How to make an ottoman bag with your own hands
Bag ottomans were introduced by an Italian designer in 1968, who created the first long armchair in the form of a prefabricated seat with a very soft cover.
Ottoman bags are also called beanbags or pear chair. This piece of furniture has succinctly blended into the modern design of apartments, houses and offices.
What is beanbag
The bag chair is a frameless soft base stuffed with elastic material that takes the shape of a human body. Beanbag is chosen depending on height and weight, for children they are smaller.
For convenience, ottomans are made with a double layer of fabric with zippers so that the top pillowcase can be cleaned and washed, and the padded material can be dried if necessary.
Armchair manufacturers offer an assortment of different types in design, filling and appearance, you can also make an ottoman bag with your own hands.
Benefits and what are
In addition to differences in bag dimensions, they differ in shape and filling method:
- The pear armchair (drop armchair) is a classic form of sitting. The lower base is widened, and the upper part is narrowed by a sharp or smooth outline;
- The ball chair is a round large structure, the padding is distributed throughout the bag. The back wall of the chair looks like an inflated semicircle;
- Armchair pillow - a large pillow, the back of which is oblong with elongated corners;
- The banana chair has a more elongated shape, good for children;
- An inflatable pillow is a versatile type of chair that is used on vacation. The filler is air.
Also, in different models, the filler differs from natural to synthetic:
- Buckwheat husk;
- Beans or peas;
- Polystyrene balls;
- Air;
- Sintepon or fluff (used in economy seats).
This piece of furniture has earned respect due to its distinctive properties that distinguish it from classic furniture.
- Sitting comfort thanks to the body shape adjustment of the bag;
- When water gets on the chair, it does not deteriorate and dries easily;
- The frameless design assumes the minimization of breakdowns;
- Easy to wash and clean the cover;
- Light weight of the chair;
- The thermal conductivity of polystyrene is high;
- Convenient to move from one room to another.
DIY ottoman bag
The high cost of shopping bags made many needlework lovers think about how to sew a pouf on their own. The choice of fabric and filling can cut costs. Self-tailoring will allow you to control the manufacturing process according to your size. To start sewing a bag, you first need to choose a shape, design and filling.
For a long service life of the chair, it is necessary to choose a high-quality fabric. The most popular beanbag fabrics are:
- Oxford - synthetic fabric, does not get wet, used for sewing tents, a small assortment of colors;
- Flock is a soft, delicate fabric, usually with a printed print. Requires frequent cleaning and may stalk;
- Corduroy - looks expensive, many different colors in stores, durable, capable of stuttering;
- Artificial leather - looks stylish, durable, difficult to sew, suitable for office and cinemas, easy to clean, more expensive than previous types;
- Linen with a high density - this fabric is completely natural, has a low cost, requires frequent washing, over time, a shine may appear on the material.
For the inner cushion cover, which will be filled with filler, breathable perforated fabric, such as spunbond, is used.
Important! When choosing the material for the upper cover of the chair, it is necessary to take into account the features of the sewing machine. If necessary, purchase special accessories and a needle so as not to spoil the fabric.
How to choose the right design
The classic shape of the chair is a triangular drop, which is suitable for an office and design of non-residential premises. For the home, you can choose any convenient look in which to sit comfortably. The peculiarity of rounded shapes is that it softens the sharp corners of the room and furniture.
The look of an armchair in the form of a pillow complements the interior with a bright accent. When making a chair with your own hands, each chair has its own cutting characteristics, the sequence of stitching the elements is the same.
Important! Before you start making a do-it-yourself drop chair, it is recommended to go to the salon and try out each type. Only after that is it worth starting cutting and sewing.
What it takes to make a beanbag
The answer to the question of how to make a soft ottoman bag with your own hands begins with the selection of tools and the necessary materials.
To make a beanbag you need to prepare:
- Durable fabric for the top cover - 3 m (for children 2 m);
- Breathable fabric for the inner pillowcase, breathable - 3 m;
- Printed bulk filler (polystyrene) - 1.5 - 2 kg.;
- Two long zippers to match the fabric;
- Strong threads, silk is better;
- Scissors;
- Sewing machine (you can sew seams manually);
- Pattern paper;
- Special sewing machine needle depending on the fabric.
Cutting materials
No special skills are required to sew the bag. Quality and functionality depends on the accuracy of the pattern and the right fittings and tools. Cutting consists of four elements: round base, top cover and side wedges 6 pieces (cut for the upper and inner fabric of the chair).
You can make a pattern for your bag shape yourself or use ready-made ones. When constructing a pattern on your own, the height and weight of a person is taken into account, the larger the chair, the more residents it will suit.
The patterns must be drawn on paper and transferred to the fabric with a margin of 2 cm for the seams. On the seamy side, you need to draw an exact line according to the pattern so that the lines come out even. After the parts are transferred, you need to cut them out.
Important! Described patterns for a drop-shaped bag.
Manufacturing process
You need to sew the bag in stages in a strict sequence:
- All parts of the parts must be overcast or overlaid to prevent material scattering;
- Two wedges must be sewn from one side on the wrong side, the seam must be done from the bottom up;
- The next wedge is gradually applied and swept over the previous part;
- This is how the cylindrical base of the bag is assembled;
- Sew a long zipper into the last seam;
- Sew a round base on the seamy side of the resulting cylinder;
- Last of all, the top cover of the bag is sewn from the inside out.
The inner bag is sewn in the same way and stuffed with polystyrene. The upper case is put on a drop with a filler. The drop chair is ready.
Important! For the outer cover of the chair, an inner hidden zipper is better suited. It will not stand out on the case and is more reliable.
How to decorate a beanbag
The beanbag can be left in the classic design, or you can additionally decorate it with sewn-on details and appliqués.
You can decorate the chair using:
- Satin ribbons;
- Ruche;
- Contrast fabric patch;
- Application;
- Handle at the top of the drop.
Additional details must be taken into account at the time of cutting and joining all parts, for example, ruffles and ribbons are sewn into the main seams.
How to fit an ottoman bag into the interior
The ottoman is able to fit into any room and become its functional addition. Beanbag design depends on taste and interior design.
For the children's room, bright colors with a thematic print are used. To decorate the living room, it is recommended to choose a dark color scheme, as it is more functional. Chairs in soft pastel colors are suitable for the bedroom.
A restrained style is used to decorate a non-residential office or study; armchairs made of durable non-marking fabric that are easy to clean are suitable here.
How to care for a beanbag
The ottoman bag is unpretentious to maintain, but there are several points that you should pay attention to when choosing fabric and printed material. Depending on the internal filling, you must monitor the ingress of water on the chair.
Polystyrene balls do not absorb water and do not break down from it, therefore they are the safest and most durable. If natural substances are used for stuffing - buckwheat husks or legumes, then the ingress of water into such a filler can cause spoilage and the appearance of fungus Sintepon and down can also suffer from water if it is poorly dried.
If moisture does get on the chair, you need to take out the stuffing and spread it on a smooth surface until it dries completely. Caring for fabric or leather should be carried out as soon as it becomes dirty. It is easy to wipe the skin with antiseptics or detergents.
Depending on the choice of fabric, it is worth considering the possibility of machine or hand wash and the temperature. Frequent washing can degrade the appearance of the chair, as the fabric may fade.
When processing the surface of the pouf cover with steam, the optimal temperature regime for a particular fabric is also taken into account. You can sew a drop chair yourself at home, without having professional tools or a special diploma at hand.
The correct choice of materials, shape and filling for the chair will allow you to use this piece of furniture for a long time.
Video: do-it-yourself bean bag