Updated at: 12-09-2022 - By: Sienna Lewis

Did you know that learning how to make a bean bag pillow can allow you to enjoy the benefits of a sofa for a much lesser price? Creating your very own bean bag pillow from scratch can give you a more profound sense of personal satisfaction, as well as an appreciation for this beautiful addition to your home.

What are the benefits of Creating Your Own Bean Bag?

For others, however, it is not all about the cost. Couches take up a lot of space, are sometimes hard to match with the interior, and rearranging or moving them can be challenging. If there is something that can solve those problems, it is a bean bag.

The next obstacle would then be to know what kind to buy. Finding one on the market with good quality and a low price to boot would be pretty tricky. The best way to get what you want without spending much is to make one yourself.

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Benefit #1: It’s portable

What makes this piece of accessory a great addition to your daily living spaces is that they’re very portable. You won’t have to tire yourself out while you’re dragging it from one corner of the room to another. Also, unlike other pieces of furniture that can potentially scratch your excellent wood tiling when you’re transporting them, a bean bag won’t cause damage to your floors.

Benefit #2: You can easily match it to your color scheme

Aside from adding a bit of fun to your indoor or outdoor living spaces, a bean bag can also add a pop of color to your overall design. If you want to change its design, you can change its cover. Additionally, you won’t have difficulty finding a perfect spot for it in any of your rooms because it can easily take on any shape or form so long as it’s within its limits.

Benefit #3: It’s easy to maintain

One of the best things about a bean bag is that it’s straightforward to clean and maintain. You can unzip its cover and wash it. Next, wipe the bean bag clean, and you’re all set. The process of changing and refilling its “beans” is far from being complicated as well.

A Guide to Crafting a DIY Bean Bag Pillow

Before you proceed, you should know that there are different bean bags, although that commonly pertains to cylindrical chairs. Conversely, bean bag pillows are rectangular cushions, only more extensive and more comfortable to use.

What are the materials used for bean bag pillows?

Before making the bean bag pillow, you should, of course, get everything that you would need beforehand. Of course, when it comes to the specifications, such as the color and texture, that depends on your taste. But the following are what you would require.

You will need two rectangular fabrics of the same size for the cover or the body, depending on how big you intend to create the bean bag pillow. If you are undecided about the size you want, try a 50 by 70 inches fabric.

When it comes to the type of cloth, it also depends on your choice. However, you are recommended to use medium-weight cotton as it is soft yet not lightweight. If you want to use something else, choose a durable fabric that is not too stiff and rough.

For the exact measurement as the other two fabrics mentioned, prepare another pair of cloth equal in size for the inner bag. This time, choose a light material that would not stretch easily, like muslin.

Get yourself a hook-and-loop fastener, commonly called Velcro after the popular brand name for its kind, with the exact measurement as your chosen width. In the case of the recommended size, it is 50 inches for both sides or opposing surfaces.

Get your embroidery or stitching kit ready as well, precisely your sewing machine, needle and thread, and hemming or basting pin. Another essential material for this crafting session would be the pellets or alternative fillers for your bean bag pillow.

Make a Rectangular Shape Bean Bag Pillow

Do you believe you can prepare a brand-new bean bag pillow within 1 hour? Yes, it is. The best thing is you can use existing resources. So, you do not need to spend dollars. Let’s look at the process.

Required Materials

  • 1 yard of Fabrics: Cotton, Velvet, Faux far, Linen, Silk
  • Microbead filler
  • Sewing machine and threads
  • Zipper
  • Pins

Decide the Size of Bean Bag Pillow

First, you should understand your requirement. Then you can decide the correct size of pillow that can fulfill your requirement.

You can create different shaped bean bag pillows as follows. Moreover, here I mentioned the possible usage of these types of bean bags pillows.

10 Best Beanbag Chairs 2022 | The Strategist

Square shape bean bag pillow

11 x 11: Backrest, Headrest

Rectangular bean bag pillow

14-inch x 10 inches: Backrest

14-inch x 20 inches: Sleeping pad

Cylindrical shape bean bag pillow

3.5-inch x 7 inches: Armrest, Knee rest

7-inch x 12 inches: Neck rest, footrest

Rather than the sizes mentioned above, you can try sizes as you wish.

Here I describe how to make a rectangular shape bean bag pillow that has 14-inch x 20-inch dimensions.

Step 1: Take a piece of fabric and cut 14-inch x 20 inches two pieces.

We use this fabric to create a standard pillowcase. Moreover, at the final step, we fill beans into this sac. Therefore, this fabric should have enough strength.

Further, if you are not using any outer cover for a bean bag pillow, it is better to select good-quality fabric. Because this sac directly exposes to the people.

Step 2: Place the two fabric pieces together right-side-in.

You can use pins to secure edges. Also, you can turn the bean bag pillow right side out later.

Step 3: Sew the three edges using a sewing machine.

Safety is a primary consideration of every accessory. If seaming has not had enough strength, the microbead can spill out from the bean bag pillow.

So, to ensure the safety of the bean bag pillow, you should seam the three edges twice. Try to use matching thread colors. It will enhance the final product quality.

Do not seam and close the bag entirely because you need one opening to fill microbeads into the bean bag pillow. Thus, leave one 14’’ side free.

Here, you can draw a line on fabric and follow that for seaming. The first seaming line should be 1 cm inside from the edge. Then you stitch one more raw just a few millimeters inside of the first line.

