Option #2
How do you use buttons to close a bean bag?
Goal:
Goal:
Sometimes it’s nice to be able to change out what a bean bag is stuffed with. What if your plastic bag gets a hole in it, and now beans are falling out everywhere? With a closure that is not permanent, you can easily change your filling. In this lesson, we will use buttons to close our bean bag. You could also use hook-and-loop tape (Velcro) or a zipper. But buttons are the easiest.
Click through the slideshow to learn how to use buttons for your bean-bag closure.
Follow the same instructions to start.
Fold your felt in half and sew up two sides (one short side and the long side). Again, stop sewing and make a knot when you get to the end of the long side.
Place your buttons.
Place your buttons evenly on the top side of your bag. If you are using large buttons, you may only need two. If your buttons are small, you will need three. Make sure your buttons are at least a 1⁄4 inch from the edge of the fabric.
Mark your buttonholes.
Use a marker to make small marks on either side of each button, as shown. Then, move the button out of the way and connect the marks with a light line. This line shows where you will cut your buttonhole.
Sew on your buttons.
Place your buttons inside your bean bag, on the lower piece of fabric. Match them up with the lines you made for the buttonholes on the top piece of fabric. Then, use embroidery floss to stitch the buttons on. Make sure to go through the holes in the buttons twice, making an X pattern on the button.
Cut open the buttonholes.
After you have sewn on your buttons, pinch the fabric with your drawn lines, as shown. Make a small cut in the middle of the line. Slowly make the hole bigger until your button just fits through it. Felt stretches a little, so you don’t want to make your buttonhole too big. Repeat this step for each button.
Stuff your bean bag and button it closed!
Place your plastic bag of beans, rice, or lentils inside the felt bag and button up your buttons!
Now, you have two options for making your bean bags! What different things can you stuff them with? You already know about beans and rice. But what about using cotton balls to make a little pillow or slime or putty to make a squishy bag? You might choose NOT to stuff your little pouch and use it for gathering items on a nature walk!
Learning how to sew on a button is a valuable skill that you can use again and again throughout your life!
Send a picture or video of you playing with your bean bags to your teacher. You can play catch or hopscotch, or you can teach yourself to juggle!
Outstanding! |
Good work! |
Could do better. |
Need to improve. |
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You completed your art work. |
Most of your art work is complete. |
Some of your art work is incomplete. |
Most of your art work is incomplete. |
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Your work is done correctly. |
Most of your art work is done correctly. |
Some of your art work is done incorrectly. |
Most of your art work is done incorrectly. |
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Your work is neat and tidy. |
Your work is mostly neat and tidy. |
Some of your work is neat and tidy. |
Most of your work is not neat and tidy. |
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You put your best effort into your art work. |
You put a good effort into your art work. |
You put some effort into your art work. |
You put little effort into your art work. |