DIY: Sew a Kids Bean Bag Chair in 30 Minutes

Gift Idea Geek says:

Super cute idea for a gift as well! We love it! However, I think you’re being very optimistic about our sewing skills. I may just need to invest in that sewing room after all!
Thanks for sharing!
Andrew

Andreah Cole says:

Great instructions and photos. I have just made 2bena bags from this pattern for my girls for Christmas. They are quite big and really comfy!

Elina says:

Hi, I am just beginning to sew, so still learning many things. May I ask if linen canvas fabric is going to be too heavy??? It is pricey too. What other options of heavyweight/medium weight fabric could be a good fit (i.e
what are they called basically)? thanks a lot in advance.

Tara says:

Would I be able to use quilting cotton for this or would it rip too easily? If I were to use quilting cotton would I need to make an inside liner?

Raewyn says:

Just made one for my 9 year old daughter. Used a single sized quilt cover, doubled over (so two thicknesses of material). Double stitched all seams, but didn’t cut anything so no need to zig zag stitch the edges to stop fraying. I found a free old beanbag online, took out the zip and used it in my beanbag, so mine has the proper safety zip in it. So pleased with the overall result! Using a quilt cover makes a great size for tween/teen. I can sit in it comfortably (small adult). As others said, better to put the zip in before doing the curved side, BUT make sure the zip is open before stitching the curved side! I didn’t, and had a great deal of trouble getting the zip open from within the material!!! Took waaaayyy more than 30 min, but I am quite inexperienced (first time I have sewed a zip). Overall about 4-5 hours over 3 evenings. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Thanks for the fabulous pattern!

Deb Van Sickle says:

I Made it…Pretty easy!! The zipper was a challenge for me only because I lack the experience. I added my Grandson’s name in applique on the side with left over scraps from the top (BATMAN) fabric that I used on the top.
Thank you for the tutorial, I think he will love it.

Caroline Scott says:

Thinking about making two of these but for very small children so I will need to make a liner that can be sealed and then the outer can be washed easily. Please can you advise me on the best sort of fabric to use for the liner? I was going to use blackout curtain lining fabric with is slightly rubbery on the inside but I have seen more of a netting that is sold for this purpose. My worry with that is not being able to copy the exact shape with a stockinette. Will I be ok to use the curtain lining?

Kacey Warren says:

I am sewing up 4 of these for use with our at-home learning pod due to COVID. I found the filling for 50% off and the yardage was also on sale, so they ended up being about $30 per bag – way cheaper than you could get in a store. Thanks for the tutorial!!

Tina says:

I am not making a 2 toned bag. All one piece of fabric. Does that mean that I don’t need to cut the fabric in half, and not make the extra stitching?

deborah says:

If you sew the sides together then cut the fabric wouldnt the zig zag stitching come undone?

Sarah says:

Loved this! I made two of them. So easy and the kids loved them! I used outdoor upholstery fabric so they are water and stain resistant.

Jessica says:

Anyone try this by hand ? I’m attempting it. Slowly lol

Kelly says:

Still totally love this bean bag! I featured it on our article 6 DIY Kids Bean Bags And Kids Poufs
a while back :)

Laura says:

Any tips for getting the zip neat ? I got it right on second attempt after unpicking first go but still bit of a fluke rather than knowing exactly what I was doing as never fitted a zip before
Thanks

Yogan says:

Great tutorial! I’m just about doing same thing, any recommendations for a strong fabric?

Shirley says:

Carina, it is expensive if you don’t look for or wait for the deals at the fabric store for the thicker, sturdier materials. I made mine out of old jeans and the liner from 2 old bed sheets. Free! The most expensive was the polytfill/beads. I did pay about 60$ for it but some people stuffed them with old stuffed animals. Probably not as comfy but it can work and also serve as storage for all those stuffies that they can’t part with!

Mariaan Joubert says:

This is so great! Thanx Hayley! What would happen if I were to make a seperate bag inside that also has a zipper for the bean bag filling… so if I want to wash the outside cover (which also has a zipper) I can just take out the inner bag… and also make it less accessable for the kiddies to get to get filling by inserting the inner bag zipper facing down or at the bottom of the outer bag… so for my actual question…. how big must the inner bag be? Same size? Smaller? If so, how much smaller do you think?

