DIY Bean Bag Chair for Kids | Easy Sewing Tutorial

Oct 9, 2020
2 min read

Updated: 2 hours ago

Looking for a fun sewing project that children will actually use? This DIY bean bag chair is a simple sewing project that creates a cosy reading nook, gaming seat, or relaxing corner for little ones. Made from just a few rectangles of fabric, a zip, and bean bag filling, it's much easier to sew than it looks.

This bean bag chair is a great project for confident beginners and can be customised with your favourite fabrics to suit any bedroom or playroom. Whether you're sewing a handmade gift or creating a comfortable spot for story time, this easy bean bag chair comes together surprisingly quickly and uses straightforward sewing techniques throughout.

In this tutorial, I'll show you how to sew a child-sized bean bag chair step by step, including how to insert the zip and assemble the simple shape.

Colorful patterned bean bag by pink flowers, with an open book and smartphone on a wood floor in a bright, cozy room.

What you'll need:

- 4 pieces of fabric measuring 44" x 15"

- A long zip (I've used 18")

- Bean bag filling (about 3 litres depending on how full you'd like it)

1. Take the 2 base pieces of fabric and pin long edges right sides together. Mark 6 inches from the bottom end and mark again at 17 inches. This will be where the zip is fitted. Sew with a 1/4 inch seam allowance up to the first mark, back stitch a couple of stitches and lengthen the stitch length. Sew to the second mark, back stitch again and return the stitch length to the original and carry on sewing.

Press the seam open.

Close-up of white and blue printed fabric layers, with arrows and circles highlighting seams and text along the edges.

2. Glue the zip face down on the seam in between the 2 marks. Make sure the teeth are directly over the seam.

Pink floral pen lies on pale blue patterned fabric beside white trim and cloth, with a soft, tidy sewing-room feel

3. Top stitch from the right side of the fabric around the zip. Make sure you move the zip pull out of the way as you go so that your stitches stay straight. You may have to unpick some of the stitches to access the zip pull.

Purple and white fabric with cartoon witches and mice, showing text This is not a fairy tale; this is about real witches and clever mice

4. Use a seam ripper to undo the stiches over the teeth of the zip.

Blue and white zipper pouches with cartoon witches and mice, repeating text: You really are a very clever mouse.

5. Sew the remaining 2 pieces of fabric right sides together along the long edge. You will now have 2 large pieces of fabric. Place these pieces right sides together, seams meeting. Mark a curve around the 2 bottom corners and cut.

Light blue patterned fabric swatch with small purple figures, white text, and pinned marking lines on a white table.

6. Sew around the bottom 3 sides leaving the top open.

Two folded patterned fabric bags on white, one blue and one white, with tiny repeated text and small animal prints.

7. Pinch the 2 centre seams at the top and pull them apart so that the side seams are now matching. Curve the corners and sew. Make sure the zip is open before sewing!

Folded pastel patterned fabric pieces stacked on a white background, with tiny animal prints and a neat, calm look.

8. Turn the right side out. Fill the bean bag with filling and push it into the corners and you're done!

Patterned pastel bean bag by a glass door, with a phone and open book nearby and a white vase of pink flowers in a calm room

The base -

Two patterned bedding pieces in a sunlit bedroom: purple witches print on top, white mouse print below, with plant and vase in back

I hope you've enjoyed making your bean bag chair! If you have any fabric scraps or leftover filling, why not make a matching mini bean bag phone stand too? It's a quick and practical project that's perfect for propping up your phone while following sewing tutorials, watching videos, or making video calls.

You can find the full tutorial for the matching phone stand below and create a coordinating set in your favourite fabrics.

bean bag phone case

Happy Sewing!