Tutorial : Mini Bean Bags

Hi there!  Today I am going to show you how to make some mini beanbags.  They can be used either indoors or outdoors (depending on the durability of your material) to play heaps of different games like hopscotch, bean bag toss or plain old 'catch'.  

Ok, here we go...

You will need:

• Fabric - Each bean bag requires 2 pieces of fabric measuring 5 inches x 5 inches.
• A piece of cardboard 5 inches x 5 inches to make the template
• Scissors/rotary cutter (and cutting mat)
• Sewing machine and thread
• Pins
• Stuffing pellets (or dried pinto beans) - each bag requires 1/2 a cup

Instructions:

Start by making a 5 inch square template out of cardboard:

Next, use your template to cut out the fabric for your bean bags.  Each bean bag requires 2 squares of fabric.  I simply cut around the template with my rotary cutter (being VERY careful of my fingers), but if you are using scissors to cut your fabric squares, then you might like to trace around the template with a marker to make it a little easier:

With right sides together, pin two squares of fabric together.  Sew around the edge of the square roughly 5mm's in from the edge, being sure to leave an opening so that the bean bag can be turned in the right way:

Remove the pins and cut across all four corners, being careful not to nip too close to the stitches:

Turn the bean bag out the right way, making sure you push each of the corners out as far as you can:

Next, take your stuffing pellets (or beans) and a 1/4 measuring cup.  You will need 1/2 a cup of pellets or beans in each of the bean bags, but the I prefer to use the 1/4 cup to measure as it fits better in the opening of the bean bag:

Once you have put your pellets or beans in, pin the opening shut:

Sew around all four edges, roughly 5mm's in from the edge.  Note that you will need to jiggle the pellets or beans out of the way as you sew around the edges.  You don't want one of those things getting under your needle.... trust me!

Once done, repeat the process for as many bean bags as you want to make!

Don't you just love this fantastic vintage fabric I got at a garage sale?!