Logan says:

Hello! How should I do the last edge if I’m not using a zipper? Thanks! I’m a novice sewer :)

Eluxury Home says:

Wow Great! This Article is so helpful for us.

Sarah says:

Spent ages in hobby craft earlier with youngest feeling all the fabrics, he is very sensitive to touch.
Found some fluffy stuff he likes, let’s hope it works

Alison McAndie says:

Love this easy post!
When sewing the zip make sure it is open or you will find you cannot turn the bag right side out! I have some ripstop fabric to use on one side so my grandchildren can sit on the grass!

Kimberly Mayo says:

OMG!!!!! This was SO easy to make and your instructions were AWESOME!!! I made mine a little bigger, well, I made it as large as I could with the material I had and it turned out so big it took 5.0 cubic feet of beans! I’m sure my granddaughter will love it though! Thanks so much for the great tutorial!!!

Linda Burrell says:

Pam, the styrofoam pellets we’re no better. I ended up chasing them so over my house and they were a nightmare to get stuffed in to my cotton liner bag for my fleece chair!!
Don’t plan on these filters being any easier to work with!!

Janice says:

I love this idea for my girls reading nook. I am always looking for ways to be more healthful and love the idea of making my own so that I can fill with natural shredded latex rather than the the polystyrene that they “claim” to be non-toxic :( I would like to know what is the finished size once it is filled? Does anyone have that info? Thank you in advance.

Linda says:

Beth,

The fleece seems to be working out well. It’s a substantial fleece rather than a thinner fabric. I also made the inner lining with the beads out of muslin so it can be washed. I am still finishing up the zippers on the bottom (I hope the third time is a charm as I’ve done them a few times now — one won’t work if you want to be able to remove the entire bag of beads in the muslin liner and then I was a little directionally challenged).

If I could post a pic, I would…but I’d definitely say — go for it!

Alysa says:

this was so much fun to make and I am so excited to give it to my 3 year old. we’re using it as a home for stuffed animals :)

Beata says:

Great tutorial! I’m just about doing same thing, any recommendations for a strong fabric?

Rebecca Smith says:

Do you hem the fabric before adding the zip? Would it not frey otherwise?

Tasha says:

Do you have any more info between steps 6 and seven…was going well untill i got to this point.

Linda says:

Have you heard if anyone has made this out of fleece? I’m looking to make one for a friend’s new baby out of their university’s fleece rather than the thin cotton alternate available in the school’s fabric.
Such a great idea!! I can’t wait to complete one and send it off!

Susan says:

Hi – I haven’t made this yet but regarding the zipper – you could sew an extra piece of fabric over the zipper end to cover pull tag like they do on children’s wonder suits. Just takes the visual away from the child. You could also remove the pull piece which is often done on other larger bean bags

Mark says:

Hi, thanks for sharing! I just made a grown-up sized bean bag chair, and took some inspiration for construction from your helpful description. Now that I have a better idea what I’m doing maybe I’ll try to adapt this shape for an adult; the back looks like a nice touch.

Jenny says:

I made this wonderful bean bag too. Possibly because the fabrics I had left over from making roman blinds from my daughter’s bedroom were similar to the ones you used. I slightly overfilled it but it’s getting better and is really comfy, even for adults!

Tina Peterson says:

Lol – Gigi would be the kiddo who opened this bag. If there is a zipper or button insight she’s messin’ with it! Another thing you could do is sew the beanbag with an outdoor type fabric. Sew it shut. Then make a slipcover that can be zipped and removed to wash.

I actually came from another website who sewed one of these up for her toddler and I thought it was more of a square pillow leaned against the wall. I was thinking it would be great for nap time. I may have to try this.

Sarah says:

This might be a “stupid” question, but:
Does that mean I add the 5/8 seam allowance to the dimensions, or do I take from it once it is cut?

Éva says:

Kedves Hayley! Nagyon örülök, hogy rátaláltam erre a bemutatóra. Köszönöm! Szeretném én is elkészíteni a közelgő karácsonyra! Éva

anoymous says:

thank you so much for this pattern though planning on making this for a Christmas present!!!!!

