Shooting Star Bean Bag Game

Place two stars right sides together. Pin.

Stitch around the Star using a ½ inch seam allowance leaving a 1 ½ inch gap on one of the Star “arms” for turning.

NOTE – Backstitch at the beginning and end of the seam to keep the seam from unraveling.

Repeat step 1.2 by aligning the stitched seam edge of the Star to the presser foot and stitching a zigzag around. This will reinforce the seam.

NOTE – Stitching a zigzag reinforces the seam to ensure the filling will not spill out while playing the game.

Clip corners and snip into the seam allowance getting close to the stitches without cutting through them.

NOTE – Clipping the seam allowance reduces the amount of fabric in the seam at each corner and allows the fabric in the seam at the corner to move so the seam will lay flat.

TIP – Use pinking shears to trim the seam allowance. It cuts triangles into the fabric which cuts the fabric on the bias. Because it’s cut on the bias, the fabric won’t fray much.

Turn the Star right side out. Press the seams.

TIP – Push each arm and point of the Star out with a blunt object, like a chopstick or point turner, so that there are crisp, sharp edges and corners.

Repeat step 1.1 to 1.6 with the other 5 stars.

SERGER / OVERLOCKER OPTION – If you are using a serger, stitch the Rings right sides together strip using a ½ inch seam allowance, alternating Fabric A and Fabric B Rings to create a 12 Ring long. Fold the 12 Ring long strip in half lengthwise matching the seams. Pin, then serge. Turn right side out and stitch the end of the tube in the round approximately ¾ of the way around leaving a small opening for filling. Then skip to step 3.

REGULAR SEWING MACHINE OPTION

Place the short ends of a Ring Fabric A, and a Ring Fabric B right sides together.  Pin.

Stitch using a ½ inch seam allowance. Backstitch at the beginning and end of your seam.

Repeat step 2.2 by aligning the stitched seam edge of the Ring to the edge of the presser foot and stitching a zigzag in the seam allowance. This will reinforce the seam.

Repeat steps 2.1 to 2.3 with the remaining 10 Rings to create one long strip of 12 Rings alternating between Fabric A and Fabric B.

Fold the strip in half lengthwise, matching the seams. Pin.

Stitch using a ½ inch seam allowance.

It should now look like a striped tube.

Repeat step 2.6 by aligning the stitched seam of the tube to the presser foot and stitching a zigzag in the seam allowance. This will reinforce the seam.

Turn the Ring Tube right sides out. Align the tube ends, matching the seams.

Sew in the round using a ½ inch seam allowance approximately ¾ of the way around the ring. Leave an opening to insert the filling.

Insert a funnel into the opening in the Ring Tube.

Fill the Ring Tube with your filling. Fill approximately 80% full.

Use a slipstitch (also called a ‘ladder stitch’) to close the gap. Alternatively, you can stitch the gap closed using your sewing machine.

Thread the needle, tying the thread tail ends together in a knot. This will provide added strength to your finished seam. Push the needle up and through one of the folded seams, from the inside of the lining to the outside, pulling the thread tail completely through.

The knotted end will now be nicely concealed within the seam on the inside.

NOTE – The pictures used are from a different pattern, however, the techniques are the same.

Directly across from the starting point, push the needle down and then back up through the fold on the opposite seam to create a stitch that is between ⅛ – ¼ inch long. When the thread is pulled through, the stitch is concealed within the seam crease, and there will be a horizontal stitch connecting the left and right sides of the opening.

Repeat steps 3.2 to 3.3 to the end of the opening. To tighten the stitches, gently pull the thread. This will conceal the stitches in between the seams.

To end, create a loop for your needle to pass through by picking up a tiny section of the opposite seam and passing the needle through the loop.

Tighten to form a knot. Reinforce the stitching as needed by repeating this step.

Poke the needle back into the fabric next to your stitching and pull it all the way through to the other side.

Pull the thread taut and snip it close to the fabric. Allow the thread tail to slip back inside the Ring so that the tail is now hidden inside.

NOTE – The stitches have been left loose in this picture to show what the ladder stitch looks like. Pull the thread through and taut after each stitch.

Repeat step 3.1 to fill a Star with your chosen filling material.

Repeat steps 3.2 to 3.4 to close the opening in the Star.

Repeat Steps 3.6 with the remaining five stars.

Your Shooting Star Bean Bag Game is finished!