These chicken bean bags are just about the cutest things that you can make with your sewing machine. Use them as pin cushions, bean bags or even rice packs! This post was originally shared in 2014, and now includes a step by step video. This post contains an affiliate link.
If you like this simple sewing project you'll love our sugar cookie pincushions, 5-minute hand warmers and fabric wired headband tutorial!
Watch our step by step video!
Ruby loves chickens. I thought it would be fun to make her a chicken softie, but fell in love with these chicken bean bags instead. We started with one and she loved it so much that we made a few more. They take about 10 minutes so it's easy to make an entire flock! Her little chickens go everywhere with us. Grocery shopping, church, on her tricycle, and in her bed.
The sewing inspiration came from Anjie's Blog. Red Ted Art saw the original and created some photo instructions. Ours are slightly larger than the original, and since neither one came with a printable pattern, I quickly drew one to make it easier to keep them uniform when making them by the dozen, ha!
You can download it here: Little Chicken Bean Bag PDF
LITTLE CHICKEN BEAN BAGS
Equipment
- scissors
- pins
- Permanent Marker
- sewing machine
- needle
- stuffing
- rice
Materials
- cutting template (print here)
- felt
- thread
- fabric
Instructions
- Cut out felt templates for the face and a large rectangle of fabric for the chicken body. Lay the felt pieces in the upper right corner of the long rectangle of fabric.
- Bring the bottom of the fabric to the top with the fold along the bottom. Pin to keep beak and details in place. Stitch top and right side, leaving left side open.
- Turn right side out. Add an eye. You can hand sew this or use a sharpie pen like we did. Very gently so that it doesn't bleed.
- Fill ⅓ with fiber fill and ⅓ with rice or small beans. Leave the rest open to allow room to close the bottom.
- To turn your bean bag into a pyramid shaped one vs. a flat square, line up your seams so that the side seam lies flat as the back of the chicken. The front seam where the beak is and the back seam will line up and it will turn into the pyramid shape. Turn under raw edges and pin closed.
- Hand stitch to close.
Video
Notes
This little orange one is my favorite. Ruby's too.
I'm thinking that this little pattern would make a great base for so many fun animal bean bags! A puppy, a cat, or even a pig.
Can you think of any others? What a fun little party favor or stocking stuffer, or homemade birthday gift!
For 60 more sewing projects, check out my sewing book for kids!
Karen ONeal says
Brandy, I wanted know the actual dimensions of the rectangle for the body of The little chicken bean bag? Thanks, Karen
Brandy says
The rectangle is 4" x 7.5" 🙂
Dannielle North says
So fun, so easy, so doable. Thank you
Brandy says
You're welcome! 🙂
Ros says
Do you just allow the fibrefill and the rice to mix within the chicken? I wondered about putting the weight into a pouch inside
Brandy says
Hi! Yes, I put the fiberfill in first and then the rice. Our chickens are pretty old now and the fiberfill has flattened down some, but the rice works great and stayed at the bottom, didn’t seem to mix in with the fiberfill.
Ros Jess says
Thank you
Susan says
I love these and the Yuba City chickens too!
Ashlee says
I LOVE the chicken bean bags.
i am making one for my little brother for Christmas this year but i am just wondering what fabric you used?
cheers, ash
Brandy says
Thank you Ashlee! I used a home decor fabric that was a little thicker because I liked the pattern, but you could definitely use a basic cotton!
Ani says
Too old post and m checking now.......shoo cute!
Ani says
Awwww so nice bean bags!
Check my site http://www.beanbagbedwithblanket.com/
Monique Young says
Hi there I was hoping to get the little chicken bean bag template emailed if possible. couldn't get it to work
Brandy says
Absolutely! I'll email it to ya!
Carol says
Sooo Delighted to have just found your little chickens as ive been wanting to make these for a while but had no template for them. Thank you.
Chris says
THESE ARE SOoooo CUTE. I Love, love, love chickens too. Have them free ranging in my back yard I gotta make some of these for my sewing room. Thanks a bunch for posting this.
Brookey says
I'm hooked on making these little chickens! i checked out a few different tutorials before attempting and found yours to be the best one! they are so cute, and easy!
Brandy says
Thank you Brooke! They are so fun, right?!
Val Campbell says
Thank you so much for this cute pattern! Mine turned out a little different (I call it "unique") but still adorable. I know that I won't be stopping at just one! 🙂
celia says
You gotta love the internet. I have been making chicken bean bags for years. I've never made them this large and my take is a little different. I use golden beads and make legs - and i put on a tail using scraps of suede. Until this post I had never thought of adding the wattle.
fun!
Lourdes says
So easy! I made my first one today as a gift to my sister who likes chicken. But I’m going to make some for me too, they really are adorable! Thanks. 😃
Brandy says
Yay! So glad to hear!
karinregina says
Hermosas!
pepdress says
Looks very cute
Janet says
Super cute but could not download PDF 🙁
Brandy says
Hi Janet,
You aren't the only one who has had issues downloading it. It's so strange because I have it set to "public". Would you mind clicking this link and letting me know what it does? I double checked the settings. It "should" open right up now. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1m2SR4aI1ThSWN1bTVEUG1Sdjg/edit?usp=sharing
Dani @ See Hubby Cook says
These are so adorable!!
Brandy says
Thanks Dani! I think I need an excuse to make more, they are so easy and fun!
Debbie Rines says
Sorry, but the pdf file will not open. It only shows the title.
Love the chicks.
Debbie
Brandy says
I revised the settings, if it still doesn't work let me know! It works from my computer. Thanks for letting me know!
Lisa Foust says
I think Lexi might need a couple of these. They are ADORABLE!
Brandy says
She does! And they are so easy! 🙂