Basic Bean Bags

Bean bags are great for all ages, and there are a million and one things to do with them.  They are easy to make, and keep kids busy for hours if you are willing to teach them a few fun games.

You will need:

• Felt
• Glue (I prefer a glue gun)
• Dry Beans or Peas
• Scissors (straight or pinking shears)

Good to have:

• Funnel
• Sewing Machine

The Project:

Simply cut out a simple square shape.  Glue (or sew) three sides of the square shut, leaving one side open to stuff the bean bag with the peas or beans.  Fill the bean bag (with or without a funnel) and glue (or sew) it shut.  Done!

Tips:

• The glue makes the edges really rigid on small shapes, but isn’t as noticeable on larger shapes.  If you can make it roughly about four inches on each side and not over-glue, the bean bags really turn out much better.  I don’t measure anything, though.  I just guess… They don’t have to be perfect squares even!
• I like to close the first few sides of the bean bags on my own before involving my kids.  My son’s favorite part is pouring the beans through a funnel into the bag!  We make a few at once so that he can move on to stuffing the next one while I close the one he’s just finished stuffing.  His portion of this project moves quickly, so be ready for the kids to be done first!
• This would be a WONDERFUL first sewing project for kids!  All straight lines and simple construction…  Even a few pivots to learn from!  If you’re sewing them, do not start on a corner.  Start just before the first corner and sew all four sides, leaving only one or two inches open right in the middle of the first/fourth side to stuff it.  After stuffing, just sew that side from corner to corner, overlapping the original starting and ending points for reinforcement.  (If you need more info on sewing them, email me; I’m happy to help!)
• Our bean bags are always different designs and/or colors on each side.  It just makes them fun, and lends them to more game possibilities that way.  Plus, they are just the right size to be made out of scrap felt, so it’s easy to make each one unique!
• I like to either clip the corners or cut the square with pinking shears afterward for a fun finish.  That might just be me, but I think they look better that way.
• Our bean bags have been used quite a lot, as I’m sure you can tell from the photo, but they hold up pretty well for how inexpensive the project is, and can easily be replaced.  Just remember to cut them open and re-use the beans!