Second Life: a Fluffy Squish of Heaven

My daughter will be 14 next month. She wants a bean bag chair; a fluffy squish that she can melt into to spend endless hours reading. I want her to have a fluffy squish that she can melt into, but it can't be a bean bag chair. Those things are lethal. After searching around on the internet I concluded if she was going to have her fluffy squish it was on me.

I insistent on my children not being exposed to endless toxins. I am also a proponent of recycle, reuse, renew. After poking through our closets for inspiration I came up with what we're calling A Fluffy Squish of Heaven. A feather filled quilted fluffy squish that my girl can spend endless hours nesting in.

Necessary Items:

1. Fabric for the outer cover * (Size is optional. Mine is 35 X 40)
2. Fabric for the insert * (Size is optional. Mine is 35 X40)
3. Cotton Batting * (Size is optional. Mine is 35 X40)
4. Feathers - (Amount is optional. I used 4 standard feather pillows that we had)
5. Scissors
6. Measuring Tape
7. Thread
8. Pencil
9. Pins
10. Iron
11. Ironing Board
12. Sewing Machine

* If you have an old quilt you could use this instead.

Optional Items:

1. Embroidery Floss or Yarn
2. Needles with large eyes

3. Zipper or Velcro

• Decide on the size you want your project to be.

• Procure fabric for the outer cover. The outer cover could be pretty much anything you like. (Mine is 35 X 40 so I procured a piece of fabric twice the size. You will need half for the top & half for the bottom).

• Procure fabric for the insert which will hold the feathers. The insert fabric should be a tight weave so that the feathers don't poke through. Remember to procure a piece of fabric twice the size of your desired project - half for the top & half for the bottom.

• Wash, dry & iron both outer & inner fabric. You don't want any shrinking surprises. Don't skip the ironing! Irons are sewing's greatest secret tool.

• Cut your outer fabric into 2 equal pieces. (Mine is 35" X 40" so I have 2 pieces at this measurement)

• Cut your insert fabric into 2 equal pieces that are 2" smaller than your outer fabric.
  

  (Mine is 33 X 38. It is 2" smaller than the outer cover because it needs to fit inside the cover. I have 2 pieces at 33 X 38)

• Cut 1 piece of batting the same size as 1 of your outer fabric.
  

  (Mine is 35" X 40". I have 1 piece)

Creating the bag:

• Cut the insert fabric (slightly smaller, about 2 " shorter than the width & 2" shorter than the length of the outer cover) into 2 equal sizes of your choosing.

My 2 pieces of fabric for the insert are each 33" wide & 38 "long.

• Lay the 2 pieces of fabric together so that the right sides of the fabric are facing each other. You should be looking at the wrong side of the fabric.

• Pin the pieces together around the outer edge of 3 of the sides. Leave the 4th side unpinned.

• Using a very small stitch do that you are creating a very tight seam,stitch around the 3 sides that you pinned. Leave the 4th side, the unpinned side,open.

• Remove pins & turn the bag right side out. You should now have what looks like a giant pillowcase.

Stuffing the Bag:

• I recommend doing this outside.
• If you can find a helper, it makes life easier.
• Fill bag with as much feathers as you decide is comfortable. I used 4 standard size pillows to fill my insert comfortably.

• Turn the unfinished edges of the opening under 1/2 inch. Pin it shut. Sew up the opening.

• Lay the 2 pieces of fabric together so that the right sides of the fabric are facing each other. You should be looking at the wrong side of the fabric.

• Lay the batting on top

• Pin the pieces together around the outer edge of 3 of the sides.

• Leave the 4th side unpinned. Using a very small stitch do that you are creating a very tight seam,stitch around the 3 sides that you pinned.

• Leave the 4th side, the unpinned side,open.

• Remove pins & turn the bag right side out. You should now have what looks like a giant pillowcase.

• Optional Hand Tying - Using the embroidery thread or yarn you will attach the batting to the fabric. This will prevent the batting from bunching up into a lump when you wash it.

1. Thread the needle with the preferred tying material.
2. Insert needle down through outer fabric & batting then back up through ¼” away from the initial spot. Leave a 2” tail.
3. Cut thread, leaving another 2” tail.
4. Use a double knot to tie the tails together. Trim tails, leaving approximately 1” of thread or yarn above the surface of the fabric.
5. You will repeat this process effectively creating a grid of ties. Ties should be about 7" apart both horizontally & vertically.
6. This is a good tutorial: https://www.simplesimonandco.com/2017/09/how-to-tie-a-quilt.html/

Insert the feather filled bag into the outer cover. It should slide right in.

OPTIONS for CLOSURE:

• SEW

To sew up the side, turn the unfinished edges of the opening under 1/2 inch. Pin it shut. Sew up the opening.

• VELCRO

Use Velcro to close up the cover & still be able to remove it for washing.

Turn the unfinished edges of the opening under 1/2" creating a 1/2" hem .

Stitch around the outer the edges

Glue or sew a length of Velcro to the underside of the flap.

The pieces should meet when you fold down the flap.

Insert your pillow and affix the flap with the Velcro.

• ZIPPER Add a zipper to close up the cover & still be able to remove it for washing.

This is a good tutorial:

... hoping this fits the needs of my soon-to-be 14 year old daughter.... & maybe a few others, too.