It’s Wednesday the 14th, which means it’s time to share this season’s completely unofficial Pinterest Challenge (not sponsored by Pinterest or anyone else) — a fun push to stop pinning and start making, dreamed up by Katie.
This time I made a homemade beanbag for Clara’s closet, something I mentioned last Wednesday when Katie, Erin, Cassie and I launched our little get-off-your-butt-and-create challenge.
I borrowed ideas from several pins and tutorials and then added my own twist. The result is this comfy little beanbag…
…perfect for a kid to plop down on…
…a dog to lounge on…
…a toddler reading to a chihuahua…
…or for a tired mom or dad to rest on for a few minutes.
After I shared my plan, two kind commenters pointed me to a great tutorial that I followed closely. It was clear, concise, and easy to follow even for a novice like me — and I even managed to master piping, which felt like a big accomplishment. I was so excited I called my mom to share!
My approach was simple: follow the tutorial, scale up a bit for size, and improvise when necessary. I wanted a larger beanbag than the tutorial’s 17″ diameter, so I made my pattern 22″ wide. I’m no professional seamstress, so I improvised in a few spots, but the end result is comfortable, attractive, and earned two enthusiastic toddler thumbs up. All that wrestling with the sewing machine was worth it.
Here’s how I built it. The original tutorial includes detailed measurements and clear photos; I followed the instructions but adjusted the size. I cut two 22″ circles for the top and bottom, two tabs for the handle, and a long rectangular strip for the side panel. I used leftover patterned fabric from a book project for most pieces, and a coordinating solid for the remaining circle.
I pinned piping around the perimeter of each circle with the piping aligned to the edge and the fabric print side up, leaving the ends open as directed. I also added piping along both edges of one fabric tab to create the handle.
I stitched along the piping with my sewing machine, following the line of thread in the piping. It turned out to be easier than I expected and even rather meditative once I got into the rhythm. After sewing both circles and the handle, I pinned the two handle pieces together, stitched them, and turned them right side out to admire the neat piping. A broken needle while finishing the handle was a hiccup, but replacing it was quick and I kept going.
Next I pinned one circle to the long rectangular side panel (print side down) and stitched along the same piping thread line. Then I turned that section right side out and positioned the handle, sewing it securely in place with a box-and-X stitch for strength.
I then pinned the remaining circle to the bottom, stitched most of the seam along the piping line but left a small opening to turn the entire piece right side out and stuff it. For filling I reused the batting from four old pillows — a great way to recycle items that were past their prime for the guest room.
After stuffing, I hand-stitched the opening closed. I did buy a zipper with plans to install it later so the cover can be removed for washing — for now a small hand-stitched seam keeps everything secure and can be opened again if needed.
One happy surprise: when I pinned the top fabric I accidentally had one edge slightly folded so the pattern wrapped over the top and dripped down the side. Once I turned the beanbag right side out I realized it created a lovely, intentional-looking effect. Beginners’ luck, apparently.
For cost: I used leftover fabric and coupons to keep expenses low. The breakdown:
- $0 for one yard of leftover fabric
- $2.38 for two packs of white piping (on sale)
- $1.19 for a zipper (bought to add later)
- $1.50 for white thread
- Total: $5.07
Be sure to check Katie, Erin, and Cassie to see the amazing projects they made for the Pinterest Challenge. And if you’ve completed a project this week, we’d love to see it! If you’ve blogged about it, add a link to your specific project post (not your homepage) using the link tool at the bottom of the original post. If you don’t have a blog, feel free to share photos in the comments or link to a public gallery so we can all admire what you made. We can’t wait to see your creations.