Full of Beans

A few years ago I discovered a pattern in an issue of my Mum’s homes and Antiques magazine for a Moroccan style patchwork pouf. I thought it could be the ideal project to use up some of my fabric stash, however in a true fabric hoarders style I bought a whole new bundle of fat quarters from a lovely online shop Ray Stitch. It was a while ago now (or should I say years ago), but I remember where I’d seeing the fabric, on an advert in Making magazine, there was just something a little 50’s kitsch about it and it came in lovely bright blues and reds. I had to have it!

I picked out the fabrics with the most red, saving the blue pieces for another project, I added a few bits of red fabric from my stash in to the mix. The pouf was made in large segments sewn together with a zip on the bottom. The small patchwork pieces were first sewn together randomly then I trimmed them down to fit my segment template.

I thoroughly enjoyed making the pouf, I wish I had photographed the making stage, (I hadn’t started writing my blog at the time, so I wasn’t thinking about documenting the project).

The pouf (or beanbag) very soon became a permanent feature in the landscape of my lounge. My cat very much enjoyed it too, especially when it meant she could combine her favourite past times, sleeping and worshiping the radiator.

Content Chip, very cosy!

However letting your cat sleep on lovely handmade items does (very occasionally) have it’s down sides. When my lovely furry feline got a slight water infection she  accidently weed on it (Eeek), I was far from impressed and a little upset at the time, but I couldn’t blame her – it wasn’t her fault really and being poorly she was quickly forgiven.

Getting rid of the polystyrene beans that smelt of cat wee was not a pleasant job and consequently after giving the fabric a wash and pegging out it out to dry and air, it has sat in a sorry empty state for approximately six months. That is, until today!

Chip quite happy on another handmade creation – well it is near the radiator!

I bought a new bag of polystyrene beans and a gave the fabric another good hand wash and dry and it is all nicely full of beans again, it’s as if it hadn’t been away.