadays it is used to describe a sort of balancing/juggling game, with the aim being to keep the bean bag from falling on the ground by continually kicking and throwing it back and forth between feet and hands.
3. Juggling > here you’ll definitely want more than one bean bag to practice juggling technique! (I can’t say that anyone in our house has managed more than 2 bags at a time though. Patience and practice my pretty, patience and practice 😉.)

We have been doing a lot of hacky sack and (attempted) juggling around here. What will you and your kids be doing with your homemade bean bags? I’d love to hear about it! As always, tag me @everythingsfamtastic when you share your show-off photos!