0r How to transform a bean bag from an artist not a seamstress…
I wanted to continue to update the kids bedroom after adding their paintings and new superhero shelves I moved onto the big red bean bag which has been repaired so many times its in danger of being more cotton that fabric. Luckily for me I was gifted some thick curtain fabric in a bold boyish pattern and thought it would be perfect for recovering the bean bag. Surely curtain fabric can withhold the onslaught that my boys are about to give it…. (right..?)
So I stared measuring my existing beanbag to create a template for the new one, when brainwave I had a great idea. Why not shrink the pattern a bit and make 2!!! The kids are always fighting over it, so why not just make 2 little boy ones…. genius!
This involved some Maths which is definitely not my forte but with the help of my calculator I managed to create a new pattern that was 2 thirds the size of the old one :) So, I got to work…
First I marked out the height, width and base of the panel on the reverse side of the fabric. I then free hand sketched the curve to link the points together (see photos below). I then cut out half of the panel and folded it down the middle to use as a stencil to create a symmetrical shape on the other side.
As you can see below by placing my original bean bag over the top I have created a panel about 2 thirds the size.
Cut out the panel, this will now be your template for the other panels to ensure they are all the same, and also to avoid a lot of unnecessary measuring. I need 4 panels per bean bag so 8 in total. If your fabric will allow, try to tessellate your panels onto the fabric to make the most of what you have (see image below). Plus this trick might leave you with left overs to make some cushions :)
Line up your panels next to each other in the order that you would like them to be stitched and pin together 2 sides. Add the pins vertically this way you can stitch over the top on the machine and you wont have to remove each one. I need my bean bags to be very durable so I decided to add 2 rows of stitching. My first row was on setting 2 on my machine and as you can see in the pics it sews a neat single dashed line of stitches.
Next I removed the pins and went over the original stitch with setting number 9, a tougher zigzag stitch. As you can see from the photos i did this for the 2 sections of the bean bag now I need to join those 2 together to create the 'bag'. Pin the remaining edges together again keeping the pins vertical and run through the machine using the 2 stitch technique shown above. This will be a lot more fiddly because you will have an excess of fabric to the side. Just remember that you are in charge of the machine!!! Not the other way round, so if a row of stitches are running off course, just STOP. Lift up the foot, reposition the fabric to where you want it to go and start again, slowly, is the key if you are not used to a machine, slow and steady wins this race ;)
The base! So, cut out a square to be stitched to the base of the bean bag, try and use a nice pattern in the fabric. Keep open about 60mm on one edge so you can turn your fabric inside out at the end. I find it best to clearly mark this on fabric or I end up getting carried away on the machine and stitch all the sides down which leads to a lot of unpicking and swear words. Again I used the same 2 stitch technique. This will be really fiddly now, I had to release and reposition my foot many times especially on the corners whilst I folded the fabric. Some corners will be very thick, so please go extra slowly so that you don't break the needle.
Using the little hole that you left, squeeze your hand through and grab the end of the beanbag from the inside. Now carefully pull all the fabric through the hole until your bean bag has the pattern side showing. (see photos above).
Next I made a little funnel using paper and tape. Roll the paper into a cone shape, stick the edge with tape and cut off the end to fit the size of your bean bag hole. Now you can start pouring in the little balls. From my experience many of these will escape and you'll be finding them for weeks to come but hopefully you'll get enough in to fill the bag. (see photos below)
Lastly...(phew nearly there) Fold the edges of your bean bag hole inwards and pin together to create a neat seam. Carefully hand stitch or run through your machine to finish.
Congratulations! you now have 2 mini bean bags ready for 2 mini bums :)
Enjoy!
Christina x