ShoelessShop says:

Also trying a mix of beans and foam…we’ll see!

Holly says:

Hi I’m making this for my daughter who is 5 when cutting the fabric which is the width and which is the length measurements?
Is the width the shorter or the longer one
Thankyou

Artsy Fartsy in Florida says:

WONDERFUL FUN AND EASY! 58×40 good adult size (might go to 60×40 on next one)
I made a liner from a sheet (first sheet was too old and puppy nails popped 4 holes that pooped beans everywhere…. ) so made a new liner from new sheet, sewed all 4 sides as above BUT left a 15 opening (no zipper on the liner) when it came time to fill……
1. took a paper trash bag and cut a 4 inch hole in the bottom corner
2. stuffed the paper bag into the liner gap 1/3 way at an angle and used packing tape to connect it to the fabric and the bag from the outside
3. put my leaky bag on the table (used packing tape to cover the holes) and cut off one corner about 2 inches to make a round pastry tube like funnel.
4. had hubby hold the bag and the liner while I tipped the “pastry bag” into the trash bag….. fill away…. about 1/2
5. had hubby shake the beans into liner then we repeated (I am not that tall so he had me stand on a step stool so he could raise the bag higher as the liner filled up.) Worked like a charm…. just sewed the liner with a basting stitch to try out the amount of fill…. WE have a new Christmas present idea for the whole family! Even teaching the 8 year old to sew and make 2 for the brothers!
Thank you for inspiring me to get this project DONE! (HUBBY and Son thank you too as the “poofing beans” are all contained!) Thought about using my round OATMEAL Paper can but it is in reserve for another project.

Mary says:

Thanks for your tutorial, made it quite easy to follow. I made a pair of these for my classroom library. They turned out great!

Sarah says:

I have made two adult/teen size of these bean bag chairs for the family and we love them! Thank you so much for sharing!

Jean Kritenbrink says:

I made the chair and it turned out so cute. I made a liner as I have cats and know it will at least have to be tossed in the dryer occasionally. I made the liner just like the chair and when I filled it, I put the liner inside the chair and lined up the curved front seams on both and clipped them together on the outside with large office clips so that the liner would stay in place while we filled it. After the filling, I took them off. I posted about it tonight on my blog if you want to take a peek! quiltinjeanie.blogspot.com

Barbara says:

Really pleased with this, my granddaughter will love it! I put the zip in before sewing the curved edge, much easier! I used dress fabric 100% cotton and double stitched the seams.

Texas Susannie says:

Love this!! Perfect Christmas gift for the grand babies!

becky says:

This is so cute! The kids are getting a fresh paint and redo in their rooms….this might be on the list to make for them.

jean says:

Hi Hayley. I just found you and this adorable bean bag chair. Is this a pattern I can purchase to teach a class? If not, do you allow teachers to teach using your tutorial? Thanks for taking the time to answer!

Kerry says:

Hi,

I’ve used a bean bag liner in mine as I do not trust my 4 year old not to open it , in using this I dont get the same shape chair when it’s not in use any tips on how best to use the liner to create the top peak.

Linda says:

Just sew a few rounds over the zipper right behind the zipper pull and they can’t open it. You can just break the threads when you want to refill it that way.

Ryan says:

Can this chair sit on its own and have the back (head part) stay sturdy, or does it have to lay up against a wall?

Thanks

Janice says:

I made this and love it ! Wish I’d seen it earlier for all my kids when they were little. I made it firstly in white cotton fabric and filled it with the beads, then I made another case in pinks with a zip, that way it can be washed.

clara says:

just made one of these with a case for my daughter for her birthday and im seriously thinking about making one for me haha! it was so easy to make, its really comfy and supports your back very well. would make a great gaming chair (hence why i want one :). the hardest part was getting the beans into the bag. i strongly recommend having a helper (man them things are crazy) i also recommend using a longer zipper for on the case if you decide to go that route, it was kind of difficult to get the bag inside without putting a lot of pressure on the zipper. i also sewed the inside bag shut completely to eliminate the risk of a bean tsunami as my daughter is only turning one and i didn’t want her to ever be able to open it. thank you! this was a great project for an impatient sewer lol

Marleen says:

Thanks for a great post. While I am an accomplished “sewer”, with a one-year-old running around, I don’t really have the time to make a proper 6-sided beanbag. I love your pattern and can’t wait to make one for my daughter in fabric that matches the cushion covers I made for the sofa.

