How To: Bean Bag Chair

We're always shocked at how expensive bean bag chairs are in stores. They don't have structure or complicated construction and are made from relatively inexpensive materials. What gives? If you're even mildly handy with a sewing machine, it's quite easy to make your own.

Our favorite tutorial for this project can be found on Making It Fun, the blog of Michael Miller fabrics (the bean bag chairs here are seen in fabrics from their Dick and Jane line). You primary materials will be six yards of fabric and bean bag pellets (from craft stores like Joanns, Michael's, etc.). The tutorial has tons of photos so you can follow along at every step.

(Via: Craft)

Comments (9)

I also hate how expensive bean bags are, so I bought a bean bag cover at Pottery Barn Kids for $20 and filled it with all of the stuffed animals that are taking over my toddlers room! Storage and a soft chair!

posted by candice_jo on February 5th 2009 at 2:29pm
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candice_jo....
that is a fantastic idea! Thank you.

posted by kpag on February 5th 2009 at 2:34pm
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I just looked on the Joann site and they sell a half cubic foot of bean bag pellets for $18. The directions say to use one 100 liter bag... that's about 3.5 cubic feet, so we're talking over $100 just for the pellets.

I guess if you have some filler lying around, it could be worth it. Else, it is probably cheaper just to buy one.. even with one of those 50 pct off Joann coupons.

posted by jyw on February 5th 2009 at 10:22pm
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Thanks for featuring my tutorial. :)

jyw, I actually purchased the pellets at my local Fred Meyer. The 100 liter bag was under $20.

Joanna
www.stardustshoes.blogspot.com

posted by ypsitucky on February 5th 2009 at 10:46pm
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Yowza. I need to find me a Fred Meyer.

Anyone know a cheap place to get pellets in Chicago?

posted by jyw on February 6th 2009 at 4:50am
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Good tip.....I love bean bag chairs. They are so simple yet so comfortable.

posted by AE on February 6th 2009 at 10:43am
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thanks for the nice tutorial...you made easy to make a bean bag chair. Please feel free to visit this elephant bean bags website for comfortable and inexpensive bean bag chairs.

posted by fatboybeanbag on February 11th 2009 at 3:16am
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So, I was halfway through making this bean bag chair before I realized how expensive indeed the filler is! Anyone come up with a cheaper solution - especially for those of us in Chicago without a Fred Meyer store??

posted by lowem on May 20th 2009 at 1:49pm
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Hey nice photos and tutorial link. Like the 70's bean bag the most.

I stitched together some material I cut from my old cord flares and have be a nice corduroy bean bag now! I struggled to buy the filling locally but managed to buy online at Bean Bag Filling

posted by brookester on June 13th 2009 at 2:08pm
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