If you enjoy Sewing with Kids and want a charming Easter Craft for children to create, take a look at these delightful Pyramid Bean Bag Chickens. They are incredibly simple to sew, make excellent use of leftover fabric pieces and are enjoyable as decorations, doorstops (make a bigger one) or even for practising juggling! There is so much fun to be had with this Juggling Chook How to!
NOTE: this article was originally published in Feb 2012 and has been republished for your convenience!
This adorable and amusing juggling bean bag chook is another project I have been planning to make for ages! Nothing inspires crafting quite like a 4-year-old’s birthday celebration (take a look at the Chook Bean Bag Toss)……
The best thing about these chooks is how ADORABLE they look while being surprisingly easy to create. There is no need to worry about tricky triangle alignment. You only need one rectangle and some smart sewing! They can be sewn by hand or with a machine. I don’t recall where I first came across these sweet pyramid chickens – perhaps on someone’s Twitter profile or Etsy, although I came across the instructions again on Anjie’s lovely blog. Anjie runs a wonderfully creative blog and has already written two guest posts for me! If you have not seen it, it is definitely worth visiting! You can also find many more Sewing Projects for Kids here! This would make an excellent project for a child who is learning to sew!
I thought a few extra photographs might be helpful, so I also captured images of my “making process”, along with a short side lesson explaining how to make a French Knot.
These Pyramid Chickens inspired these TP Roll Chicken Gift Boxes:
Transform Toilet Paper Rolls into wonderful Chick Gift Boxes! Aren’t these adorable? They are mess-free and can be made in just a few minutes!!
Watch the Sewing Crafts for Kids Video or follow the step by step photos below.
How to make a pyramid bean bag chicken – Materials:
- A few larger fabric scraps – approximately 20cm x11cm works well, although I also used two 10x10cm squares and they worked perfectly
- A small amount of felt for the comb and beak.
- Embroidery floss for the eyes (or you could use buttons, beads or paint them with acrylic paint).
- A little filling and rice.
How to make a pyramid bean bag chicken – video tutorial
You may watch our video guide or use the step by step directions in the following section!
How to make a pyramid bean bag chicken – Photo Step By Steps:
These directions are also available as a 3-page lesson plan and worksheets on Teacher’s Pay Teachers, if you find that helpful. Buying these practical worksheets supports this website and helps it continue running! Thank you for your support.
1) Cut your fabric (20cm x 11cm) and felt pieces (comb, beak and wattle). Lay it lengthwise, with the patterned side facing upward, then position the felt pieces in the upper right-hand corner. Fold the fabric upward afterwards. This arrangement means the finished seam will sit along the chicken’s back. You may position the fabric widthwise instead, which will place the final seam across the chicken’s front. Both options look lovely, although I slightly prefer the seam at the back! I only noticed this difference after making 10 (yes, 10!!) of these chooks! Make sure the felt comb is not positioned too near the right edge, or you could accidentally stitch over it.
2) Stitch along the top and right-hand edges, keeping the left side open so you can add the filling.
3) Make a French Knot for the eyes:
(i) Pull the needle upward through the fabric from underneath.
(ii) Aim the needle back down toward the fabric and wind the thread around it 3–4 times. I used 4 wraps. Avoid pulling the thread too tightly.
(iii) Push the needle into the fabric near the point where it emerged, then draw it down and through the material.
(iv) Finished!
4) Now for the clever part. I have come across tetra packs like this before. Begin by putting a small amount of stuffing into the head (perhaps a small handful?), followed by some rice (I was curious, and my finished chicken weighs 60 grammes!! But honestly, I’m sure the precise weight is unimportant). In the photo above, the chicken is lying on its side and has been filled. Next, pinch the sides toward the centre, adding a little more pressure to form a fresh diagonal. Fold the fabric inward, then stitch it closed! (I sewed this section by hand because I found it simpler, although you can also use a sewing machine!
Ta-daaaaaa
A little warning.. these bean pouch chickens are incredibly addictive. I initially made four chickens – because Red Ted will turn four next week.. After that, I quietly made another 6… and then discovered that I had not captured the correct photos for you, so I stitched my 11th juggling chicken!! Feel like making one? They would also make a wonderful small Easter present!
Have you tried making these Pyramid Chickens? It truly is not as difficult as it may seem, and you’ll discover that children absolutely love it! Take a look at our article on teaching kids to sew! You can also explore our fantastic Sewing Projects for Kids!
More from Red Ted Art – 20+ Bunny Crafts and 20+ Chick Crafts