For those questioning the inner bag size, cut the same size as the outer omitting the seam allowance, this should give you enough play. Place the inner in the outer bag before filling for ease. Hoe that helps anyone.

Latoni says:

How did you make that indentation part in the middle?

Val says:

This chair looks fantastic! I would love to make one for my niece for Christmas. What size does the chair turn out to be? I’d like to adapt your instructions slightly in size to make a mini beanbag chair that would be toddler size.
Thanks!

Marion says:

I made this today. Super easy and super cute. I used a fleecy fabric with “My Little Pony”. My kid loves it.

Jennywren says:

Hi, do you think faux leather would work well on this? My lo has a bad dust allergy and I figured that would be more allergy friendly, plus wipe clean! My machine is a workhorse (1940s electric singer) so would be well able for the job. I could do an inner like most have done and the zip isn’t a problem because I’ve a few feet of upholsterers zip somewhere that can be cut to length. For people asking about filler, it’s the same polystyrene beads they use for house insulation so if you can’t find it in your local haberdashery try your local builders merchants

Marianna says:

Hi Erika, if I understand well, width or length does not matter, since you can turn the fabrics. However, if your fabric is horizontally patterned 45 is the longer, it will be the length and you put the zipper into the smaller side (32). Sorry if I misunderstood your question. I have made another for an older child – just cut a duvet cover into half. Based on my own experience it is also convenient for a teen or even for a not sooo tall adult (I’m 177 and just had a wink of sleep in it :)). But in this case 1 1/2 or even 2 times more filling material was needed.

Erika says:

I have a silly question. Is it 45L x 32W? I always get confused when it just gives dimensions.
Thanks!!
Love this tutorial!!

Chloe Witty says:

I really love this easy DIY! I have been looking for an easy way to make a bean bag chair for ages and i am loving this one! I live in Germany and i am not finding a German eqivalent to bean bag filler and i was wondering if you had any other alternatives or suggestions of what else i could fill the chair with? Also, is there a suggestion of how much bigger i should make the chair for an adult? Thank You!

Lisa Stubbs says:

I Luuuurve these beanbags and would love to try making them for my 2 sons. Been a complete beginner when it comes to sewing, when you state doing a zigzag stitch then straight stitch, do you mean next to each other (if so, which goes on the inside/outside please) or a straight stitch on top of the zig zag?
Many thanks x

Saralynn says:

I just made a adult pouf for hubie at 36/50 ish size looks like it will work as a game chair just fine

A good way to fill is get a wide tube (Pringles tube size) and duck tape it to the bag with it zipper snug to it then using another set of hands clip off the corner of beans a little larger then the tube wile pinching it off then give a twist to hold it all down then have your extra set of hand hold it like it is and duck tape it onto your tube and untwist and push it all in

I did this way and didn’t have any little balls to pick up same type you used as well :)

Tho his will take more then the 1 bag of fill it only has one in atm i have another bag I will partly add when his birthday is closer since it’s his present :)

Connie says:

Thank you so much! I just made two of these for my 3yrds room:)

Kirk@adequateliving.com says:

Really cool tutorial. I would definitely consider trying this out. My only concern would be the bag being sewed tight enough to keep the filling in and the eventual wear and tear from children constantly sitting and playing on the bean bag. However I would love to try make one just to see for myself.

Amy says:

I made this about four months ago. My little guy loved it, until the stuffing seemingly started to disintegrate. I used the filler pictured in your tutorial. I also noticed a note at the bottom stating that you may want to open it to refill it. Have you noticed your bean bag getting limp and flat?

Sally says:

Made two of these yesterday for my niece and nephew. Such a great pattern. They were a much loved gift today!! Thanks so much.

