Making your own bean bag chair is a great budget-friendly furniture project and an excellent way to create a custom piece of furniture without a lot of effort. You can choose the ideal fabrics for your room, rather than selecting from the limited options available in stores. What's more, this is a fun project that you'll be proud to show off.
Child's Bean Bag Chair Pattern
This child-sized bean bag chair is easy to make. Choose fabrics like cotton duck or corduroy that are heavy-duty and can take some wear. For fun, use two contrasting fabrics for a patchwork effect. Expect this project to take about two hours.
If you need help downloading the printable instructions, check out these helpful tips.
Things You'll Need
- Two yards of desired fabric
- Bean bag filling, available at your craft store
- Sewing machine and thread
- Hand sewing needle
- Pins
- Scissors
What to Do
- Click on the image to save the pattern to your computer. Then enlarge and print out the pattern.
- Cut six of the side piece and two of the circle piece.
- Stack two side pieces on top of each other, right sides together. Pin and sew up one curved edge, using a half-inch seam allowance.
- Add another side piece and sew the seam. Continue until all the side pieces are sewn together to make the sides of the bean bag chair.
- Pin one of the circle pieces to the ends of the side pieces and sew together using a half-inch seam allowance.
- Pin the other circle to the remaining end, and sew half-way around.
- Turn the bean bag casing right side out. Fill with the desired amount of bean bag filling (approximately 3 cubic feet).
- Pin the opening closed and hand sew shut using doubled thread.
Adult-Sized Bean Bag Chair
This larger, adult-sized bean bag chair is just as easy to sew as the child's version. It includes a handy carrying loop for moving the chair from place to place in your home. Expect to spend about two hours making this chair.
Things You'll Need
- Six yards heavy duty fabric
- Bean bag filling, available at your craft store
- Sewing machine and thread
- Hand sewing needle
- Pins
- Scissors
- Iron
What to Do
- Click on the image of the pattern and save it to your computer. Print out the pattern and enlarge as directed.
- Cut one hexagonal base, following the instructions on the pattern pieces for folding the fabric. Cut six side pieces, folding the fabric as specified. Cut out the strap piece.
- Fold the strap piece in half lengthwise, right sides together, and pin. Sew the long side using a half-inch seam allowance. Turn the strap piece right side out and iron. Top stitch both sides of the strap for added strength.
- Pin two side pieces with their right sides together. Sew up one side seam, using a half-inch seam allowance. Continue adding side pieces, but stop when you are ready to attach the last two panels together.
- Fold the strap in half and place it in the seam of the last two side panels, near the top of the bean bag. Sew up the final side seam, securing the strap.
- Turn the bean bag casing over, and pin the hexagonal base to the bottom of the side panels. Sew almost all the way around, leaving enough room to turn the bean bag casing right side out.
- Turn the casing right side out and fill it with the bean bag filling (about 10 cubic feet). Pin up the open area and hand stitch it closed using doubled thread.
Be the Furniture Designer
Experiment with different fun fabrics for your bean bag chairs. Solids are easiest to work with, but prints can also add a fun pop of color to any room.
