You can try out easy ways on how to make a bean bag chair without sewing if you’re hesitating to spend a significant amount to buy a bean bag chair.
Sewn bean bag chairs indeed cost a lot when bought in stores, but they are certainly worth the price. What if you got a tight budget and chose to make a bean bag chair yourself?
Here, we’ve provided six easy-to-follow steps to make a bean bag chair at home without needing needlework.
How To Make No-Sew Bean Bag Chair At Home
Step #1. Prepare materials
There are numerous fabrics you can pick from when making a bean bag. The considerations in buying the material would be its quality and its price.
Fabrics composed of original fibers such as cotton and leather can be a great choice. Cotton gives a soft and relaxing texture that makes an ideal bean bag.
The cotton fabric also has a low price. However, you’ll need to buy a robust one for durability.
Leather is a good choice for durability, and it’s also easy to clean. The thing is that it can be costly. So, if you’re buying leather, ensure it is within your budget.
Aside from naturals, artificial fabrics such as nylon and polyester can also make good-quality bean bags. Polyester is water-resistant that makes it suitable for outdoor use.
Nylon is one of the best choices for bean bags because it has good resistance to abrasions. Synthetic fabrics have better resistance to damages than other fabrics and are affordable at the same time.
Basically, what you’ll need in making a no-sew bean bag chair are your fabric, bean bag fillers, scissors, fastener, and a glue gun. When you finish preparing them, you’re ready for the next step.
Step #2. Cut and tie fabric
Cut the fabric with width and length having equal measurements. The dimension of the cloth depends on how small or large you plan your couch to be. Ideally, for a small chair, it’s 12 feet in both width and length.
Next, fold the cut-out into two, facing the intended outer design inwards. Then, make slits on the edges of the longer side.
Fold and hold the fabric tightly when doing the cutting. Cut every slit 1-inch wide and 3-inch long.
Now, tie the slits of one side with the matching slits from the other side. You can twice or thrice-knot them to ensure that the ties are sturdy. The tying procedure is the substitute for the needlework.
Step #3. Seal two sides
After forming knots on two long sides of the fabric, cut along the folded line of the opposite sides. Before making slits, cut first a round curve along the one shorter side of the fabric. You should see a rounded edge on that side when you open the cloth.
Then, proceed to make slits on the longer side. Apply the exact measurements. Tie the matching slits the same way you did on the other edges.
That same procedure will be performed on the side with the round edge. Cut the edges and double or triple-knot the slits, leaving the remaining shorter side uncut and unsealed.
Step 4. Fasten with zipper
Lay the fabric. Make sure that the side with knots rests at the center.
Now, the unsealed side should be knot-sealed, leaving a 16-inch gap for zipper-sealing. Keep the fabric inside-out.
Then, use a glue gun to put the zipper on the bean bag cover. The zipper will allow you to fill or refill the bag.
Step #5. Pour in bean bag fillers
Before filling out, it’s time to turn the cover on the right side to hide the knots inside the bag. Finally, stuff the seat with amounts of fillers following your desired softness and structure.
Don’t forget to zip from the inside after filling in. Now, it’s time to enjoy the relaxing feeling of sitting on a bean bag chair.
Can I Make My Own Bean Bag Fillers?
Much like making your own bean bag seat, fillers can also be DIY ones. Alternative fillers such as old clothes, toy stuffing, plastic bags, rice, peanuts, and beans can all be found at home. For a giant bean bag, you’ll need to go to the nearest store to buy in bulk.
How To Prevent Bean Bag Chairs From Going Flat
It’s common for everyone owning a bean bag to notice it go flat due to extended regular use. Fortunately, there are ways to prolong its fluffy, comfortable structure.
Fluff the contents by shaking them. If it has a zipper, do it while the zip is open. Otherwise, don’t.
Remember to face the open side upwards while shaking. If repetitive fluffing doesn’t work, do the bean replacement or refilling.
In refilling, use expanded polystyrene beads which are likened to Styrofoam with a smooth and firm texture.
Conclusion
While you can have the best seat from stores, it is cost-savvy to know how to make a bean bag chair without sewing. You can also make a zipper-less one; just follow the knot-sealing procedure to make sure beans won’t leak. Remember to replace the styrofoam fillers, too, as they get compressed after prolonged use.