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The Basic Bean Bag
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The Basic Bean Bag

The Basic Bean Bag is the perfect project for beginners. It is easy to make and only requires a small amount of yarn. The garter stitch technique, used in this project, calls for repeating the knit stitch over and over. This simple project and technique will have you knitting in no time!

Excerpted from Kids Knitting ©1998 by Melanie Falick. Used with permission of Artisan Books, a division of Workman Publishing Company, Inc.

by: Melanie Falick

  
Project #:
b0092
  
 
 Crafting Time: Varies with experience
 Skill Level:
 1 being the easiest
 Crafters Rating:
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  • Yarn, bulky, skein
  • Knitting needles, size 8, one pair (or whatever size feels comfortable)
  • Dried beans, ¾ cup, approximately for each bean bag
  • Tube of thin nylon socks, tights, or pantyhose, 8 inches long, one for each bean bag
  • Yarn needle

Cost of each project will vary depending on materials used.

Due to the seasonal nature of some merchandise, actual availability of some products pictured may vary.
 
  • Cast on 20 stitches. Work in garter stitch (knit every row) until you have a square. Bind off. Repeat this step, so that you have two squares that are exactly the same size.
 
  • Using the yarn needle, sew the two squares together along three sides, following the instructions for either the mattress stitch or the overcast stitch.
 
  • Make a very tight knot at one end of the length of sock, tights, or pantyhose to close it securely. If you are using the foot of the sock or tights, you can skip this step. Fill the tube with the beans. Place the tube inside the bean bag to see if you need to add or take away beans.

 
  • The bean bag should be puffed like a pillow but the beans should not be bursting out. When you have the right amount of beans in the tube, close it by tying the extra fabric in a knot or by tying a piece of yarn around it. Make sure that the tube is very securely closed.
 
  • Using the yarn needle, sew the open side of the bean bag shut, following the instructions for either the mattress stitch or the overcast stitch.
 
  • Sewing the Bags Together
 
  • When it’s time to sew together your bean bags, you have two choices. You can use the mattress stitch or the overcast stitch. If you use the mattress stitch, the sewing yarn will be practically invisible. Make sure you sew the cast-on and bind-off edges of the first half to the cast-on and bind-off edges of the second half, working inside the ridges.
 
  • Mattress Stitch
 
  • Place the two halves of the bean bag next to each other with the sides you want to show on the outside facing you. Thread the yarn needle with the same yarn you used for knitting and stitch as shown. After you have sewn together the first side, fold the two halves together (with the sides you want facing out) so that you have a single square shape. Continue to sew two more sides. Fill the bean bag, and then sew up the 4th side.
 
  • Overcast Stitch
 
  • Place the two halves of the bean bag one on top of the other. Thread the yarn needle with the same yarn you used for knitting or yarn in a different color and sew together three sides. If you don’t want your sewing yarn to show as much, sew the first three sides together, right sides facing in, then, just before filling with the beans, turn the bag right side out. Fill the bean bag, and then sew up the 4th side.
 
  • What Size Are Your Bean Bags?
 
  • Three factors are going to determine the size of your bean bags: the thickness of your yarn, the size of your needles, and how loosely or tightly you knit. Everyone knits differently, so take a look at your first bean bag. If the stitches look very loose and you would like them to be tighter, try using smaller needles. This will also make the overall size of your bean bag smaller.

 
  • If the stitches are very tight and you would like them to be looser, try using larger needles. This will also make the overall size of your bean bag larger. The bean bags in the photo, which are about 5 inches square and they were knit with size 8 needles.
Tip: To make the bean bag, cast on and repeat the knit stitch on every row until you make a square. After you have made two squares, sew them together and stuff them with dried beans.

To check and see if you have made a square, lay your knitting (still on the needle) on a flat surface. Lift one of the bottom corners up to meet the opposite top corner. If the folded fabric forms two identical triangles on top of each other, congratulations you have made a perfect square!
 
The information on this instruction sheet is presented in good faith, but no warranty is given, nor results guaranteed. Quantities and selections may vary at each store. Michaels® Stores, Inc. disclaims all liability from any injury to anyone undertaking the construction of this project as a result of improper safety precautions. Since we have no control over physical conditions surrounding the application of information herein contained, MSI disclaims any liability for untoward results. © 2009 MSI.
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