Step 4: Take the seam and fold it back onto itself.

This should do right along the second stitching line. Also, this is an extra step. But if you have toddlers or kids, do this step too.

This step can give extra strength to your pillow seaming. So, do this process for all three edges of the bean bag pillow and leave one edge free.

Step 5: Turn the bean bag pillow good side out.

If you use very thick fabrics like denim, you should have to cut corners off first. Then turn the pillow right side out. Finally, use your fingers to push the corners out.

Step 6: Fill microbead into the prepared sac.

You can use the open edge of the pillow. But keep in mind bean balls have a static charge. Hence, you should do this process carefully. If you need more details about how to remove bean bag balls to another sac, click here.

After the pillow is filled with enough beans, use a rubber band or thread to tie the opening. You should tie it few inches down from the open edge.

Step 7: Fold the open edge and sew It.

In this step, you can fold the edge ½ inch and sew it using the machine. Also, it is better to stitching two or three lines.

Moreover, make sure these bean bag pillow seams do not have t any gaps or damaged places because microbeads can spill out from tiny spaces.

Now your bean bag pillow is ready to serve you!

However, if you want to cover your bean bag pillow, you can create an outer cover using the steps above.

Furthermore, use a zipper for one side of the outer cover. Then you can remove and clean it easily.

Make a Cylindrical Shape Bean Bag Pillow

Do you need back support? Or else do you need hug bolsters when you sleep. Try the below method.

Required Materials

  • 1 yard of Fabrics: Cotton, Velvet, Faux far, Linen, Silk
  • Microbead filler
  • Sewing machine and lines
  • Zipper
  • Pins

Here I give guidelines to create a cylindrical bean bag pillow with a 5-inch diameter and 24-inch length. But you can create customized sizes according to your requirement.

Bean Bag Pillow - Etsy

This bean bag pillow is the same as a cylinder. So, use the “ 2. Pi. r”

formula to calculate the required width and length of the fabric. In here, Pi is a constant, and “r” is a radius.

If you want to calculate different size bean bag pillows, try this calculator.

Step 1: Take a suitable fabric and draw two circles that have a 2.5 radius.

Step 2: Then, draw a rectangle that has 16.7-inch x 24-inch length and width.

Step 3: Cut the two circles pieces and a rectangle piece.

In here, you should have extra space for stitching. Thus, when you cut the fabric, allow one inch extra space from the drawn lines for the seams.

Step 4: Fold the rectangle in half lengthwise while the right side facing in.

Step 5: Double sew the bean bag pillow along the 24-inch edge.

Double stitching enhances the strength of the seam. After this step, you get the tube-like structure.

Step 6: Pin the edges of the circle to one edge of rectangle fabric.

In this step, you should place a circular fabric piece inside out.

Step 7: Start sewing circle piece to the edge of the rectangle fabric piece.

You can follow drawn lines to stitch. Also, as I mentioned earlier, if fabric pieces have extra space, it is easy to seam.

Step 8: Turn the bean bag pillow right side out.

Step 9: Fill the microbead into the bean bag pillow.

Step 9: Attach circular fabric piece to the edge another edge of sac.

Here, you can use pins.

Step 10: Hand sew the second circle to the bean bag pillow.

You can do this manually. Because sewing these circular surfaces is not easy with the machine.

Now enjoy your bean bag pillow.

Make a Bean Bag Pillow Using a Pillowcase or Cloth Bag

Do you need to make a bean bag pillow in a short time? Or else do you need to convert your old pillowcase into a comfy one? Try this method.

Required Materials

  • Pillowcase or cloth bag
  • Microbead filler
  • Sewing machine and lines

Step 1: Take pillowcase or cloth bag.

Here, you do not need to worry about bean bag pillow preparation. You can take a pillowcase for that. Make sure that the pillowcase or cloth bag has enough strength.

Step 2: Then fill the microbeads into it.

Step 3: Fold the open edge and sew it.

This method is the same as method 1. The only difference is you do not need to prepare a bean bag pillowcase.

Notes on How to Make A Bean Bag Pillow

Step #1: Layer the fabrics and sew the three sides

For the first bag, layer the fabrics with the outer side facing each other. Please make sure that the edges are aligned before pinning them together. Half an inch away from the boundary of the fabric, sew the three sides, or the 70 x 50 x 70 for the recommended size.

Step #2: Make the inner bag and sew all sides

For the remaining side, stitch the touch fasteners, then proceed to make the inner bag. Align and pin the other pair of fabric before temporarily fastening them as well. Unlike the first ones, sew all sides and leave about five inches open for the fillers.

Step #3: Add the padding and fill it with “beans”

Turn the outer side of the fabric out and add the padding. To avoid spilling the pellets, you can use a funnel or some other alternative for it. Fill it with as much stuffing as you think you would be most comfortable with, then sew the pillow close.

Step #4: Close it up with a needle and a thread

Instead of the sewing machine, the needle and thread would be perfect for closing it up, especially if the hole is too small. Your bean bag pillow is done at this point. All that is left is to insert the inner bag in the outer fabric and seal it with Velcro.

The Takeaway

After reading about making a bean bag pillow, you can now try doing and using it for yourself. Unlike other variations of its kind, its vast surface area and rectangular shape allow more space, and you can lay on it as it is or sit astride by turning it sideways.