Jo says:

Stayed up last night and made these for my twin daughters 7th birthday today. I made them slightly bigger but kept the proportions – so they’re 125 by 90cm (50 inches long dimension) and they took a bag and a half of beans each. Size-wise they’re great, and will last them for ages. I made them from ikea fabric and my girls love them – thanks for the tutorial!

julie says:

Thanks so o o much for this tutorial. This will be super easy and quick (I’ve been asked to make three). Just got to hope for fab fabric at local shop..

Jamie says:

I can’t wait to make one of these. Plan on filling it with my daughters large collection of stuffed animals.

Teresa Hardy says:

I just bought my fabric to make this. I got the softest ever fake fur for one side and a very soft, pliable vinyl for the back side. So the side that sits on the (sometimes dirty) hardwood floor will be the vinyl side and be easy to wipe clean and the cozy side (with the more expensive fabric (the fake fur) will stay clean as it’s on the top. I am making a lining out of muslin so the outer bag can come off and be washed. Thanks for this tutorial. Fingers crossed my sewing machine will play nice while sewing through fake fur and vinyl!

Hayley says:

I just have a fairly basic model made by Brother. My recommendation of upholstery fabric was based more on wanting people to avoid the really thin quilting cottons, than having to seek out anything ultra-heavy. My Joann’s store has a “upholstery” section that offers slightly sturdier cottons in widths around 54″. My regular needle handled it just fine. Hope that helps!

Hayley says:

My daughter was 5 when I did this tutorial and she could comfortably use it for another couple years. But, you certainly wouldn’t go wrong enlarging the dimensions if you wanted. Just multiply your longest side length by 1.4 to find the shorter side length.

Stacey says:

I would like to make this and was wondering what kind of sewing machine you have? I’ve never sewn upholstery fabric and just want to make sure my machine would be able to handle it. Would I need a different needle?

Jennifer says:

where can I find bean bag filler?? I have checked walmart and hobby lobby neither had it. and the price I find online is $16 for the bag shown in your picture :/ HELP!

Lucie says:

Hello Hayley! Thank you for this great idea! I was just wondering what age is the girl on the picture? I would like to make one for my niece who is 5 years old, so I wonder if I should make one a little bit bigger if I want it to last a few years??

Carmen Kells says:

Hi April, I did make the inserts the same size. It was a bit tricky getting the inner bag through the outer bag, and I did actually use a 24″ zip (accidental, not on purpose!) , there was a lot of shuffling and shaking and poking to get it in, I think I kinda did it a bit like an hour glass – put the empty inner bag bit in first, then let the beans fill that bottom section and shuffle etc. Hope that helps?!!

Carmen Kells says:

Hello Emma,

I chose to use the same fabric for top and bottom. Making 6 fabric choices seemed too hard at the time! Its not the best photo, and the kids arn’t exactly using them the right way (this was more of a bean bag pile)…. but they LOVE them!

Carmen Kells says:

thanks so much for this tutorial, I’ve just completed my 3rd bean bag! I decided to sew cheap cotton inner bags for the beans (that I sewed shut) so that the outer bags are easily washable. I ‘m sure my kids will be very excited when they see them in the morning!

BBF says:

tried

Laura says:

Looks great! I’d like to make this but fill it with fiberfill for extra cuddliness. How many pounds do you think I will need?

Hayley says:

I think that cutting down the dimensions a couple inches will give you
the best bang for your buck. 43 x 30 sounds great! Since it’s for a 2.5 yr old, the small size difference won’t matter much. Good luck!

BL says:

Hi! This is great! I’d like to make a bean bag chair for a 2 1/2 year old. The fabric I’d like to use, though, is only 44″ wide. Would you recommend just buying more fabric or cutting down the dimensions of the panels so I don’t have to buy as much fabric (30 X 43, for example). I appreciate any thoughts you have about this!

Hayley says:

I don’t see why not! Try it out and let us know.

Britney Wilkes says:

What kind of fabric did you use? Was it the upholstery weight or did you just use a print fabric?

Constance says:

Can I double the measurements and make a big one?!

sakshisinha says:

Really nice information about kids bean bags. I’m very happy to look at your blog, It’s just amazing one.

NoAdditives says:

You could easily make an inner, completely closed bag to hold the beans, while keeping the cute fabric as a cover. Then there’s no worry of little ones choking, and it’s washable!