How to Make a Beanbag Chair

The beanbag chair: where practicality and ergonomics meet. Make your own with these tips.

Step 1: Prepare the fabric Prepare the fabric. Measure and cut two circles with 3-foot diameters and three 3- by 3-foot squares. Then, cut a 1½- by 1 ½-foot square.
TIP: Experiment with different fabrics to make beanbags that complement any room.
Step 2: Start the fill hole Cut a foot long slit in the center of one of the 3-foot square panel. Pin the zipper over the opening and sew it into place.
Step 3: Sew the inner flap Center the 1½-foot piece over the zipper on the inside of the 3-foot panel. Then pin and sew it into place on three sides.
Step 4: Attach the Velcro Sew Velcro along the opening between the 1½-foot square and the 3-foot square.
Step 5: Sew the squares together Pin and sew the two 3-foot squares without zippers together along one edge, forming a 3- by 6-foot rectangle. Sew the remaining 3-foot square to a short side of the rectangle.
Step 6: Finish sewing Sew the short ends of the rectangle together, forming a tube. Turn the cylinder inside out, and sew the round pieces on either end. Go over each of the seams again for added strength.
Step 7: Fill it and enjoy! Pull the beanbag through the filling hole so it's right side out. Then, using a paper-towel tube as funnel, pour the "beans" into the bag until it's roughly 80 percent full. Seal the Velcro, zip the zipper, and relax on your new beanbag chair!
FACT: New York City's Museum of Modern Art has a beanbag chair designed in 1968 in its permanent collection.