Beanbags

These large floor cushions are ideal for children and grown ups alike, not to mention the family pet. Filled with polystyrene balls, beanbags are both warm and comfortable as they mould to your shape.

As an alternative, they can be filled with foam chippings but these tend to make the beanbag lumpy. The filling is encased in a separate inner bag which is made from an inexpensive strong fabric such as calico or ticking so that the cover can be easily removed for laundering. The outer cover is cut in separate panels which is ideal for utilizing spare pieces or off cuts of fabric to make a multi-coloured beanbag.

You will need:
- Hardwearing fabric for the outer cover. 4 pieces, each measuring   64 cm wide and 79 cm long plus 2 pieces, each measuring 74 cm   wide by 37.5 cm long
- Calico or ticking for the inner bag, 6 pieces cut to the same sizes   as the outer fabric
- Strong matching threads
- 50 cm zip
- Polystyrene balls for the filling
- Large sheet of paper for pattern
- Pencil, ruler and length of string

Making the paper pattern for side panel:
Cut a piece of paper 60 cm wide by 75 cm long and mark the centre point along the top edge.

Measure 50 cm up from each bottom corner and mark.

Draw an arc from each side mark to the top centre point and cut along this line.

Making the paper pattern for the base pieces:
Cut a rectangle of paper 36 cm by 71 cm and fold it in half to make a square.

Using a length of string attached to a pencil, draw a quarter circle with a radius of 36 cm.

Cut around the curve and open out.

Making a Beanbag:
1. Cut out 4 side pieces and 2 base pieces using the paper pattern adding 12 mm to all edges for seam allowances.

2. Lay 1 side piece on a flat surface, right side up, and lay a second side piece on top, wrong side up, matching the raw edges.

3. Starting 12 mm from the top edge, pin and stitch down one side edge, 12 mm in from the raw edges.

4. Repeat for the other side panels to make a cone of fabric.

5. Press all the seam allowances to one side.

6. Backstitch through all the layers at the top point to strengthen.

7. Place [1] base piece on a flat surface, right side up, and lay the other piece on top, wrong side up, matching the raw edges.

8. Pin the long straight sides together, 12 mm in from the raw edges. Insert a central zip into this seam and open the zip.

9. Lay the base section on a flat surface, right side up, and lay the fabric cone on top, wrong side out.

10. Pin the bottom edges of the fabric cone around the edge of the base piece, 12 mm in from the raw edges.

11. Clip the seam allowance around the curve so that the fabric lays flat and stitch 12 mm in from the raw edges.

12. Turn right side out through the zip and press.

13. To make the inner bag, repeat steps 1 to 13 omitting the zip and stitching the 2 base sections together along the straight side, 2.5 cm in from the raw edges. Leave an opening, of approximately 15 cm, in one side of the fabric cone for filling. To strengthen the seams, work a second row of stitches within the seam allowance.

14. Using an improvised funnel made from a piece of paper, pour the polystyrene balls into the inner bag until it is half to three quarters full.

15. Turn in the seam allowance on the opening in line with the rest of the seam and work 2 rows of machine stitches across the opening to secure.

16. nsert the bag into the outer cover and close the zip.

  source: images jellybeanbags.co.za - project - home-dzine.co.za