How to Make a GIANT Bean Bag Out of T-shirts!

by gonzalezchica in Outside > Beach

75310 Views, 177 Favorites, 0 Comments

How to Make a GIANT Bean Bag Out of T-shirts!

DSC05050.JPG
DSC05051.JPG
This instructable shows you how to make a giant bean bag! It can be made of cool old T-shirts that you love or cool T-shirts you find at the thrift store. This thing will impress all of your friends! 

Also check this link to see where I got the idea: http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2010/03/pillow_chair_from_t-shirts_and.html

Explanation

beckypillowchair.jpg
This http://www.generation-t.com/?s=bean+bag+chair  is where I got the original idea from but since I have little skill in pattern making it turned out to be alot bigger (It doesn't fit in my car) then  it was suppost to be. The picture of the short haired girl is how it is suppost to look from their way. 
I used: 
 (12)Large T-shirts of strong cotton fabric, any thin kind will rip when your friends  jump on it. Trust me.
Sizzors, yes I like to spell siZZors like that.
some type of paper for drawing the confusing pattern
chalk in different colors
sewing machiene with stong thread
some kind of stuffing for inside it, I originally used styrofoam balls from an upholstery store then switched to foam blocks (we'll talk       more about this later)
my laptop
some snacks
camera

You can see what they used on their site.


Making the Pattern

PTG beach ball 0-T-881502.jpg
one wedge.jpg
DSC05034.JPG
You will need to make 6 T-shirt "wedges" in order to form a beach ball shape. A wedge like an orange wedge or the "wedges" in this beach ball. Do you see how the picture on the T-shirts looks like a wedge in a beach ball?

First you will have to make 12 "HALF wedges" 

In order to do this you will make a pattern which is HALF OF ONE WEDGE (because 1/2 + 1/2 makes 1):
get a large piece of paper (I used news paper) measuring 30X20 inches and draw a line down the center. 
On the paper start with a 60 degree angle at the top center and draw a soft curved line down length of wedge. They explain this better in the video http://www.generation-t.com/?s=bean+bag+chair




Cutting It Out

DSC05040.JPG
half of wedge pattern front and back.jpg
DSC05044.JPG
The "half of one wedge" pattern doesn't completely fit on one T-shirt, so cut it and take part from the front of the shirt and the other from the back. Seperate the "yellow" bigger half of the pattern from the "purple" smaller half for easier manuvering. I chose to use the bigger yellow part of the pattern on the part of my shirt that had the most design. BTW the purple and yellow together equal the half wedge.

When you have your "purple" and "yellow" half wedges cut out, sew them along the line where they touch in the picture below with the "good" side facing each other. They unite to form a "HALF WEDGE" FINALLY!

 **It is a good idea to go over this stitch twice because it might break open later when you or your friends are sitting in it.**

By "good" I mean the sides you want to show, the sides that have the pictures or jersey numbers or whatever else =)

After you have 12 "Half wedges" continue to the next step...

Sewing

DSC05041.JPG
DSC05047.JPG
So once you have the 12 "half wedges" you will sew one "half wedge" onto another "half wedge" to make a WHOLE wedge FINALLY!

When you are sewing the top half wedge to the bottom half wedge go over the stitch twice and use strong thread.

Match the patters you like together, I put the Kool-aid man and the Locos moose together.

More Sewing

DSC05049.JPG
one wedge.jpg
DSC05037.JPG
Once you have the 6 whole wedges start sewing along the edge of the wedges to form them into a beach ball shape like this.
Basically after that you can fill it up with styrofoam balls or foam of whatever you think is best.
Remember to have sewn the stitches twice or it will break open.

I hope y'all enjoy this!