The Plush Pouf

I've seen poufs (floor cushions) popping up everywhere! Want to make one? I designed a pattern several years ago, then rewrote it for Shannon Fabrics (June 2013) - and made it out of their Cuddle fabric. It's about 17" tall with a 28" diameter and is filled with polystyrene beads.

What makes this pouf special? I created an inner pouf with a zippered closure so you can refill it with beads when it deflates a bit (which it will). And the outer pouf is more like a slip cover that you can change whenever you want!

I've written about it - part one, part two, and smaller foot stool. 

Here's my friend's cat on the smaller foot stool. I made this for her - her birthday is Flag Day!

And here's a smaller foot stool that is on my porch.





There are three zippers (one on the inner pouf and two on the outer pouf), so you need to be comfortable with sewing zippers. But they are worth every second it takes to make! BTW, I used some bean bag beans from Fairfield World. The smaller the diameter of the bead, the less they compress, so don't skimp.

Have fun!

Flag Day Foot Stool!

My friend is moving back to Michigan (our home state!) and I wanted to make her something special. She was born on Flag Day, so I decided that she needed a foot stool for her new home! This is 18" tall with an 17" diameter.

There are two 22" zippers that are placed at the top to create a hinged opening. If you'd like to make one, here are the measurements:

• Two 18" circles
• Side panel needs to be any combination that adds up to 18" tall
• The side panel is 55 1/2" long.  

The Plush Pouf Free Pattern

The Plush Pouf measures 18" tall with a 28" diameter

When I had my studio, one of the most popular sewing classes I taught was pouf-making! I designed this pattern with an eye toward practicality. Most pouf (patterns) don't include a zipper, which can make refilling and cleaning a problem.  And some are stuffed with fiberfill, which flattens. This FREE PATTERN is for making a pouf that is zippered and filled with bean bag beans! 

The one above is made from Cuddle (Majestic) by Shannon Fabrics. Yes..stretchy, plush, minky cuddle! I've made several poufs (as have my friends) out of home dec, but this fabric was a game-changer for me. It's beautiful. And the contrasting faux leather/vinyl band is the icing on the cake. 

I'd rate it an intermediate to an intermediate+ because Cuddle can be tricky to sew, which makes putting in the zipper a bit more work. I think it's worth the effort!

Are you ready to give it a try!? You can read more about it and download the FREE pattern on Shannon Fabric's My Cuddle Corner blog!

You can purchase Shannon Fabric Cuddle at local quilt shops and online at Fabric.com

Today's Project: The Pi Pouf Part One

So here is my pi pouf right after I made it. it's about 17" tall with a 28" diameter.

These pictures will help you understand the zipper. I sewed two 24" zippers so they met at the middle. 

When opened, it creates a hinge that allows you to stuff the inner-pouf inside.

Here's the inner pouf; you can see the zipper where we put the bean bag beans in. You can also see how it hinges open.

And a close-up of how it opens.  To see the next step, check out the Pi Pouf: Part Two.

You can get this pattern at my Craftsy Pattern Shop.   Thanks to the wonderful people at Shannon Fabrics, you can download this pattern for FREE on the Shannon Fabrics Cuddle Corner Blog!

Today's Project: The Pi Pouf Part Two

Class favorite!

It was almost two years ago when I saw a Pouf in a magazine. I had to have one. I got busy drawing and calculating Pi...and came up with a design that included a zippered cover that could be removed for cleaning and an inner pouf that could be refilled through a little 5" zipper. Although the math was a bit challenging, it was worth it. I've taught this class several times and it seems to be getting more and more popular. Several of my regulars convinced me to make a slip cover pattern, so I did. And that's what we did today: spent most of the day making slipcovers! We then reviewed how to make a ruffle (that's a LOT of fabric) and how to add piping.

Filling the inner-pouf. What a mess!

We also experimented with different bean bag beans. Our favorites were the smaller ones like those from Fairfield.These are smaller and don't compress like bigger ones (that you can find at Wal-Mart). You'll need about 6 cu ft to fill one.

We put a small hole in the bag and slipped in a tube (from a roll of fabric) and taped it up to the tip of the tube. Then we put it in the zippered opening, zipped it up around the tube, and just started carefully shaking the beads into the inner pouf. Yes, we had a few spills!

My recommendation is to do it outside if you can. One of my friends did it on carpet, which seemed to contain the mess a bit more. But dry air is the enemy! These little buggers had a life of their own!

Here is a pouf (sans slip cover). The guys really seem to like this project!

Want to learn how to put a zipper in? Please read my blog entry: How to Put Zippers in Pillows and Cushions.

The pattern is available in my Craftsy Pattern Store! I included the slip-cover pattern, too. You will need to know how to install a zipper (Free tutorial "How to Insert a Zipper in a Pillow), so be sure to download that!  FOR FREE! You can read more about the pouf and get the pattern on the Shannon Fabric's My Cuddle Corner Blog!